Charlie Weis said Jeff Samardzija's idea of encouragement is good-natured ribbing.
Even in the midst of Weis' preparations for Saturday's date with arch-rival Michigan, it didn't escape him that former Irish All-America wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was recalled by the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, marking the 24-year-old pitcher's sixth trip on the shuttle between Wrigley Field and Class AAA Iowa this season.
Nor did the pitcher's struggles with consistency, that kept the roller coaster in motion, escape Weis.
"I have tried to talk to Jeff, but that isn't the easiest thing in the world to do," Weis said with a laugh. "What most of these guys do is they leave their phones full, so you can't leave a message, and then they see that you called and they call you back.
"I mean, heaven forbid, you call and they actually answer their phone. He's done that once since he's left here, and that was the first time he got called up by the Cubs (in the summer of 2008). So my only real alternative is texting."
Weis said he never had to give Samardzija a pep talk, despite the pitcher's uninspiring 5.04 ERA with the Cubs this season and his 6-6 mark and 4.35 ERA with Iowa. That followed a sensational 2008 in which Samardzija recorded a 2.28 ERA in 26 relief appearances.
Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija was easier for Charlie Weis to reach when he was an All-America receiver at Notre Dame.
"Any time I get through to Jeff, what comes through on the other end is a person who's totally confident in his ability," Weis said. "You don't have to worry about him not having confidence. He's confident by nature. You never have to worry about his psyche. He has one of those personalities that if he pitched crummy five times in a row, he's like, 'Oh well, I'll do better next time.' "
Weis says Samardzija, who left Notre Dame after the 2006 season as the school's all-time leading receiver, reaches out to Weis, too -- sort of.
"He never calls to encourage me," Weis said laughing. "His communication is always shots. And he doesn't even deliver them to my face. He'll tell one of you guys [media] to make sure it gets back to me."
Eric Hansen covers Notre Dame for ESPNChicago.com.
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Eric Hansen
Award-winning journalist Eric Hansen, 48, has been covering college athletics since 1983 and is currently assistant sports editor and the Notre Dame football beat writer for the South Bend Tribune.
