Scott Weiland once wrote a letter begging Charlie Weis to stay at Notre Dame

The late Scott Weiland was a die-hard Notre Dame football fan.

Just how big a fan was he? Check out this impassioned open letter the singer for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver wrote in 2007, begging then-coach Charlie Weis not to leave for the NFL:

Okay Charlie, at this point I am going to assume that you haven’t spoken to the Giants’ Organization about their “potential coaching job.” But LEAVING NOTRE DAME, your Alma Mater, without having achieved really anything of monolithic proportions like you’ve promised us is absurd and unfair. So at this point, I will get on my knees and beg. Don’t do it Coach. Don’t do it! Stay and do what you promised; your team, your school, the fans, the legacy deserves to be taken to the Promised Land.

Your recruits Charlie, who are just beginning to trickle in, came to play for you. You! Not someone else and they are coming to South Bend to those brutal winters from places all over the country – from the South to Southern Cal, just to be led to the Promised Land. Jimmy Clausen, the most Highly recruited player in High School football committed to Notre Dame. When asked why in a recent interview, he said to play for coach Weis and get a new environment. Why? The promised land, the Crown Jewel, the National Championship. But we can’t start talking about Notre Dame in the same breath as a National Championship yet. You’ve gotta win one. The team’s gotta go out there and get one. We the Irish Nation fight for it with you together and we will all win one together and walk away to the Promised Land together.

Yours truly,

Scott Weiland
Rock n’ Roll Singer
Stone Temple Pilots
Velvet Revolver
Legacy & Notre Dame Football Fan

At the time, Weis appeared to be well on his way to becoming a South Bend legend. He led the Irish to a 19-6 record, including appearances in the Fiesta and Sugar bowls, during his first two seasons. And maybe Weiland’s letter did the trick -- Weis stayed at Notre Dame.

Unfortunately for Weiland and the rest of Irish Nation, things went downhill after that. Notre Dame went 3-9 in 2007 and 6-6 the following two years, leading to Weis’ dismissal.

Weiland died Thursday night after being found unresponsive in a parked RV in Minnesota while on tour with his band the Wildabouts. The cause of death is unknown.

He once spoke to ESPN about his love for Notre Dame and its football team:

“I love Notre Dame. Notre Dame runs deep in my family. My dad went there and played football [there] actually. I grew up in Cleveland and I remember going to my great aunt’s for Thanksgiving. She lived in Evanston, Ill., so when we were in the area, we would all go over to South Bend for Notre Dame football. Now I sit on my couch every Saturday during the season and watch them. I sit there with my fingers crossed and I sweat and say my Hail Marys. When they lose, I’m depressed for like three days!”