Then again, there are quite a few reasons why Notre Dame might consider playing in a lower-tier postseason game -- namely, the Irish players. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen said after last week's game at Stanford that playing in a bowl game is "like a vacation," and the five players who spoke to the media after Charlie Weis was fired on Monday said the team would be receptive to playing once more, particularly after the way the regular season ended.

"I can speak for all the seniors that this might be their last football game ever," senior captain Eric Olsen said. "It's definitely something we want to do, to play another game and extend the season and get that taste out of our mouth."

A decision on whether Notre Dame goes bowling will be made this week, and while athletic director Jack Swarbrick will meet again with the players to discuss Notre Dame's options, they won't have the final say.

"You look at how effectively we can get ourselves prepared and get there, and that's complicated by the change in coaches. Part of it is the interest of the student-athletes and where they are in all of this. This is an emotional time for them," Swarbrick said Tuesday in an interview with ESPN. "And can we represent the university effectively? We take seriously our obligation to support the bowl system and to play in bowls, but this is a unique year because of all that's going on, and it may present an exception."

The Irish leapt at the chance to play in Hawaii last season, but there won't be a spot open there this year, and their 6-6 record will probably limit them to one of four games with an empty slot due to an unfulfilled conference tie-in. The list: the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against a Mid-American Conference team in Detroit on Dec. 26; the EagleBank Bowl, probably against Marshall, at RFK Stadium in Washington on Dec. 29; the Humanitarian Bowl against a Western Athletic Conference team in Boise, Idaho, on Dec. 30; and the GMAC Bowl, also against a MAC team, in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 6.

Though the timing of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl isn't ideal -- Notre Dame did play on Christmas Eve last year, remember -- that game would be the least expensive for the university and give plenty of local fans a rare chance to see the Irish play in the postseason. The EagleBank Bowl has an attractive urban setting and the highest payout, $1 million, of the four. The date of the GMAC Bowl would give Notre Dame plenty of time to regroup -- or install a new coach -- before playing again, and the Humanitarian Bowl, well, would give the Irish a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on blue turf.

Anywhere is OK with senior safety Kyle McCarthy.

"It's tough to let go of the golden helmet and you always want to play another game, especially when you have a bad taste in your mouth," McCarthy said.

ONE RECRUIT GONE, ANOTHER IN

Defensive end Chris Martin, who was supposed to be the jewel of Notre Dame's next recruiting class, decommitted on Tuesday.

Martin, who verballed to Notre Dame in February and would have provided a jolt of talent at a position where the Irish desperately need it, was rated as a five-star player by Rivals.com. He told irishsportsdaily.com that he has eliminated the Irish from consideration and will make his choice from a group of schools that includes California, Florida, Oklahoma and USC.

But almost as soon as Martin departed the stage, another defensive lineman stepped onto it.

Irishsportsdaily.com reported that four-star defensive tackle Louis Nix, who had previously committed to Miami, gave his verbal to Notre Dame Tuesday night.

BANQUET CLOSED

Notre Dame's 89th annual football banquet is still scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. They just won't need to set up as many tables.

The banquet is now an "internal affair," according to an e-mail from senior associate athletic director John Heisler, and will be open only to players, coaches, staff members and their families. Refunds will be issued to anyone from the general public who bought tickets to attend the banquet.

It is not known whether Weis will attend the banquet, but Heisler said Monday night he would be welcome to do so.