Cutcliffe resigns as Notre Dame assistant after bypass surgery

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) David Cutcliffe resigned as Notre Dame&#39;s assistant football coach and quarterbacks coach because of health concerns after undergoing triple bypass heart surgery in March.<br> <br> Cutcliffe said in a statement released Wednesday by Notre Dame that he was feeling healthier, ``however, it will be months before I can claim that mental, physical and emotional intensity and would never give any program less than the passion and energy it deserves.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Cutcliffe, 50, who was fired as the coach at Mississippi in December, did not take part in spring practice at Notre Dame while he recovered from his March 9 surgery. He was to talk with reporters later Wednesday.<br> <br> Coach Charlie Weis said that he already has a replacement for Cutcliffe in mind but declined to name the person until a contract was signed.<br> <br> Weis said Cutcliffe told him last week that he did not think he would be able to coach this year. Weis asked Cutcliffe to think about the decision over the weekend, and Cutcliffe then called Weis back on Tuesday to submit his resignation.<br> <br> Cutcliffe was 44-29 in six seasons at Ole Miss, where he coached Eli Manning. He was fired after his first losing season with the Rebels. Before that he was an assistant coach at Tennessee for 17 years, including six years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach where he coached Manning&#39;s older brother, Peyton.<br> <br> Weis received permission from the NCAA to use Ron Powlus, the school&#39;s director of personnel development, as a coach to fill in for Cutcliffe during spring practice. Weis focused on working with starting quarterback Brady Quinn, while Powlus, a four-year starter for the Irish in the 1990s, worked with the other quarterbacks.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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