Gerry Faust

Gerry Faust was one of the finest people ever to coach a college football team. For a brief five-year period in the mid-’80s, Faust coached the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Faust was a God-fearing man who went to Mass every day. He had great enthusiasm for the game of football, he instilled in his players great values, and he was just a great person.

He was also one of the worst coaches in Notre Dame football history.

I say this as a reminder that having great character and great values doesn’t make a person great at a job.

Faust coached in a high school program in Ohio — where he had great success — before making the leap up to the college game, where he was a complete disaster. He was disorganized, lacked strategic vision and was generally in over his head.

As we get ready to select a president, character and values mean something. But experience means a lot more.

Can you handle a crisis?

Are you tough enough to beat back the bad guys?

Can you sit across the table from Vladimir Putin and stare him down?

Can you take on bureaucracies that haven’t been performing and whip them into shape?

Can you play power politics with the mandarins in Congress?

Can you keep my taxes low and do battle with out-of-control spending?

Can you prosecute criminals and stop crime?

For many voters, faith and moral virtue are the most important characteristics that they look for.

I want somebody who is going to come to Washington and kick some butt.

We don’t need a Gerry Faust. We need a Bill Belichick.