SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Charlie Weis is back as the offensive coordinator for Notre Dame.

But what he’s calling hasn’t changed.

“Philosophy is no different,” Weis said. “None. You do it exactly the same.

“The big difference for me is the preparation is the way it was five years ago.”

The fifth-year Notre Dame coach had given up play-calling responsibilities last year, ceding to then-offensive coordinator Michael Haywood.

By season’s end, though, Weis returned to calling plays and in the off-season took back the offensive coordinator duties.

It showed in the last two games for Notre Dame, when the Irish had almost a perfect performance in the Hawaii Bowl when quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns.

He followed it last week when Notre Dame gained 510 yards in a 35-0 win over Nevada in the season opener. The past two games, the Irish offense has looked more like Weis’ first two seasons in South Bend than the previous two, when Notre Dame was among the worst rushing teams in the nation.

NOTES: Fullback James Aldridge is out for this week with a right shoulder injury. He’ll be replaced by Robert Hughes at fullback and by Barry Gallup Jr. on kick returns, at least initially. … Weis said that the way Michigan quarterbacks run could limit what the Irish bring defensively. … When Weis was looking at Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier, he said he couldn’t keep track of him because he said he bounced to four high schools in four years.

Michael Rothstein covers University of MIchigan sports for Annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow on Twitter @mikerothstein.