Ty Willingham fired as ND head coach - Page 3

Coach · 11-30-2004, 01:27 PM

From ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1935138

Two black head coaches left in I-A

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Coach Tyrone Willingham was fired by Notre Dame on Tuesday after three seasons in which he failed to return one of the nation's most storied football programs to prominence.

Willingham had a record of 21-15, including 6-5 this season. The Fighting Irish lost 41-10 to No. 1 Southern California on Saturday.

It was not immediately clear whether Willingham would coach the team at the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28. Notre Dame accepted the invitation to the game on Sunday.

Athletic director Kevin White scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Willingham's firing comes after a season in which the Irish pulled off upset victories over Michigan and at Tennessee, but were also blown out by USC and Purdue.

Notre Dame's loss to top-ranked USC on Saturday marked the fifth time the Irish lost by 31 points or more under Willingham -- three of the losses coming to the Trojans. By comparison, former coach Bob Davie's team had just one such loss. Lou Holtz and Dan Devine had none.

Notre Dame hired Willingham, the first black head coach in any sport for the Irish, away from Stanford to replace George O'Leary, the former Georgia Tech coach who resigned five days after taking the job because he lied about his academic and athletic achievements on his resume.

In his first season, Willingham had many fans recalling Notre Dame's glory days, taking over a losing squad and turning things around immediately. The Irish won eight straight to start the season before finishing 10-3 and going to the Gator Bowl.

But during his second year, the Irish fell to 5-7, with four of their losses coming by 26 points or more. It was Notre Dame's third losing record in five seasons, the Irish's worst stretch in 115 years of football.

Notre Dame has won eight AP college football national championships, more than any other school. The last was in 1988 under Holtz. Players from the school have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, also the most in college football.

The Irish haven't won a bowl game since ending the 1993 season ranked No. 2 after beating No. 7 Texas 24-21 in the Cotton Bowl.

Since then the Irish have lost six straight postseason games.

With Tony Samuel fired by New Mexico State and Fitz Hill resigning from San Jose State last week, there are now only two black head coaches in Division I-A -- Karl Dorrell at UCLA and Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State.

WilliamTheIrish · 11-30-2004, 07:25 PM

I wish Notre Lame much continued unsuccess.

fuck them....and their TV contract.

**the Talking Can** · 11-30-2004, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I wish Notre Lame much continued unsuccess.

fuck them....and their TV contract.

aren't you Irish types obligated to drink until you blackout and support the Fighting uhh...Irish?

WilliamTheIrish · 11-30-2004, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

aren't you Irish types obligated to drink until you blackout and support the Fighting uhh...Irish?

When I threw off the shackles of 12 years of Catholic education, I was obliged to heave ND with it.

Plus KSU finally came around....

**the Talking Can** · 11-30-2004, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

When I threw off the shackles of 12 years of Catholic education, I was obliged to heave ND with it.

Plus KSU finally came around....

holy shit...I totally blanked on the KSU conection

you'd think I'd know by now...not like its your avatar or anything

dtebbe · 11-30-2004, 08:27 PM

I'm sure the Revernnnnnn Jacksummmmmm will have something to say about this. What an outrage!!!!

DT

Coach · 12-01-2004, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

I'm sure the Revernnnnnn Jacksummmmmm will have something to say about this. What an outrage!!!!

DT

That's a interesting point you made there.

ND better have some real good answers, and no, I'm not asking them to tell me that "We aren't just not getting it done on the field." Bullshit, it's more than that. Why did Willingham, taking over a program that struggled under Davie, not receive the same administrative patience that Davie got taking over a healthier program from Lou Holtz? OR, in fact, that Davie got 5 years to build up the team, yet Willingham got 3? Something to me, smells fishy, and the answers better be real good

The fact that an African-American coach brought in to resurrect a less-than-robust program was shown the door so quickly, will be a hot topic this week on most sporting news. Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches Association, has got to be on the verge of an aneurysm. (Sixty percent of Division I-A's five black head coaches -- a pitiful figure -- have been fired or resigned this offseason.) The Rev. Jesse Jackson is on Line One.

HolmeZz · 12-01-2004, 03:24 PM

They haven't turned down their bowl bid.

And I don't expect them to.

HolmeZz · 12-01-2004, 03:31 PM

Yeah, that was before Willingham was fired. Supposedly they were going to have a meeting to decide whether or not they still want to go though. I can't see them turning it down; it gives the program a little more money and national attention, especially now that there's a coaching vacancy. And the players get a nice little trip out to California. I'd be shocked, and a bit disappointed at this point, if they decided against playing.

Coach · 12-01-2004, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

I don't know shat about college f-ball (or, anything else, for that matter). But the magic man inside of my pickup's dashboard this morning claimed the timing had something to do with the availability of Urban Somebodyorother.

Yeah, that's probably what the reason is. Someone mentioned to me this: "The only reason ND pulled the trigger is because they want Meyer. Urban was a former Irish assistant and apparently really wanted to coach them at some point, and Notre Dame wanted to make a bid at him before schools like Florida and Penn State did."

THat's when it hit me, ND wants Meyer. I'm still disappointed on how they handled it though. Personally, I would've given him another year or two to see what his first recruiting class could do as seniors, Meyer or no Meyer.

Coach · 12-01-2004, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Hm... a quick check on espn.com shows they're consulting with the players, and don't expect a decision until this evening.

Either the info on the morning show was premature... or, I'm a reerun.

Or both... I guess.

I believe that the players were supposed to meet at 1p.m. on Tuesday, but I think there was a time change to today or something.

Either way, it was premature.

Plus, I haven't seen an "confirmed" report of that ND might go or not.

**Skip Towne** · 12-01-2004, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

I don't know shat about college f-ball (or, anything else, for that matter). But the magic man inside of my pickup's dashboard this morning claimed the timing had something to do with the availability of Urban Somebodyorother.

Yeah, Rome is saying they are afraid another school will get Urban Somebodyorother before they can.

HolmeZz · 12-01-2004, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

This morning was most definitely not before Willingham was fired.

Perhaps the show I was listening to had bad information, but they were stating that the acceptance had been made post-firing.

I'm saying they accepted the bid before Ty got fired, so technically ND still does have the bid, which is probably what the station was reporting.

11-30-2004, 01:27 PM
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3788476	Ty Willingham fired as ND head coach From ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1935138 Two black head coaches left in I-A Associated Press SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Coach Tyrone Willingham was fired by Notre Dame on Tuesday after three seasons in which he failed to return one of the nation's most storied football programs to prominence. Willingham had a record of 21-15, including 6-5 this season. The Fighting Irish lost 41-10 to No. 1 Southern California on Saturday. It was not immediately clear whether Willingham would coach the team at the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28. Notre Dame accepted the invitation to the game on Sunday. Athletic director Kevin White scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. Willingham's firing comes after a season in which the Irish pulled off upset victories over Michigan and at Tennessee, but were also blown out by USC and Purdue. Notre Dame's loss to top-ranked USC on Saturday marked the fifth time the Irish lost by 31 points or more under Willingham -- three of the losses coming to the Trojans. By comparison, former coach Bob Davie's team had just one such loss. Lou Holtz and Dan Devine had none. Notre Dame hired Willingham, the first black head coach in any sport for the Irish, away from Stanford to replace George O'Leary, the former Georgia Tech coach who resigned five days after taking the job because he lied about his academic and athletic achievements on his resume. In his first season, Willingham had many fans recalling Notre Dame's glory days, taking over a losing squad and turning things around immediately. The Irish won eight straight to start the season before finishing 10-3 and going to the Gator Bowl. But during his second year, the Irish fell to 5-7, with four of their losses coming by 26 points or more. It was Notre Dame's third losing record in five seasons, the Irish's worst stretch in 115 years of football. Notre Dame has won eight AP college football national championships, more than any other school. The last was in 1988 under Holtz. Players from the school have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, also the most in college football. The Irish haven't won a bowl game since ending the 1993 season ranked No. 2 after beating No. 7 Texas 24-21 in the Cotton Bowl. Since then the Irish have lost six straight postseason games. With Tony Samuel fired by New Mexico State and Fitz Hill resigning from San Jose State last week, there are now only two black head coaches in Division I-A -- Karl Dorrell at UCLA and Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State.
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11-30-2004, 07:25 PM	#31
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $2610607	I wish Notre Lame much continued unsuccess. fuck them....and their TV contract.
Posts: 35,754

11-30-2004, 08:27 PM	#35
dtebbe 3M TA3 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SoFlo Casino cash: $9993039	I'm sure the Revernnnnnn Jacksummmmmm will have something to say about this. What an outrage!!!! DT
Posts: 4,305

12-01-2004, 03:24 PM	#37
HolmeZz i guess its bittersweet poetry Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NeW HaVeN, CT Casino cash: $10004900	They haven't turned down their bowl bid. And I don't expect them to.
Posts: 16,520

12-01-2004, 03:31 PM	#38
HolmeZz i guess its bittersweet poetry Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NeW HaVeN, CT Casino cash: $10004900	Yeah, that was before Willingham was fired. Supposedly they were going to have a meeting to decide whether or not they still want to go though. I can't see them turning it down; it gives the program a little more money and national attention, especially now that there's a coaching vacancy. And the players get a nice little trip out to California. I'd be shocked, and a bit disappointed at this point, if they decided against playing.
Posts: 16,520