Ty Willingham fired as ND head coach - Page 2

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.

Pitt Gorilla · 11-30-2004, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Willingham should go back to Stanford, or if Alden can grow some balls and fire Pinkel, he would be good for Mizzou.

He would be GREAT for Mizzou.

**Skip Towne** · 11-30-2004, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

I agree HolmeZz, but as for the recruting, I don't know. There could be multiple reasons why he couldn't bring the players he might had wanted due to academic standards, you know? I mean, I'm not saying that's not the problem, but do you recall Hourning's comments about that ND won't be good as they used to be in the past because of them tightening up the standards.

Plus, this was only Ty's 3rd year, but Ty's first year, he was with Davie's players. So realistically (or technically) his team isn't molded to the point where he wanted them to be. I would had at least given Ty one more year to turn it around.

Are ND's academic standards higher than Stanford's?

**Skip Towne** · 11-30-2004, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psicosis

I'm glad we didn't fire Tommy West after our 3-9 season in 2002...

For a team like ND, with the shitty spot they were in when he got there and the tough schedules they play each year, I think it was still too early to get rid of him, considering the fact that they're actually going bowling this year.

Who is Tommy West?

tk13 · 11-30-2004, 03:09 PM

That was a great nugget from the ND press conference just now when the athletic director was asked why he said he supported Willingham a couple weeks ago but now they're firing him: "I'm going to be behind our coaches until they are no longer our coaches."

Ultra Peanut · 11-30-2004, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Who is Tommy West?

The guy Memphis picked over Noel Mazzone and Jabba the Mangina for the head coach job when they fired Rip Scherer.

Spicy McHaggis · 11-30-2004, 03:12 PM

Willingham got shafted here. ND should have let him see how his boys could do next year.

Pitt Gorilla · 11-30-2004, 05:21 PM

It will be interesting to see what happens to their verbal committments.

Coach · 11-30-2004, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Are ND's academic standards higher than Stanford's?

I honestly don't know. If someone has any proof that ND's academic standards are higher than Stanford, then please do. If someone has any proof that Standford's academic standards are higher than ND, then I'll admit that I was wrong.

I'm just basically saying from what I heard from Paul Hourning, and Lou Holtz.

Demonpenz · 11-30-2004, 06:00 PM

notre damn just turned down it's bowl bid

Coach · 11-30-2004, 06:01 PM

For real Demonpenz?

**Baby Lee** · 11-30-2004, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

He would be GREAT for Mizzou.

I'd actually take a passing interest in Mizzou with Willingham at the helm.

Coach · 11-30-2004, 06:14 PM

I know that jAZ is an Arizona fan, but who is that one member that is a Arizona St. fan? I can't recall his name, but I was going to ask him, was Kevin White used to be Arizona State's Athletic Director?

jspchief · 11-30-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

I know that jAZ is an Arizona fan, but who is that one member that is a Arizona St. fan? I can't recall his name, but I was going to ask him, was Kevin White used to be Arizona State's Athletic Director?

Boozer is an ASU fan.

Coach · 11-30-2004, 06:53 PM

Boozer, someone mentioned to me that Kevin White left the ASU Sun Devils in shambles and in big time debt. Was wondering if you are able to confirm it.

**the Talking Can** · 11-30-2004, 07:05 PM

jesus, he didn't even get a chance to play with his recruits....they fooked him over, but he still gets paid and Notre Dame gets the white coach it always wanted (oops, did I say that...)

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, 03:09 PM	#19
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1747500	That was a great nugget from the ND press conference just now when the athletic director was asked why he said he supported Willingham a couple weeks ago but now they're firing him: "I'm going to be behind our coaches until they are no longer our coaches."
Posts: 56,653

11-30-2004, 03:12 PM	#21
Spicy McHaggis Keep 'er Movin' Join Date: Sep 2004 Casino cash: $9905359	Willingham got shafted here. ND should have let him see how his boys could do next year. __________________ “We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.
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11-30-2004, 05:21 PM	#22
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $-19806	It will be interesting to see what happens to their verbal committments. __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
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11-30-2004, 06:00 PM	#24
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $-273864	notre damn just turned down it's bowl bid __________________
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11-30-2004, 06:01 PM	#25
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3788476	For real Demonpenz? __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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11-30-2004, 06:14 PM	#27
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3788476	I know that jAZ is an Arizona fan, but who is that one member that is a Arizona St. fan? I can't recall his name, but I was going to ask him, was Kevin White used to be Arizona State's Athletic Director? __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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11-30-2004, 06:53 PM	#29
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $3788476	Boozer, someone mentioned to me that Kevin White left the ASU Sun Devils in shambles and in big time debt. Was wondering if you are able to confirm it. __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
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11-30-2004, 07:05 PM	#30
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9302208	jesus, he didn't even get a chance to play with his recruits....they fooked him over, but he still gets paid and Notre Dame gets the white coach it always wanted (oops, did I say that...) __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
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