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And the 2004 award for college football’s Most Selfish and Unnecessary Personnel Move goes to … the University of Notre Dame. Congratulations, just last week your beloved Fighting Irish fired head coach Tyrone Willingham after three seasons of pacing the sidelines. The firing came as a surprise to some and a joy to others. Boosters and university directors saw it as an opportunity to start anew and find the right coach for such a high profile job. Conversely, many students and alumni the media spoke with were surprised and outraged. Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Mike Golic, who is now an ESPN football analyst, said Willingham’s firing was a “selfish move. Notre Dame does not know what they are doing, the best coach for the job is still Tyrone Willingham.” In your eyes, yes, in Notre Dame’s, no.
In 2002, Willingham signed a now-traditional five-year contract with the university. Notre Dame is famous for fully honoring contracts, understanding the transition time new coaches need to build a successful nucleus. Knowing that, however, it was Willingham’s job to rectify one of college sports’ premier franchises and bring back the glory and prominence to South Bend that was once a mainstay.
Willingham looked to be the luck of the Irish. With his military background as a base for discipline, African American status to appeal to more African American recruits, and general respect among Fighting Irish fans, all the pieces were in place for the new coach to lead Notre Dame back to a national championship.
The only problem was that Willingham thought he had five years. He was dumped after three.
In those three years, Willingham brought in three solid recruiting classes, led his team to a 21-15 record – highlighted by the 2002 squad that went 10-3 – and two bowl games. Not bad, considering Willingham inherited a distraught program after former coach Bob Davie failed to do anything positive in his five-year stint.
Two more years and the Irish were going places. Willingham established his team’s foundation from 2002-2004. Now it was time for him to capitalize on that hard work, and become a contender in ’05 and ’06.
Aside from lack of production, other theories have been circulating regarding Willingham’s firing. From the beginning of his tenure at Notre Dame, it was clear Willingham had not been the school’s first choice for head coach. John Gruden and Mike Shannahan, two premier NFL coaches, were first on the list. After both declined, Notre Dame sighed and somewhat regretfully tossed the contract at Willingham. Speculation immediately arose and never seemed to leave.
Willingham’s African American heritage did not help his cause either. Following his departure, there are now only three black head coaches in all of Division I college football. Coincidence? Many do not think so, and it’s a fair argument. Perhaps Notre Dame used the mediocre season to finally cut the cord on a black coach they didn’t want in the first place. That’s certainly what it looked like.
The coming and going of athletic coaches on any level of competition is commonplace. A coach getting fired – even for unclear reasons – is nothing new. Still, Notre Dame was premature and careless with their decision to let go of Tyrone Willingham. Why should he have stayed? His effort and heart were in it. His players believed in him. His coaching staff followed his lead. The Fighting Irish were headed in the right direction. But, as Golic said in the same ESPN interview, “It’s not what you have done or are about to do, the theme in college football is ‘what have you done for me lately.’”
Using that term as a crutch, Notre Dame finds itself scrambling for a new head coach. Prospect after prospect has turned down the job – most recently Louisville’s Bobby Petrino and Utah’s Urban Meyer – leaving Notre Dame wondering why no one will step up and take the job, creating the search to be dubbed “the muck of the Irish.” Could it be their arrogant and unrealistic goal of having a national championship-caliber team every year? Of course. It takes time to build such a program. The Irish had it once, it is gone, and good luck bringing it back with that attitude.
Shame on the Irish for dumping Willingham. But Notre Dame worked hard at earning that prestigious award. Now quiet, they’re about to make their acceptance speech.
