Willingham fired

[thick]

Phreezer, what do you think about this? I think it was a good move. He definitely doesnt seem to be the answer there

[Phreezer]

Here's what I think..

I think Urban Myer is someone that Notre Dame wants. I think Urban Myer is being heavily recruited by Florida to coach there (Rumor has it that He's made it known that he will not be back at Utah next year). Myer has a clause in his contract with Utah that if Notre Dame offers him a job he can leave with no penalties (that shows how much Myer wants to coach at Notre Dame). Oppurtonity presented itself to the Athletic Directro (and to the boosters), and they saw the chance to snatch up a proven and winning coach to take over our program, but they had to terminate Willingham's contract in order to do so ....They had to jump now or lose the shot at Myers to Florida. Timing was a big factor in this decission

Also to note the Students at South Bend staged a protest Today calling for Willinghams job... (even before word had gotten out)

Here's the deal, Had Willingham Played USC tighter he may have kept his job. No other coach in our history has been beaten by USC for three years in a row that badly... Davie lost by that much once..but neither Holtz or Devine did.

Combine that loss(s) to our biggest rival, with the fact that Purdue spanked us this year. And when you throw in another loss to BYU and Boston. Willingham had to go.

IMO if Willingham had finished with no more than 3 losses this year, even with Myer interested in the job he'd still have a job... I also think had Myer not shown interest in NotreDame Willingham would still have a job.

I can actually see keeping Willingham had the powers that be decided to do so. We have Darius Walker (who will be a Heisman candidate in 3 years mark my words) and a New Quarter back in Quinn that shows a lot of promise. You throw these two together in an offense..and bang you've got a whole lot of potential. BUT when you throw everything in the bag, shake it up and pour it on the table (Myer wanting Willingham's Job and Three Ass kickings from USC).... You have no choice but to give Tyron his walking papers.

IMO It really is the smart thing to do. But it's sad too because Willingham is a good coach. he inherited a crappy program from Davie, and he did a fair job with what he had.. but he isn't a good recruiter, and he was too hard headed last year with Holiday and didn't bench him when he should have..and he alienated a lot of the boosters. So it was just a matter time.

BTW, Lou Holtz is apparently on the short list of candidates...But I doubt that he will come back as he was the only coach in our history to put us on probation, and I think there is still some hard feelings with the boosters over that. Some of the old timers blame Lou for the Decline of the program. These dinosaurs don't see that it's actually the academic standards that are causing us problems.

If there is one guy who could turn around our program I'd say it would be Stoops, but we both know that's not going to happen. He's happy in Norman, and if he was to leave Florida would pony up the necessary $$$ to make him move down south. But, I think there are two other guys who stand a good chance.. One is Jon Gruden but he's making a fat 4 million a year at Tampa and there's no way that there is that much money in the coffers to get him to come, and I think he's got one more full year before he gets the boot in Tampa (which would be a shame because despite last seasons and this seasons bad luck, Gruden is one of the sharpest football minds I've ever seen) So Gruden is just not going to happen... and the other guy is Myers... He's got a great mind for offense (like Grudon does for Defense) and he's proven that he can take a shit heap and turn it around (Ala Utah).

So that my friend is what I think.

[guardingyou22000]

Great analysis Phreezer!!!!!

[shaboz]

I dont know what ND is thinking firing guys after three years. Urban is not a proven coach, maybe at the mid-major level, but not at a school with a name like ND. And I dont care if he did coach there under Holtz or Davies, being an assistant and being a head man are two different jobs.

Willingham took Stanford to the Rose Bowl. He won a ton of games at a school that has to recruit nationwide, has higer academic standards then ND, and had zero tradition when he got there...still doesnt...

For ND to only give him 3 years with his kids, really only two because he probably redshirted most of them his first year - is pretty tough love. ND is delisional if they think they are the school they once were. 10 years is a long time to go without a bowl win.

Maybe they can get Meyer, maybe they cant. But I know this for sure, if Meyer does go and he doesnt win in 3 years - it will be Kevin White looking for a new job.