Notre Dame Fires Coach Willingham

[LastKnight]

Notre Dame Fires Coach Willingham

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

SOUTH BEND, Ind.  Coach Tyrone Willingham (search) was fired by Notre Dame (search) 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 (search) on Dec. 28. Notre Dame accepted the invitation to the game on Sunday.

Athletic director Kevin White scheduled a news conference for later Tuesday.

Willingham's firing comes after a season that saw the Irish pull off upset victories over Michigan and Tennessee, but also suffer blowout defeats to USC and Purdue.

Notre Dame's 41-10 loss to top-ranked USC on Saturday marked the fifth time the Irish lost by 31 points or more in three years under Willingham. By comparison, former coach Bob Davie's team had just one such loss. Lou Holtz and Dan Devine had none.

The firing of Willingham was unexpected as Notre Dame as no recent coach was forced out in less than five seasons, the time during which Gerry Faust and Davie held the job.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140034,00.html

[KnightsRule]

Waiting for Smazza to play the race card? Funny how Stanford job opened up yesterday, does Ty go back to Stanford?

[Apis Bull]

I don't think he goes back.  I think this has more to do with Urban Meyer.  It appears that he was a virtual lock for the Florida job and Notre Dame didn't wnat that to happen.

[BULLfreak]

I heard on ESPN last night that Jon Gruden is a possible replacement at Notre Dame

[BULLO12]

Screw Notre Dame

[smazza]

no patience

nd will never win  until they give a coach 5 years

[Apis Bull]

no patience

nd will never win  until they give a coach 5 years

Yet, you're only willing to give our coach one more year after only one losing season in D1A?