The Molder of Men is looking tired.
jezza | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:10 pm | #

good start... im hating the 8 oclock start because we have to compete with psu/osu not good
Kyle M | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:14 pm | #

I think aldridge is the best of our backs.
Peter | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:19 pm | #

aldridge looks like he has been fired out of a cannon tonight.
Ustacould | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:19 pm | #

Bob Davie: "He probably should have thrown that away" - understatement of the day.
Ustacould | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:22 pm | #

worst sack ever. Wow.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:24 pm | #

Think Walker is feeling the threat of the walk-on? Nice Kick.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:25 pm | #

leave it to bob davie to say ty willingham has had a successful career at washington stanford and notre dame
Kyle M | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:27 pm | #

hmmm...Ty winning 10 games...wasn't that after a dismal Davie season?
PlanetEire | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:30 pm | #

Well, let's be generous -- Ty made a lot of other coaches look good. ;-)
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:31 pm | #

And Ty will leave football with a good golf game.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:32 pm | #

Is this whole subliminally racist conversation being thrown in our faces YET AGAIN?!! I am so sick of this crap, I am glad that BOTH Charlie and Ty commented that this game was about THE GAME and not about them, and I wish the commentators would use their research staff to find something WORTHWHILE to talk about tonight!!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:33 pm | #

Guys - thanks for the channelsurfing.net recommendation - Hong Kong doesn't seem so far away any more!
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:34 pm | #

Ty Willingham Silent Stoic Stare (TM) and a Mic Flip! That's triple shots for all!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:34 pm | #

Burbank Steve--Kumamoto Japan, here--Channelsurfing.net is great!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:35 pm | #

You send to me that was a Personal Foul? Do trees have leaves?
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:35 pm | #

Sweet!
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:37 pm | #

"A look of resignation" Except illingham won't resign
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:38 pm | #

Hong Kong, Japan? Nice to see an international crowd here tonight!
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:38 pm | #

im surprised the walk-on got a chance to kick... probably nervous on that extra point but id like to see where this little experiment will go... nothing bad with healthy competition amongst your own teammates
Kyle M | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:39 pm | #

oh man...i feel so sorry for Washington. Of course I am happy to win this game and win it easily...

but I wouldnt wish what Ty did to our program on anyone...

except to maybe USC....cause lets be honest...im getting a little sick of how good they are...or maybe to michigan too...since their fans have seemed to be the biggest turds throughout our misery
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:41 pm | #

My high speed internet conked out, I don't have T.V. coverage, and so I'm on dial up trying to read the ESPN gamecast, all for the most lopsided whooping by ND in many a year. Bad luck.

I received a telegram which said that Rutgers hung 50-plus points on Pittsburgh. Were the Panthers looking ahead to next week?
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:42 pm | #

Can we please get the camera off the obviously embarrassed college student who stepped in and had the courage to answer his team's call for a competent kicker?!! I realize he should have made that kick, but likely none of us has ever faced that kind of pressure, even in a blowout game!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:42 pm | #

Hmm. . . . I'd like to send Ty to Boston College.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:42 pm | #

or USC -- yep, that would be better.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:43 pm | #

Exactly the reason you were axed, Bobby!!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:44 pm | #

ESPN360 during breaks runs a Black History Month feature -- glad it isn't a slam about Ty being fired at ND.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:45 pm | #

yeah Boston College...i forgot about them....I possibly hate them more than anyone else b/c of the BC curse
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:45 pm | #

Way to help your image, Bobby, make fun of the walk-on, you jackass!!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:45 pm | #

I thought Black History Month was February.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:45 pm | #

but then again...USC has been whooping us a little to much lately...and I am sick of that too
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:46 pm | #

"Bob Davie Love" in the parking lot? I'm glad I didn't see that, it wouldn't be suitable for a family audience :)
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:47 pm | #

Pitts QB is spending the night in the hospital with a neck injury. Laid on the turf for 10 minutes, not moving.
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:47 pm | #

OK, so Ty does 3 years at USC, then 3 at BC, then 3 at Ohio State?
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:47 pm | #

good stutter step by jonas
Ustacould | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:48 pm | #

OC mj, I hadn't heard that! omg, that is awful. Definitely keeping him in prayer!
t2irish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

Epee - that would mean 25+ top 50 recruits every year going to other schools
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

"Bob Davie love in the parking lot"

That's where you think you have enough time to get in the game before kickoff, only to find out you've mis-managed the clock
Joe | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

hahahahah...oh that would be a drean...funny thing is..I didn't hate tOSU until tOSU is righteous and the rest of their fans trash talking Brady Q
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

Finally we can see the backups. Great day to be an Irish fan.
Jerry | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

If ANY ND fans showed Bobby "love" in the parking lot, I hope that was either sarcasm on the commentator's part, or they were the type of fans we see at home games and just don't talk about afterwards!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

Poor Rudy, imagine if they had ESPN back in 1976 -- would have gotten 15 minutes of fame from Davie.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:49 pm | #

Hey Nate! My friend, who just spent 3 weeks in Japan with her sister, was at Ikego housing for Yokosuka Naval Station. She said it was a 3 hour train ride from Tokyo
t2irish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:50 pm | #

calikid -- same feeling about OSU.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:51 pm | #

Fredo got beat, life is good
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:51 pm | #

Did Tyrone Willingham used to coach at Notre Dame?
Ustacould | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:52 pm | #

"Coach," how do you mean "coach?"
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:53 pm | #

ustacould


as you could see from last year...yes..yes he did
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:53 pm | #

Ustacould - no, he never coached at Notre Dame. Nor recruit.
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:54 pm | #

LOL Burbank, too true!
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:54 pm | #

We've got a walk-on kicker, Washington need to try a walk-on Head Coach.
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:57 pm | #

I used to be supportive of Ty, was not sure about his firing. Then the racial trash talk started, aided by Ty and his buddies, so IMHO he deserves whatever problems he gets.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:57 pm | #

Come on, don't blow the shut out!
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 10:59 pm | #

Bill Stull, Pitt QB flashed the thumbs up as he left on the stretcher. Wanstadt says he's going to be okay, though they are keeping him in hospital overnight for observation. Neck injury was the concern, but it sounds like he's going to be okay.

Don't know if this will affect his status for next Saturday.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:01 pm | #

Well said, Epee, well said! Anyone who supports forceful "diversity" in the hiring of head-coaches should look at Ty and walk away...just walk away! I'm all for QUALIFIED coaches of ANY race being hired to head coaching positions, but perhaps TY wasn't quite prepared to step into ANY of his coaching roles, and the national media (and fans) are just now starting to accept that?
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:02 pm | #

why are dropping into cover 9 and letting them move the ball???? This is pissing me off!
Ustacould | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:02 pm | #

That's good news about the neck injury.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:03 pm | #

Agreed
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:03 pm | #

Damn. they didn't "save (my) zero"
NDPeter | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:04 pm | #

Did he have control? Don't want to be churlish here, but he was bobbling the ball when he landed out of bounds
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:04 pm | #

funny thing is..that wasnt a TD..it was def a dropped ball
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:05 pm | #

Check out Ty's golf cart!
NDPeter | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:05 pm | #

the ball hit the ground
calikid | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:05 pm | #

License plate on Ty's Golf Cart - LLLLLLL
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:06 pm | #

or W84AW
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:07 pm | #

Note to self (Charlie)...when you're recovering from one of the worst seasons in the history of ND, don't let QUITE so many backups (Sharpley excluded) and walk-ons play in what could have been the first shutout in recent history for ND!!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:09 pm | #

Not for us, Bobby, not for us!!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:11 pm | #

my wife wasn't very excited about the 20 minute Washington TD celebration. "They're acting like they just won the game.Was that their first touchdown of the season? They're driving a freakin float around!"
obediah | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:11 pm | #

Obediah -- that was the Ty is leaving some day celebration.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:12 pm | #

Let me preface this by saying my mother and father went to IU and Purdue, but perhaps we can explain the ridiculous celebration that we saw by the WU players and cheerleaders by the fact that they are a state-school??
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:13 pm | #

Comments on the game coach?

"This isn't about Tyrone Willingham. This is about executing. Ummm .. Young men didn't execute enough executions. Now Tyrone Willingham is going to ummm .. Tyrone Willingham's execution, after Tyrone Willigham microwaves some popcorn.
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:15 pm | #

Nice to have a game every so often without drama.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:16 pm | #

Should have been 48-0...oh well.
Polka Party | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:18 pm | #

As long as we have the most points that is.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:18 pm | #

I watched the Washington TD back and forth in slowmo HD, and it looked like a touchdown to me. The ball definitely didn't touch the ground, and I think he had control before his helmet hit out of bounds.

I'm scratching my head about the excellent Washington coverage in the 2nd quarter. I didn't see any blatant interference, but I don't have the experience to know if they backs were doing really well, our receivers were slacking, or Clausen was just making silly throws.
obediah | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:19 pm | #

This Washington team is downright awful (they did not enter ND territory until late in the 4th quarter). While all the blame cannot be placed on Ty e.g. injuries have been devastating, a large portion can. This is his fourth year! To all who have been critical of Charlie Weis, tonight you should have gotten a starker realization of how bad Ty really left things at ND, particularly given the OL recruiting in his last two years. Just think of what things would be like if he had stayed all five years!
pangborn77 | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:20 pm | #

t2irish:

Have been shopping at Yokosuka, when I was stationed at Camp Zama. Now I'm on the other side of the country. Yokosuka's a little closer than 3 hours to Tokyo--your friend's sister needs to discover express trains :)

As for the game, it would have been nice to keep our foot on their throats and win by more, but I can't be mad that the TD was scored against Mike Anello--glad he got in the game for something besides special teams. And on the last few plays, #45 was playing WR--I had no idea who he was, so I looked him up on the roster. Kris Patterson, SR, 5-11, 175, from Seattle, WA. Nice of Charlie to let the hometown kid play.

We played pretty sloppy, and destroyed them. This should repeat itself against Syracuse, so we at least get to 6...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:22 pm | #

DenverIrish:
What would you say if CW left Claussen in and he blew out a knee on a freak play??
mecheng | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:23 pm | #

If Charlie had left the starters in and we won by more he would be hammered by the media.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:24 pm | #

Dumping on his predecessor, a racial hate crime -- who knows what May, Saunders, et al would have called it.
Épée Fencer | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:25 pm | #

Mecheng - that is why I said (Sharpley excluded).
Epee - I just don't see that happening. I mean, there are TONS of ND haters out there, but preserving a shutout against a team of UW's caliber, vs. throwing a deep-ball to make your margin of victory 70 instead of 63, is a HUGE difference!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:29 pm | #

Came in late and wanted to read the game highlights and was wondering why noone had a comment until 1030. Then looked at the Friday post. Oh....Ok.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:44 pm | #

DenvereIrish:
Claussen is not the only key player on the team. Do you want to take chances with Floyd, Tate, Smith, Neal, et al.? A shutout against this UW team is relatively meaningless.
mecheng | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:47 pm | #

mecheng,
Obviously we were watching different games. I was referring specifically to the choice to substitute most of our defensive stars, and our kick-returners, with inexperienced players. We're coming off one of the worst seasons in our history, we're trying to send a positive message to our fans (and recruits), and I personally don't believe the best way to do that is to allow an impotent offense to score and then to let a backup kick-returner to bobble the ball. Just my two-cents! Go Irish! Beat Eagles!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.08 - 11:55 pm | #

Beat Eagles? Aren't we forgetting Pittsburgh, guys?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 12:20 am | #

Nate,
After Bowling Green, and now Rutgers, have defeated Pitt, I am not so much afraid of the Wanstedt-era Panthers. I obviously, as would Charlie, not overlook this team, but as far as long-term hatred and contempt is concerned, would more obviously look forward to a good thrashing of the BC Eagles!
DenverIrish | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 12:32 am | #

good game, good time. never felt close after that first drive, and irish universe was well represented and well behaved everywhere i saw.
mike b | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 1:02 am | #

jay! where were you sitting??

I was in that endzone as well...

Go Irish; I actually felt quite bad when Ty was booed during his plug for Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy research.
yak | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 1:28 am | #

Denver, we've still got to play the game, though. I'm all for beating BC, but that's 2 weeks away. Sure, they lost to Rutgers this week, but don't you think they might have a tad been looking forward to us? Let's not make their mistake.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 3:44 am | #

I'll take the victory but it was a sloopy game. Clausen has looked much sharper as have the receivers. Maybe it was the level of the Huskies! Anyway, Go Irish Beat Pitt!
Old Guy | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 6:26 am | #

Nate,
Normally I would agree with you but Rutgers hung 54 on them and their QB threw 5 TD passes.I think when you are looking past someone it is much closer than that. I think Penn St was looking past Michigan last week for about 23 minutes.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 7:57 am | #

A slight correction Doug. Mike Teel threw 6 TD passes against Pitt, in about 2 1/2 quarters!
JohnF | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:22 am | #

After watching UW's performance last night and the state of the UW football program, does anyone still believe that:

1. Buying out Ty's contract was a mistake?

2. That with poor recruiting it is realistic to expect to win 7 or more games a year consistently?

When was the last time you saw so many seats empty at a game where ND was playing and a frequent chorus of boos?

Also, how much more commentary could Mark Jones and Davie give on Ty's plight? Did either of them ever say that Ty simply is not doing the job? In fact, once again, they alluded (negatively) to ND's getting rid of him.
lush | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:39 am | #

lush,
That ia a CYA move. Did you expect integrity from ESPN?

Finally a game that was not a nail-biter. They came out in the second half and did the job. No questions about which way the dial is pointing to anyone.
Jim | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:06 am | #

As an "old timer" I watched every game coached by Charlie, Ty, Davie, Faust and Kuharich. Only Kuharich with his pro background comes close to Charlie in recruiting. Our skill players are crazy good. Or Golden. This team is vastly improved from last year and has two big games next against long time foes. I want two wins, but a split and the team deserves a shot at a bowl game. Not BCS quality just yet, but getting there. Go Charlie!
Bill Greany66 | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:57 am | #

The thing that noone is talking about is that Ty is just about the only head coach I can think of who has never been an OC or a DC. He's never run an offense or a defense. How this guy ended up with lucrative contracts as the head coach of Standford, ND, and Washington is beyond me. He's a multimilionaire many times over for years of incompetence.
When UW made a mistake on special teams last night, the camera panned to Ty and he was shaking his head in disgust. As if he had done a fine job coaching his players and they were to blame for screwing up. What a joke.
Jack Burton | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:44 am | #

Well, I for one did not utilize the mute button, I was much too busy flipping over to the OSU-PSU game.

Thought the production put on by ESPN2 was atrocious. “Mr. Know it all about ND” and “The Other Guy”, were simply terrible. The theme of Ty victimized, Ty struggling with a young team, Ty vs. Charlie, Ty molder of men about to lose his job for the second time, got very old after ND scored the first time.

“The other guy” did a lousy job identifying players involved in plays. Then the camera shot would move away from the play before the players unpiled and I had a hard time figuring out who was in on the tackles. Stupid announces spent more time discussing Ty and his couching career than they did the game.

Thank god next year we are going to be very good and garner ESPN or ABC on away games with full coverage and not Davie the idiot and “The Other Guy”.

P.S. Struggled rooting for MSU, but Rich needs to suffer after what he did to the WV team and loyal fans.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:46 am | #

Like Subway Alumni said, the production values left a lot to be desired.

However Davie was pretty critical of Ty a few times, but you had to read between the lines. He wasn't going to come out on say "Willingham should be fired" because honestly, that's not an announcer's job. He did, at one point when they were talking about the poor talent quality at UW just after they were talking about how beautiful UW's campus was, say "One has to wonder how it got this bad in the first place".

That's as close to "Ty Willingham is a terrible recruiter and he really should be fired" as any announcer is really going to get. MAYBE a national analyst like Herbstreit can come out and say that, but even that isn't very common.
PAK'00 | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 11:28 am | #

There are many things I could say about that Huskies coach, but he is now dead to me. Let us not speak of him again. At least not until ESPN hires him for the ND broadcast team.

Davie on the other hand is such an effing tool. Nice recollections of playing against ND at A&M jagoff. How'd that work out for ya? Losses.

We will have a great offense with a little more competition along the line and after Clausen gets yelled at a few times. I remember Quinn referring to a comment weis made early when he refused to take his outlets and kept looking for the long ball - 'That's why you'll never be a great quarterback.' Right after that he got scary good. Clausen is clicking now, but trying to do too much. When he gets taken down a notch, he'll be unstoppable. Things are looking good.

Is Brian Smith ok?
indy | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 11:41 am | #

Did anyone else see when some one would hit a Notre Dame player. The Gold would shatter and it would look like stars or just pure awesomeness.

Also I hope Brian Smith is ok. He looked like he was out of it.

They left like 3 touchdowns on the board and I think 2 or 3 INTs.

Pitt got killed....I wonder how they will come off that loss when they play Notre Dame.

The running game was on!
Mexican Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 1:38 pm | #

I was going to say I cannot believe that Willingham does not have enough integrity to announce his resignation, but we all know he couldnt play the race card with John Saunders if he did that. Although no one felt badly for ND last year, I truly feel bad for the Huskie faithful. To have to sit and watch that, and to have paid to do it is quite an insult. I remember CW saying last year that he wasnt going to take away from Michigan for trying to get a cheap touchdown when the game was out of hand. I guess Tyrone feels he can use that in his defense, that they didnt get shut out. By the way Denver, I disagree, shutouts arent that important and the fact that Charlie rewarded some kids for their dedication to the program was exemplary. Think how Anello felt getting to play a bit of db and some of the other walk-ons. I think that Jonas Gray will be a valuable addition in the future and that Trevor Robinson may be an Outland and Lombardi finalist before he graduates. The future is bright folks and getting brighter.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 4:12 pm | #

What happened to Brian Smith? Was he concussed? How'd it happen?
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 4:13 pm | #

I dont know if Smith got a concussion but he obviously got his bell rung good.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 4:18 pm | #

what a great game, thanks for the cover Irish! Nothing better than seeing Ty go down in flames!!

Jesse W.
http://www.churchofcowherd.com
Jesse W. | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 4:18 pm | #

This is not likely to be a popular comment.

I'm embarrassed by how spiteful everybody still is toward Coach Willingham. He didn't get the job done at Notre Dame. When he was terminated, we suffered a horrendous (though predictable) downswing because we lost out on the better part of an entire recruiting class. That, of course, could also be somewhat attributed to the fact that we missed out on the coach we thought we could get, and the guy we eventually signed, didn't come to work until after the Super Bowl, a week or so before NSD.

I think we should all have gotten it out of our system by now. Enough with with all the venom. This vengeful attitude is antithetical to the mission of Our Lady's great University.

With all due respect to all on this board: It's time to get over it.
Reno | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 4:49 pm | #

..."F" willingham...he "F'd" us a lot more than we'll ever be able to return the "compliment"...

...and don't throw the predictable "our Lady" bs at me...it hasn't worked since 3rd grade...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:00 pm | #

Denver--

i have to side with the others on this one. Much of the criticism last year centered around our guys not having much garbage time in 2006, so they had no idea what they were doing.

At that point, the massacre was complete, and most everyone was just waiting for the game to end (it was rather cold and windy for Seattle). For the (very) small effect it could have on recruiting, I say put Jonas in there and get his nerves out in a completely meaningless situation instead of having him return his first kick or punt against someone like michigan.
yak | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:01 pm | #

Reno,

Weis pulled double duty and worked hard to salvage the class that he did sign. I can understand you wanting to defend Willingham and I dont think that anyone is attacking him morally. Let us call this what it is, Willingham is a fraud and a great con artist. He conned three outstanding universities into believing he was worthy of their hire and he left or is leaving all three in a shambles. This is a man who made millions as a coach with a career losing record. You can defend him all you want, that is more than he did when ND fired him. Never once last year did CW throw anyone under the bus, players or coaches. I have yet to hear Willingham take any responsibility for his coaching and lazy recruiting gaffes. There is another coach with that same style in Michigan. Rodriguez takes no responsibility for the state of Michigan football and it couldnt happen to a better program.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:16 pm | #

doug, you can't call him a great con artist and a fraud without attacking his moral fiber. Willingham knew exactly what he was doing and there fore he has no moral fiber what so ever. He destroyed 2 and possibily 3 outstanding universities and laughed all the way to the bank
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:22 pm | #

Reno:
Notre Dame gave Tyrone Willingham the opportunity of a lifetime. When other schools talked about hiring minority head coaches, Notre Dame did it. Did Ty live up to his end of the contract? Did he put forth his best efforts? Did he recruit top 25 classes? Did he develop talent e.g., Quinn, Samardja? Did he stand up to the false charges of racism leveled at Notre Dame when his contract was bought out? Did he fire any assistant coaches (like he did at Washington) to keep his job? Did he ever acknowledge that he could have and should have done a better job? Where would ND's program be right now if he was allowed to stay two more years?

I agree that venom and spitefulness must ultimately cease but surely you can understand why many of the ND faithful feel as though Ty let them down. Acting with a Christian attitude and integrity goes both ways.

P.S. What makes you think Meyer turned down ND? Good sources will tell you Meyerlaid down at least one condition (regarding recruits) to ND that ND was unwilling to accept.
lush | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:25 pm | #

Reno,

Maybe if TW wouldn't have irresponsibly played the race card after he left ND, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Most of us wouldn't have cared about him at this point, much as most of us aren't vengeful to Davie. In fact, TW would probably be treated the same way as Davie is now by ND fans.

But once he allowed Saunders to play the race card in that interview, anything he got from then on, was deserved.
jason | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:26 pm | #

Lush:
You forgot to add that he was discussing the head coaching position at UW with UW officials without ND's permission while still under contract to ND.
pangborn77 | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 5:27 pm | #

Food for thought:

1. In the last three weeks, the defending National Champ, LSU, has given up over 50 points twice, including once at home. Pitt gave up 54 to Rutgers yesterday. Mizzoui gave up over 50 last week. In its history, ND has allowed more than 50 points only three times.

2. With his big victory in Columbus last night, JoePa's road record against Big Ten teams since 2000 is now 15-20.

3. BC gave up 45 to North Carolina yesterday.

4. Since 1963 (last 45 years) how many teams from the Big Ten have won the National Championship outright besides Ohio State? Answer: None.

5. Ty's winning percentage at UW is now .255 and he plays USC next.
MechEng | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 6:13 pm | #

Just got home from Seattle, Wow, what a weekend. From the Pep-rally to the tailgate to the weather and ofcourse to the complete domination of the Huskies. Great game even with Jimmy having a little bit of an off day. Special thanks to the Notre Dame Club of Greater Seattle for putting on an amazing weekend. Go Irish, Beat Pit.
Paul | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 6:20 pm | #

Well, I was certainly right that my comment isn't terribly popular.

I do understand that he did not satisfactorily perform his duties, especially when it comes to recruiting, and even more especially in his final season when the handwriting was on the wall. That was irresponsible of him. I hope the same thing isn't happening at Washington.

As far as not getting Meyer, I think I said we didn't get the guy we wanted - I didn't say anything about who spurned who. (The loosened recruiting standards demand is well known by now.)In fact, one faculty member I know said there was a long list of demands delivered to ND from the Meyer camp, and the grades were one of the few, if not the only one ND refused to acquiesce to.

I know Charlie did some work for ND while still with the Pats, and I was negligent in not pointing that out in my first post, but he wasn't fully on the job until post-Super Bowl. I don't hold this against him, but I think it's safe to say he wasn't putting in 40 hours/week on behalf of the Irish during that time.

I'm not going to really speak as to the charges of racism coming from multiple sources around the country at the time Ty was dismissed. We are all biased toward ND, of course, but not everybody is, and I believe that reasonable minds could differ as to whether there were any goings on behind the scenes with race being a motivator. I klnow I heard rumors of such throughout Ty's tenure, which coincided with my time in undergrad. If Coach Willingham believes that race was one (not THE, but one, however small) factor leading to his firing, does he have an obligation to defend Notre Dame against those charges? I say "no."

I apologize for offending everyone who has commented since I last did. I'll admit to posting partly because I was curious about what the response would be. So far I'm grossly outnumbered, but unsurprised.
Reno | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 6:25 pm | #

Well written Reno.
Hang wround it's a fun group.
I had the 'tar & feathers' out for CW after UNC.
Now I'm going to have to blame it on pang, indy, voice, oc, Big Jim from Redondo Beach, The Mex Lep, and other nefarious posters.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 7:02 pm | #

My problems with Ty are rooted mostly in his insinuations of racism - though gosh, he really was an awful coach. (I was an ND student in '03 and '04.)

FWIW we're 9th in "Others receiving votes" in this week's AP poll, and 5th in the coaches' poll.
John | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 7:55 pm | #

You all talk as if TW ruined our program, well things would have been worse if he broke recruiting rules or kept kids on the field who were failing classes, But guess what we don't have NCAA sanctions crippling us, so everybody needs to relax and gain some perspective.
Peter | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:01 pm | #

Reno:
Go back and read TW's interview with John Saunders--it is on this website. TW was not let go because he is African-American. He was let go because he did a poor job by any objective standard. The fact that others, including the two announcers last night, continue to criticize ND, even subtly, after four years, for letting TW go says quite a bit about them and it should be understandable, even if not right, that the ND nation gets defensive about such lies.
MechEng | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:04 pm | #

Wow!! So TW did not get us sanctioned and our players graduated so we should take solace? Guess what?? Ara, Devine, Faust,and Holtz didn't get us sanctioned either and our players graduated. What's your point?
pangborn77 | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:07 pm | #

Reno, I see your point.

Personally, I'm over Ty. He's not coaching here anymore, and though I don't like what he did to the program, I think we're beginning to crawl out and emerge as our own team.

The progress this team has made and will continue to make adds up to an exciting time to be a Notre Dame fan.
NDdallas | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:15 pm | #

there was a comment above wondering how Ty got his head coaching jobs, as he had never been a DC or OC ever?

I'll say it; he got those jobs precisely because he was black. schools wanted to make a statement, and Ty, to his credit, was able to work that in his favor.

he probably had the potential yrs ago to become a good coach, but he got caught up in being "Ty".
belocki | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:26 pm | #

I believe that ND's football program never recovered from Fredo beating us with a last second field goal, at home, a week after the the Irish won the Game of the Century versus Florida State in 1993. The depression and malaise have really never lifted.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 8:38 pm | #

I agree with you there VIW and Malloy and Wadsworth. Davie isnt totally exonerated from his part too.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:12 pm | #

Ty has run Washington into the ground hasn't he? (It's a 3 team battle royale for the worst in FBS. Washington, Washington State, and Syracuse can each stake a claim.) He has never learned that you have to recruit to win. You have to chase kids now, they won't just come to you.

In a weird way, I think all of us ND fans might have Pete Carroll to thank for the program possibly getting turned around. USC's thumpings of ND teams probably helped get the ball rolling against Ty more than anything else. Those games showed that he did it with smoke and mirrors his first season, and showed that the team didn't improve (much) at all in the subsequent two. USC may be the program that Notre Dame measures itself against, and their return to power may have helped the administration realize that the football program is just as important to ND as the academics. People don't want to admit that, but it is true. I don't want to see ND sell their soul for a championship, but hopefully they will do what is necessary to not let the program dip to where Ty had it, and where he has Washington now-cuz ND was just as bad last year.
www.southbendblarney.com | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:37 pm | #

"...and don't throw the predictable "our Lady" bs at me...it hasn't worked since 3rd grade..."

I'm no longer in the third grade, but I have to admit that the Our Lady stuff still works on me.

Notre Dame. Our Lady. Mother of God, pray for us. Forgive and forget. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone and in the meantime, Jimmy throw a fade pattern to number 3. Number 3 at Notre Dame is the greatest number in American football.
There are three leaves on the shamrock and 3 persons in the Holy Trinity.

Joe Montana, Harry Oliver, Darius Walker, Demetrius Jones (oops, once again, forgive and forget), and now Michael Floyd wear number 3. Michael Floyd is a freshman? Where's the learning curve? How is it he's doing these things already? Notre Dame. Our Lady. Maybe I'm a simpleton or something, but it still works on me, like a shot straight through to my heart. Go Irish!
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:48 pm | #

voice, i don't know if it was that or the three heismans that paulus never won.

Another thing to consider: is it mere coincidence that our down turn coincides with the expansion of the stadium? If the yankees now go 20 years without a ws ring i think we'll know.

Wish i could have seen the game, but still no internet at home. Damn italians!
domer03nolongerinbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 9:50 pm | #

Voice, that was the peak on the football chart. Tom Coughlin did a brilliant job all game. Glen Foley looked like Johnny Unitas. How did we not cover their Tight End, Mitchell, all day? McDougal took 'em down the field too fast and a completely bogus roughing call on the kick return. Then, of course, poor Pete Bercich. Never the same because Wadsworth teamed with Monk and wanted to get all Ivy League on us, forgetting that it truly was Rockne, not Cavanaugh, who mad Notre Dame.
psdo51 | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:03 pm | #

So I was wrong to be nervous about the Washington game. It feels great to be wrong, and I hope that ND has established its ability to win on the road henceforth.

Does anyone here have thoughts on the defensive formation that UW ran several times, with good success, against ND? They had six players near the line, in the form of two triangles:

X
X
X

X
X
X

Also, were there changes to the blocking scheme that allowed better running by ND? It seemed like Aldridge and Allen, and even Jonas Gray, looked much better -- was it just poor run defense by UW?
Louie | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:30 pm | #

So much for the two triangles... try again:

.....X
..X
.....X

.....X
..X
.....X
Louie | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:33 pm | #

Lastly, I cannot argue with VIW's assessment of the impact of the 1993 season. I'm one of those folks who thought it was great to pursue an academically distinguished team -- I'd like my degree to mean as much as possible. Naturally, I was surprised and disappointed when Ty was fired, although I never thought it was because of his ethnicity.

Watching the game last night reminded me just how embarrassing it was to cheer for a team that would have too many players on the field for the first play of a half. As embarrassing as graduating less than 90% of players, or seeing repeat headlines about off-field behavioral issues? That's hard to say.

I think it is easy to say, however, that SB Blarney is right about ND's football being as important as its academics. It seems like Weis has a good handle on that balance. He still needs a signature victory, but winning the should-win games is a step in the right direction.
Louie | Email | Homepage | 10.26.08 - 10:49 pm | #

PLEASE HELP!!!

Well....I had to attend a wedding last night, and I came home to my Comcast DVR empty...and (standard) my cable isn't working at all. Really hoping for a miracle here, but I can't access espn360.com or even order espnu to watch a replay of the game. Also, I have come up empty searching google for a torrent of the game...

ANY ideas???
RQPS | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 12:45 am | #

Reno,

I'll give your worthless comment all the consideration it deserves. Willingham is a crapppy coach -- that can be forgiven. But he helped drag ND's name through the mud, and he has made a career out of bilking employers. He is a lazy, dishonorable POS. You'll be happy to know that rumors are flying today that he will announce his resignation from UW some time this week (although I'm sure he'll manage to get paid for his 5th year). Go over to Dawgman on Rivals and see what he did to another proud program. Most fans have this crazy trait that makes them angry when they see some overpaid incompetent run a program into the ground, put no effort into his job, and then blame everyone but himself for the failure.
ndfootball4ever | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 1:33 am | #

Interesting that some people are bringing up the BC game in '93 as the beginning of a precpitous downturn - that's the very first Notre Dame game I remember watching from beginning to end. Then they beat us four straight years while I was in school. Perhaps this is all my fault.

It makes me sick to my stomach to think that we have anything to thank the Poodle for, but sbblarney might have a point on that one. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Poodle is gonna be gone soon when SC gets put on probation anyway.

Re: Racism. I did not claim, nor am I now, that Willingham was fired based on his race. What I did say, is that reasonable minds could differ as to whether it was a contributing factor, however small. The argument can be made. As such, I don't hold it against Ty that he did not rush to defend ND against the charge.

ndf4ever - Thanks for the kind words. Really, your post brought a tear to my eye. I am going to plead ignorance as to the actual facts, but the general sense I get is not that Ty has actively dragged ND's name through the mud, nor that he has blamed others for his lack of success here and at Washington. Instead, it seems to me that he more or less keeps himself out of, and above those kinds of discussions (the interview with Saunders being a notable exception). It would seem out of character for him to get involved in such mudslinging (for lack of a better term).

Jim M - I've been loyally reading this blog for over 3 years, so I'm unlikely to be chased off. Hell, I enjoy the back and forth, even if I'm taking the minority position. (No pun intended.)
Reno | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 2:21 am | #

I dont think that ND will ever suffer for graduation rates. I think every recruit who signs with the Irish knows how much education is valued. In the past there have been red flag recruits who were questionable students,Jerome Heavens for one and Tony Rice, just to mention. Heavens graduated in three and a half years. I think the character of the young man and his work ethic are what ND looks at in determining his place. Weis has enough love for the university that he will continue the tradition of graduating very good football players.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 7:24 am | #

BTW...

Props to the women's soccer team finishing their regular season 18-0-0. Can one of them kick for the footbawl team?
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:20 am | #

I have to agree with domer03nolongerinbmore:

"Another thing to consider: is it mere coincidence that our down turn coincides with the expansion of the stadium? If the yankees now go 20 years without a ws ring i think we'll know."

From http://und.cstv.com/facilities/n...nd- stadium.html

"Stadium expansion was the subject of one of 43 recommendations submitted to the Trustees in May of 1993..."

Before the expansion, [Touchdown] Jesus had the best seat in the house for every game. After the expansion, all he had to look at was a concrete wall.

Apparently, the stadium expansion ball really got rolling in 1993.

I, for one, find it perfectly normal that a mother would stop supporting a team that strips her son of his season tickets.

Cut a notch for Jesus (seriously, 1000-seat reduction, maybe?) and watch the MNCs and Heismans return in force!
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 11:02 am | #

Or from http://www.uhnd.com/history/notr...e-dame-stadium/

"In May of 1994, the Notre Dame Board of Trustees approved a 21,000+ seat expansion and modernization of Notre Dame Stadium."

Timing fits too perfectly...losing to BC in '93 was a fluke (we should've been #1 anyway). ND football fading into mediocrity after the admin puts a wall between it and Touchdown Jesus is no fluke.
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 11:08 am | #

Or maybe any change to our stadium brings bad luck...don't forget that Rockne died the off-season following the original dedication of ND Stadium, and ND wasn't really terrific again until Leahy took over more than a decade later.

OK...enough silly superstition (but seriously, admin, cut that notch!)...time to get back to football!

Go Irish! Beat Panthers!
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 11:12 am | #

I'd say when the refreshment stands stopped serving communion that the downturn occurred. Perhaps allowing Beelzebub free reign in the parking lots was a bad decision, too.
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 11:13 am | #

This is the longest Half-Time in memory!

2009 Shirt Slogan; NOTCH IT!!!!
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 12:27 pm | #

I think the solution is pretty clear; double the height of the Hesburgh Library and pull the mosaic tiles up a few stories.

Ta-da.

Primo seats for Jesus again.
NDdallas | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 12:51 pm | #

Touchdown Jesus/Hesburgh Library went in Sept of '63. TJ didn't have much of an effect on the team that year.

I'm curious: how does Pitt still get more votes than us in the AP poll?????
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 1:06 pm | #

Doesn't Jesus have x-ray vision?
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 1:20 pm | #

I agree with Reno that the venom directed toward Willingham is unbecoming of our university. I'm hoping that the certain end of his tenure at Washington will be enough to put the matter to rest, but I'm not holding my breath. There are still ND fans pissed off at Joe Kuharich.

I do not blame the failures of 2002 thru 2004 at the feet of Tyrone Willingham. I blame the guys that hired him in the first place. I'm not the only one who did not like the selection, though it did seem like a stroke of genius when he was 8-0.
tjnd88 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 1:36 pm | #

I like it, NDdallas!

And I don't know, Anon. 1963-1993 weren't a bad 3 decades to be an Irish fan.

Here's hoping for the same for 2007-2037!
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 1:58 pm | #

..."Notre Dame. Our Lady. Mother of God, pray for us. Forgive and forget. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone and in the meantime, Jimmy throw a fade pattern to number 3. Number 3 at Notre Dame is the greatest number in American football.
There are three leaves on the shamrock and 3 persons in the Holy Trinity."...

...jesus christ...I'm dealing with religious fundamentalists...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 3:05 pm | #

willingham just quit on monday at 3:20pm
belocki | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 3:34 pm | #

I agree with some earlier comments. With the resignation of Willingham, let's stop beating the dead horse and just treat him like we do Davie. I think it's pretty clear race isn't the main reason he got fired. After this year, Weis has enough of his own players that Tyrone is not going to be a factor in the program again.

Boy that feels good to type.
John05 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 3:48 pm | #

Willingham will step down after this season. Breaking news?
erin | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 3:58 pm | #

Willingham's out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ne...tory? id=3667258
Mike | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 4:03 pm | #

So what's Joe Biden , Willingham's running mate up to?
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 4:16 pm | #

I cannot believe how racist UW is for firing Willingham.
irishru2 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 4:16 pm | #

..."Notre Dame. Our Lady. Mother of God, pray for us. Forgive and forget. Let he who is without sin throw the first stone and in the meantime, Jimmy throw a fade pattern to number 3. Number 3 at Notre Dame is the greatest number in American football.
There are three leaves on the shamrock and 3 persons in the Holy Trinity."...

...jesus christ...I'm dealing with religious fundamentalists...

Jim

I think these are universal truths in any religion. Scientists have done studies and shown that it is better for each individual to "forgive and forget". The "Golden Rule" is used in all major religions by different monikers. Newton also had a similar rule: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Let's just drop it and cheer on the Irish instead of spewing stuff at a person who has no relevance to ND now and we can do nothing about the situation.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 4:20 pm | #

Anonymous:

Some of the vitriol against Willingham might have been a reaction to the media's characterization of ND in its firing of Ty. Perhaps some fans felt that Ty was encouraging the media in this way.

Like the vast majority of ND fans I felt that once Ty departed that was it... and from what I could tell acted like a gentleman after his departure.
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 4:32 pm | #

Notorious racists, those University of Washington people. The audacity of terminating the contract of a black man! In 2008!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 5:19 pm | #

Like the vast majority of ND fans I felt that once Ty departed that was it... and from what I could tell acted like a gentleman after his departure.

The problem many had was when, in Willingham's post-firing interview with ESPN's John Saunders, Saunders all but accused ND of racism, and Willingham did nothing to refute it (such as saying, "John, whatever the reasons ND had, I can assure you, racism was NOT one of them"). Had he said something to that effect, there'd be less schadenfreude being posted on various ND message boards today.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 5:25 pm | #

Quick question. What happened to Kyle Rudolph? Will he be on the field against Pitt?
Old Guy | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 5:30 pm | #

It was far worse than that DJ. What Lionel did was actively insinuate that racism was a factor:

JS: You weren't given the five years that other coaches got to demonstrate those skills. Do you think it is in part because you're an African-American?

TW: I've always said that in this country there is no absence of racism, okay, we're all aware of that, it's been here for quite some time, okay. And to think it would NOT factor in may be naive on my part. But the people that really know that answer are the ones that we need to talk to.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 5:31 pm | #

Thanks for the transcript, Thundershaker. Its just as infuriating today as it was then. Too bad for Ty that he had a .250 winning percentage at UW, and now even John Saunders will throw him under the bus. If you ain't helping "the cause", you're hurtin' it, bro.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 5:57 pm | #

Dana - I think that's a very keen observation about Ty getting the brunt of our collective anger when much of the national media raised questions about the motivation for his firing. I hadn't really considered that before now.

Washington's had a tough run. Neuheisel screwed up and got his tenure shortened. Ty didn't get the job done, so his tenure has also been abbreviated. A coaching carousel is certainly no way to revive a program - too bad for them. As long as they remain on our schedule though, I won't really feel too sorry for them.

I'll be interested to see if there is a measurable Bradley effect in the Presidential election. I'm not really convinced that we, as a nation, have intellectually moved beyond the issue of race. (Actually, I'm convinced that we haven't, but that's neither here nor there.)It could be an issue in the elction; some think it was an issue in Ty's firing from ND. The two matters are only tengentially related, and this isn't really an appropriate forum for the discussion. Pardon me for musing.

I also think JC needs a better seat for the games. Perhaps we should just replace the North endzone scoreboard with the "Word of Life" mural. I don't think it's too much to ask the fans in the South endzone to crane their necks around to see how many timeouts Purdue has left.
Reno | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 7:25 pm | #

Hey guys, let's shift away from Ty. We have a game this week against a Pitt team that looked like it was rolling until giving up 54 last week. They will come to South Bend PO'd.
pangborn77 | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 7:29 pm | #

We could start leaving one great seat open and say it's for Jesus.

It works in Dallas when we say Texas Stadium has a hole in the roof so God can watch His favorite team.
NDdallas | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 7:39 pm | #

This Moron is a Moron.
Nice Headline*; ND validated in dismisal of Willingham. A$$Wipes.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ne...tory? id=3667258
*Sarcasm.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 7:42 pm | #

That interview with Saunders tipped the scales for a lot of ND faithful. It is just as offensive now as it was then. And the media continued their ridiculous accusations of racism LONG after that interview. They were shameless in their pursuit of painting an ugly picture of the University. And now, as the fraud walks away with yet another $1 million to add to his nest, you will not hear one pundit retract the vile things they said. Not one will point out the diversity of the Notre Dame sideline, as opposed that any Willingham patroled. However, Willy's departure from UW should finally put this drawn out chapter to bed for good. Amen to that.
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 8:12 pm | #

Amen, and extraordinarily well said OC!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 8:24 pm | #

Dammit, I forgot to ask you to come up with an appropriate Ty Willie theme song, OC. Let 'er rip. Then, we can finally turn the page!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 8:29 pm | #

Hmmm...I'll think about that one, and thanks for disregarding my grammatical errors!
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:03 pm | #

"...jesus christ...I'm dealing with religious fundamentalists..."

Not at all, Jim Redondo. I'm a Roman Catholic. Everything I wrote is supported by the teachings of my faith and my church, except for the bit about #3 for ND being the greatest number in American football. That's pure opinion.

The forgiving and forgetting part is actually what I'm obliged to practice as a Catholic.

I'm sorry if it comes as some kind of shock to you that Catholics root for ND, Jim, and please try if you can to refrain from taking our Lord's name in vain, or at least capitalize it if you do.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:24 pm | #

Question. Maybe a dumb question, but anyway....Have there been any articles since Ty's firing in '04 by any members of the media attempting to refute the accusations/implications that ND was racist?

Maybe something that would say TW should have been allowed to coach a 4th year, but talk that ND's firing of him was racially motivated steps far over the line of what is fair and reasonable?

And if there have not been any articles, why not? I mean, wouldn't that generate a fair amount of interest from readers?

Appreciate any thoughts on my questions by anyone.
WS Dave | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:25 pm | #

Maybe this weekend we will be able to shut Mark May's mouth. I would love to see JC hang another 6 TD passes on them. If we have finally figured out a running game this team can be frightenly explosive and potent. We have proven that we have a wealth of talent at the skilled positions. I hope this is the game we turn in our most dominant of the season in all three areas.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:26 pm | #

Here is food for thought. If Willingham had been allowed to coach a 4th year and it had ended as we expected,where would he have ended up coaching? Who would be our coach now?
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 9:30 pm | #

thats an interesting question. probably not weis.

perhaps the current Mich State coach? i love kelly from cincy as well.

wasnt ara from the mac?
belocki | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 10:27 pm | #

Good question, Doug. Assuming Willinghame was gone after his 5th season, who would we have now? Maybe we still end up with Coach Buzzcut, though it's possible he would have gotten a head gig in the NFL by then. Would we still have been interested in Ferentz at that point? Perhaps Nutt would be Irish instead of coaching at Ole Miss. We obviously like bringing in folks with ties to the University. Who else is out there with that criterion met? It would have been too early to reach for Skip Holtz, who's only had a hot hand for the last two seasons or so. I don't know enough about the names around the country to even have an educated guess.

It would be great to throttle Pitt this weekend. Icing on the cake would be Lou delivering an open-hand slap to the face of Mark May during the postgame wrap up. I'll settle for merely getting a convincing win. May can survive to spew nonsense another day, I guess.
Reno | Email | Homepage | 10.27.08 - 10:35 pm | #

"Question...Have there been any articles since Ty's firing in '04 by any members of the media attempting to refute the accusations implications that ND was racist?"

-WS Dave

WS,

While there undoubtedly have been (articles) the media works 'in the moment.' While we may still recall that/those moments, the rest of the world goes on. Human nature.

Also, had Ty coached at, and been released from, say a Georgia Tech, or a Penn State, or Nebrasks, Syracuse, et al, the writer of the 'racist' article would've been run out of sports (see:Jim Gray/Grey, for lesser improprieties)

The media would've been foolish to not have pursued the racist angle. There once was a pathetic attempt at a book, called "Under the Tarnished Dome" or something like that, that never employed the first rule of even yellow journalism. Because it took shots at us, it sold zillions. Ultimately, it only worked to elevate us a tad bit more.

John Saunders is John Boy, period. He never should have been allowed out of the field, but showed via TW what type of journalist he is. Is that kind of harsh, and crude? Uh huh! But I'm just mirroring what he did to us, and, when you reflect on it, it mellows the anger that 'Buck' Saunders (BS) may have once caused.

BTW: my new book 'Political Correctness and Sports In America' is currently undergoing final edits. Please stand by.
FightingGrandmoms | Email | Homepage | 10.28.08 - 9:27 am | #

I am one of those ND fans that was a bit shocked at the firing of Ty Willingham and was a supporter up until the John Saunders interview. Until that point, I could take the charges of racism by the media because you could always just point out that we hired the guy in the first place. When Willingham insinuated in the interview that race was a factor in his firing, that was it for me. I almost wish he would be around next year for the return trip to South Bend and we could lay another beating on him.
ND Alum | Email | Homepage | 10.28.08 - 2:59 pm | #

And if someone steps in to the Washington job next year and plays well, will there be the snide "I guess we left them some players" comment, ala Kent Baer after the 2005 Washington game?
ND Alum | Email | Homepage | 10.28.08 - 3:01 pm | #