34 NOTRE DAME/INDEPENDENTS 2002 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Ty’s time Willingham era gets started at Notre Dame on Saturday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Tyrone Parseghian, say there is no reason Willingham smiled slyly when asked Notre Dame can’t be a power again why he took the Notre Dame coach- and recruit the nation’s top players. ing job knowing he would be living “I know when I was recruiting in a fish bowl. there were certain kids out there “Because I get to swim with the who were just waiting for Notre fishes,” he said. Dame to call,” former Nebraska It’s been choppy so far, though, coach Tom Osborne said. “They taking over a program that is as far have a national fan base and a from its glory days as it has ever national television contract. There’s been. no reason Notre Dame can’t win, He was hired amid turmoil follow- and I think they will win under ing the embarrassing resignation of Tyrone Willingham.” George O’Leary Willingham thinks so too, after just five although he won’t make any predic- days on the tions about when. The Associated Press job and has “If you are asking for a timetable, Notre Dame seen the team I’m not that brilliant. I wish I could lose six play- give you one,” he said. “But our coach Tyrone ers during the goal is to win and I’ve clearly stated Willingham offseason, UND that.” shouts out including three Willingham, who runs from place instructions at who were PREVIEW to place on the practice field and the beginning expelled from school after a woman commands attention with his soft said she was raped. voice, comes off at first impression of practice in It’s been as tumultuous an offsea- as a non-nonsense coach, but he South Bend, son as Notre Dame has ever seen, has revealed a dry sense of humor. Ind. The former and the school has had hard times “Is that company issued?” he said Stanford recently. Notre Dame came off pro- with a smile when a reporter’s tape bation last year after the NCAA coach begins recorder fell from a speaker and his career at found that Kimberly Dunbar, who crashed to the floor. embezzled more than $1.2 million Asked about the difference of Notre Dame from a company she worked for, coaching at Stanford and Notre Saturday spent some of the money to buy Dame, he replied: “The weather’s against Irish players diamond pendants and been a little cooler. The address to trips to Las Vegas. Maryland in my home has changed, too.” the Kickoff It’s been tough on the field as When a reporter told Willingham well. Notre Dame has not seriously at media day that he heard he ran Classic at the challenged for a national champi- grueling preseason practices, Meadowlands. onship in nine years, when it fin- Willingham looked at the players on ished the season ranked No. 2 the other side of the arena and games. He was fired a day after the behind Florida State. Since then, 2002 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE whispered: “Don’t say that too Irish finished 5-6. the Irish have a 58-36-1 record, loud.” Willingham said he’s always han- ‘Day Date Opponent Time averaging 4.5 losses a season. But Willingham is guarded in his dled pressure well because his Sat Aug. 31 vs. Maryland 8 p.m. The Irish haven’t won a national answers, revealing as little as possi- expectations have always been Sat Sept. 7 Purdue 1 p.m. championship since 1988, the sec- ble. Some questions he simply higher than those around him. He Sat Sept. 14 Michigan 2:30 p.m. ond longest stretch without a title in won’t answer, such as the goals may find it hard to have higher Sat Sept. 21 at Michigan State 12:10 p.m. school history. That’s three years he’s set for this season. He said goals than the Notre Dame faithful, Sat Oct. 5 Stanford 2:30 p.m. shy of the 17-year gap between the that’s between him and the team. though. Sat Oct. 12 Pittsburgh 2:30 p.m. 1949 and 1966 championship Willingham is aware of the scruti- Asked how he will deal with those Sat Oct. 19 at Air Force Noon teams. ny that coaching the Irish will bring, pressures, Willingham said he Sat Oct. 26 at Florida State Noon Notre Dame hasn’t finished the although those who have held the wouldn’t pretend to be unaffected. Sat Nov. 2 Boston College 2:30 p.m. season ranked in the top 10 since job previously say it is impossible to “But I believe that hopefully there Sat Nov. 23 Rutgers 1 p.m. 1993 — the longest such drought in is a system within me, a system I Sat Nov. 30 at USC 8 p.m. school history. realize the immense pressures that created, that will allow me to focus The Irish haven’t had a first-team come with the position until being and do the things I need to do,” he son, when they were plagued by All-America since 1993 and haven’t faced with them. 2001 RESULTS said. “But you can’t judge any of key injuries in going 2-9. had a Heisman winner since Tim The pressure caused health prob- that until you’ve been through it.” South Florida, which moved into Nebraska 27, Notre Dame 10 Brown in 1987. They haven’t had lems for , and Frank Among other Division I-A inde- Division I-A last season and went 8- Michigan St. 17, Notre Dame 10 anyone finish in the top 10 in ballot- Leahy and Parseghian each retired pendent schools, Navy also has a 3, including surprising Pittsburgh, is Texas A&M 24, Notre Dame 3 ing since Reggie Brooks finished after 11 seasons because of the new coach. Paul Johnson, offensive led by Marquel fifth when Miami’s Gino Torretta pressures. Leahy retired following Notre Dame 24, Pittsburgh 7 coordinator at Navy from 1995-96, Blackwell, who completed 258 of won in 1992. the 1953 season after collapsing Notre Dame 34, W. Virginia 24 takes over a team that went 0-10 456 passes last season for 2,882 Despite all those problems, during a game and being given the Notre Dame 27, USC 17 last year — the worst season in 121 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 Willingham said the Irish will win Last Rites in the locker room. Boston Coll. 21, Notre Dame 17 years of playing football at interceptions. championships again. If he wants to see how eager the school is to win, Willingham need Annapolis. Johnson, who helped Troy State, which beat Mississippi Tennessee 28, Notre Dame 18 “Why not?” he said when asked State 21-9 last season en route to a Notre Dame 34, Navy 16 by a reporter about it. not look back any further than last guide Navy to a win in the Aloha 7-4 record, officially became a Some have said Notre Dame’s year. After Bob Davie led Notre Bowl in 1996, was 62-10 in five sea- Stanford 17, Notre Dame 13 Division I-A school last month and tough academic standards, difficult Dame to a 9-3 record and a Fiesta sons at Georgia Southern, leading Notre Dame 24, Purdue 18 celebrates by playing a difficult schedule and lack of a conference Bowl appearance in 2000, the the Eagles to two straight NCAA schedule that includes Nebraska, ing for a replacement for running tie combine to make it increasingly school rewarded him with a new Division I-AA titles. The Midshipmen Iowa State, Missouri, Mississippi back Emmett White, who had 2,014 harder to compete against schools five-year contract. After opening the will switch to a triple-option offense. that can take in virtually anybody, season 0-3 last year, White called Connecticut is preparing for its State, Marshall, and Arkansas. The all-purpose yards last season. play weak non-conference sched- Davie into his office and told him he first season with all I-A opponents Trojans need to find replacements Coach Mick Dennehy hopes a vet- ules and have conference affilia- was thinking of firing him before the in its third year at this level. Coach for quarterback Brock Nutter, a eran line will help whoever wins the tions. season was over. Randy Edsall is hoping the Huskies, four-year starter, and running back job. The Aggies, who play Iowa and But many others, including former Davie went from having a long- who return 10 starters on defense Demontray Carter, the leading rush- Nebraska this season, are seeking Irish coaches and Ara term contract to a coach who might and eight on offense, are bigger, er the past two seasons. their first winning season since not finish the season in three faster and healthier than last sea- Utah State, 4-7 last year, is look- 1996.