-' ~~-:;-x4- e e I ID White: 'We've got to find a way to get back to the elite' Observer Left, Tyrone Willingham addresses the media Saturday at USC. Right, Notre Dame athletic director speaks to the media Tuesday at a press conference in which White announced the firing of Willingham after the third-year head coach compiled a 21-15 record at the University. participated in a round of discus­ he has input on long-term position at Notre Dame. Football doesn't make enough progress." By HEATHER sions and coach Willingham was University decisions, but that is very important to this institu­ Although Willingham struggled VAN HOEGARDEN aware of those conversations as Malloy still has the final say. tion. I think everybody in the on the field, White commended Sports Ediror we proceeded." White said Willingham was room realizes that and under­ his efforts ofl' the field as a repre­ Sources said there was a notified of the University's deci­ stands that, and competing at sentative of Notre Dame. For the first time ever, Notre Board of Trustees meeting sion Tuesday morning. Later that the highest level is of the utmost "All of us had great expecta­ Dame fired its football coach Monday night, during which the afternoon, the players were importance." tions when we sat here three before his original contract decision to fire Willingham was called in for a meeting to discuss Notre Dame has been inconsis­ years ago, and in a number of expired, as Notre Dame football made. the decision. tent this season. After losing to ways Tyrone has been an excel­ coach Tyrone Willingham's term White said University President The University's decision to fire unranked Brigham Young in the lent fit and a great representa­ ended Tuesday after three sea­ Father Edward Malloy and select Willingham season -opener, tive of our program," White said. sons at the hHlm of the Irish. leadership oflicers make most of comes on the the Irish de­ "lie personally has displayed Willingham, who was not the policy decisions at the heels of another .. The decision was feated then-No. impeccable integrity and tremen­ available for comment Tuesday, University. blowout loss for made by the University 8 Michigan. dous character, and his players leaves Notre Dame with a 21-15 "I think it's fair to say, I report the Irish. During They won two have represented themselves oil' record, including this season's 6- to the president and at the end of Willingham's senior leadership, and straight games the field in a first-class manner." 5 regular season campaign, the day, I serve at the will of the three years, the in concert with the before getting Notre Dame, who recently which concluded Saturday with a president at the University of Irish have lost by University senior blown out by accepted an invitation to the Dec. 41-10lossatNo.l USC. Notre Dame," White said. 31 points or then-No. 15 28 Insight Bowl, has not decided Notre Dame athletic director "Father Malloy and select offi­ more five times. leadership., Purdue. After if it will still participate, pending Kevin White said Tuesday it was cers tend to make most of the Prior to winning two on a team decision. Willingham's on-the-field per­ policy decisions relating to all the Willingham, the Kevin White more games, White said a search f<>r a new formance that led to the decision. different entities at the Irish had just. Notre Dame athletic Notre Dame football coach will begin right "We simply have not made the University of Notre Dame. I had four such losses lost at home away. progress on the field that we an opportunity to fully partici­ in 38 years. director against Boston "We will immediately begin a need to make," White said in his pate, as wnll as some participa­ White said al- College only to national search for a new foot­ initial statement. "Nor have we tion with some partieipation of though the blow-outs were a fac­ defeat then-No. 9 Tennessee on ball coaeh," White said. "I don't been able to create the positive select leadership trustees, as tor in the decision, it wasn't just the road. Notre Dame dosed its have any particular parameters momentum necessary in our well." one thing that led to the decision. season with a 41-38 loss to in mind, other than identifying efforts to return the Notre Dame University spokesman Matt "I don't know that I can point Pittsburgh at homt~ and the loss an individual who can lead Notre program to the elite level of the Storin said Tuesday that the col­ to anything in particular. I think to USC on the road. Dame football back to the sus­ college football world." laboration between University as we put it all together, as I said "On Saturday, we struggled," tained level of excellence that White said the decision to fire President-elect Father John pretty carefully in this statement White said. "We 'w' been up and everyone associated with thn Willingham was made by the Jenkins and Malloy f(Jllowed the or this release. we just weren't I down and sidPways a little bit, a. University and the program senior leadership at Notre Dame. decision-making pattPrn the two don't think. manufacturing thn little bit inconsistPnt. I think th(' wants and desin:~s." "The decision was made by the have used sino~ Jenkins was momentum, the progress that we pmgram is doscr than when he University senior leadership, and named Malloy's successor in felt WI~ needed to have to move arrivnd, and I think we were in concert with the University May. Jenkins told The Observer this program back to the elite," making progress, by my view Contact Heather Van Hoegarden senior leadership," \Vhite said. "I in October that in this process, he said. "That's not a negotiable and view of the University, just at [email protected] Average Wins in First 3 Seasons vs. Average Career Wins at Notre Dame Jesse Harper: Elrner Layden: Terry Brennan: Ara Paseghian: Gerry Faust: Bob Davie: Note: Knute Rockne coached only six games in his ftrst season going First 3 seasons 6. 7 First 3 seasons 6A First 3 seasons 6.3 First 3 seasons 8.3* First 3 seasons 6.0 First 3 seasons 7.0 3· 1·2. In seasons two through four he averaged 9.3. His career Career 6.8 Career 6.7 Career 6.4 Career 4.3 Career 6.0 Career 7.0 record from seasons two through 13 is 8.5. Hunk Anderson: Frank Leahy: Joe Kuharich: Dan Devine: Lou Holtz: Tyrone Willingham: *Indicates a national championship was won in the ftrst three First 3 seasons 5.3 First 3 seasons 8.0* First 3 sea"ons 4.0 First 3 seasons 9.3* First 3 seasons 8.3* First 3 seasons 7.0 seasons. Career 5.3 Career 7.8 Career 4.3 Career 8.8 Career 9.0 Career 7.0 page 2 The Observer + IN FOCUS Wednesday, December 1, 2004 Despite outside belief, Tuesday a sad day for Irish CLAIRE KELLEY!The Observer Irish head coach Tyrone Willingham leads his team out of the tunnel this season. Willingham was fired Tuesday after compiling a 21-15 record in his three years at the University. The decision came with much support from alumni and fans. My first conversation with seasons. Willingham did much more for Willingham told a group of stu­ Tuesday, near the end of a sec­ Tyrone Willingham was brief. Tuesday was a sad day the University than many people dents when he was first hired. ond disappointing season in I nervously introduced myself, because too many people rooted realize. He pushed his players to He recalled ordering a meal at a three tries. He didn't expect the made small talk and quickly for this move. Too many people succeed in the classroom, and nearby fast food restaurant. news - neither did his assistant walked away. It was the shortest rejoiced in Willingham's fall. Too the players responded with Before he could finish ordering, coaches, who were on the road of conversa­ many people think ridding the some of the highest GPAs this the person taking the order recruiting. tions, but it University of Willingham and football program has ever seen. asked, "Aren't you Tyrone A man that stands for every­ was long bringing in a head coach from He indirectly increased minor­ Willingham?" Willingham intro­ thing that is right about this enough to Utah will magically turn every­ ity enrollment at a school com­ duced himself, then spent the University, a man that made this leave an thing around for the fallen Irish. prised of mostly white, upper­ next 20 minutes standing out­ school better during his three impression - The truth is, it won't. middle-class students. side and signing autographs for years in South Bend, a man that I liked this There is no quick fix to Notre And he restored respect and a number of people. did everything he could to man. I liked Dame's problems. character to a Notre Dame pro­ Situations like this show return Notre Dame football to him a lot. People blame Willingham for gram that was reeling with Willingham understood peoples' glory, is now a part of the past, Maybe it Notre Dame's struggles the past embarrassment after the George passion for this University. joining the ranks of recently dis­ was the firm Joe Hettler several seasons.