Willingham for Offensive Coordinator?

[cdex99]

I'd love to have Willingham OC here, but word has it that Washington and Stanford wouldn't mind having him as their head coach.

 

[az jam]

Yeah, he is a close friendof Denny. IMO a real good possiblity to become offensive co-ordinator for the Cards. Denny cleaned house many times in Minnesota by getting rid of coaches that he thought weren't making it. Also remember that Woods was not his first choice.

 

[az jam]

I'd love to have Willingham OC here, but word has it that Washington and Stanford wouldn't mind having him as their head coach.

He may not want to got back to the colleges this soon but rebuild his resume by becomming a very successful OC with the Cards. He would be in much greater demand if that happened. (maybe even a Head Coaching job in the pros)

 

[Russ Smith]

He may not want to got back to the colleges this soon but rebuild his resume by becomming a very successful OC with the Cards. He would be in much greater demand if that happened. (maybe even a Head Coaching job in the pros)

actually I just had a buddy send me an email saying they're talking about this on radio right now. That Willingham may join us as an assistant for the rest of the season sort of the way Hargrave did.

My assumption is Green would then fire Wood end of year and hopefully lock up Willingham.

I was pimping Willingham as HC before we hired Mac permanently, he's a very impressive man, extremely organized, big on discipline, accountability, he's everything Green talks about.

 

[PACardsFan]

WHY would anyone want Willingham to coach here????? I am a solid Irish fan & Ty was pathetic as a HC. You can feed me all the excuses, but he DID NOT win. He was no better a coach than Gerry Faust. Maybe we should hire Ty as OC & Faust as DC. ND's offense sucked under Ty, so what gives?? We'd be better off hiring Mary Poppins.

 

[Russ Smith]

WHY would anyone want Willingham to coach here????? I am a solid Irish fan & Ty was pathetic as a HC. You can feed me all the excuses, but he DID NOT win. He was no better a coach than Gerry Faust. Maybe we should hire Ty as OC & Faust as DC. ND's offense sucked under Ty, so what gives?? We'd be better off hiring Mary Poppins.

he's a good coach, but not a good recruiter, that's my perception at least. Same was true at Stanford couldn't get enough elite athletes to move up.

He inherited a 5-6 team and went 10-3 with 7 straight wins before a bowl loss his first year. but he wasn't able to build on that and recruit the right mix of guys for his style. He dramatically improved the offense that first year, but he never got the QB to get to the next level. They may have him now with Quinn, but he'll never get to work with him to get there.

the other thing is, and I hate to say it to a Notre Dame fan, but the Irish mystique is gone, and has been for years. Kids don't grow up wanting to play for them anymore, they don't have a conference for football, they simply don't get kids as easily as they used to.

Urban Meyer is being reported as the front runner, wish him luck, it's not an easy job, the expectations there are difficult to meet, it's like UCLA in basketball, but without the homegrown talent base to recruit from.

Willingham leaves a better situation than he inherited, but you need someone in there who can recruit.

 

[conraddobler]

he's a good coach, but not a good recruiter, that's my perception at least. Same was true at Stanford couldn't get enough elite athletes to move up.

He inherited a 5-6 team and went 10-3 with 7 straight wins before a bowl loss his first year. but he wasn't able to build on that and recruit the right mix of guys for his style. He dramatically improved the offense that first year, but he never got the QB to get to the next level. They may have him now with Quinn, but he'll never get to work with him to get there.

the other thing is, and I hate to say it to a Notre Dame fan, but the Irish mystique is gone, and has been for years. Kids don't grow up wanting to play for them anymore, they don't have a conference for football, they simply don't get kids as easily as they used to.

Urban Meyer is being reported as the front runner, wish him luck, it's not an easy job, the expectations there are difficult to meet, it's like UCLA in basketball, but without the homegrown talent base to recruit from.

Willingham leaves a better situation than he inherited, but you need someone in there who can recruit.

The they don't get talent arguement is thin and weak IMO.

They have their own TV deal for pete's sake.

The problem is that they don't hire good coaches who excite anyone and everyone else has caught up but a class coach would turn that program around in 3 years tops to back to national contention.

P.S.

I am happy they can't hire anyone worth squat I dislike them.

 

[clif]

a class coach would turn that program around in 3 years tops to back to national contention.

.

really doubt it. as has been mentioned... notre dame is just another school these days. they aren't the only team on tv anymore, so I really dont think they will be a perennial national power again.

 

[PACardsFan]

he's a good coach, but not a good recruiter, that's my perception at least. Same was true at Stanford couldn't get enough elite athletes to move up.

He inherited a 5-6 team and went 10-3 with 7 straight wins before a bowl loss his first year. but he wasn't able to build on that and recruit the right mix of guys for his style. He dramatically improved the offense that first year, but he never got the QB to get to the next level. They may have him now with Quinn, but he'll never get to work with him to get there.

the other thing is, and I hate to say it to a Notre Dame fan, but the Irish mystique is gone, and has been for years. Kids don't grow up wanting to play for them anymore, they don't have a conference for football, they simply don't get kids as easily as they used to.

Urban Meyer is being reported as the front runner, wish him luck, it's not an easy job, the expectations there are difficult to meet, it's like UCLA in basketball, but without the homegrown talent base to recruit from.

Willingham leaves a better situation than he inherited, but you need someone in there who can recruit.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Notre Dame Mystique". But look what Oklahoma did once they hired a real coach. Their program was down for a decade before that. If Notre Dame brings in someone that can coach & recruit, they will be back in the top 10 inside of 2 years. In the meantime, Willingham was average at Stanford & average at ND. I've seen enough average coaches with the Cardinals, we don't need another one.

 

[conraddobler]

really doubt it. as has been mentioned... notre dame is just another school these days. they aren't the only team on tv anymore, so I really dont think they will be a perennial national power again.

The weren't for years before Lou Holtz..

The problem they have is a lot of their administration is just spoiled rotten and totally out of it when it comes to hiring coaches.

They used to think they can put out a sign and only the very cream of the crop will apply. They were delusional and have been for years.

I think a good AD could turn it around easily it's not like trying to build a program at Mizzou for God's sake.

 

[clif]

The weren't for years before Lou Holtz..

The problem they have is a lot of their administration is just spoiled rotten and totally out of it when it comes to hiring coaches.

They used to think they can put out a sign and only the very cream of the crop will apply. They were delusional and have been for years.

I think a good AD could turn it around easily it's not like trying to build a program at Mizzou for God's sake.

ah maybe.. I think you are partly right. I dont see ND allowing any coach more than 3 years, and I think it will take way longer

 

[clif]

I also dont think his days at ND will affect whether or not he could be a good OC for the cards. He may be a better soldier than general.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Notre Dame Mystique". But look what Oklahoma did once they hired a real coach. Their program was down for a decade before that. If Notre Dame brings in someone that can coach & recruit, they will be back in the top 10 inside of 2 years. In the meantime, Willingham was average at Stanford & average at ND. I've seen enough average coaches with the Cardinals, we don't need another one.

I mean when I was a kid Notre Dame was something special, both football and basketball. Say Duck Williams to a UCLA fan like me and I still cringe.

These days, they're just another program, just like UCLA is in basketball right now.

Kids used to grow up wanting to play for them, now they want to play for Miami, OU, USC.

You said recruit, that's what I'm talking about, Willingham can coach but not recruit. In the NFL you don't have to recruit players you coach them.

Carroll at USC is the exact opposite, was fired in the NFL for being too nice, but college kids love him.

I just don't think Willingham is cut out for college.

 

[Russ Smith]

The weren't for years before Lou Holtz..

The problem they have is a lot of their administration is just spoiled rotten and totally out of it when it comes to hiring coaches.

They used to think they can put out a sign and only the very cream of the crop will apply. They were delusional and have been for years.

I think a good AD could turn it around easily it's not like trying to build a program at Mizzou for God's sake.

Holtz had his last "good year" (By ND standards) in 93. He retired after 2 more down years sandwiched around a 9-3 year. That was back when ND traditionally had a top 5 recruiting class, they don't get those anymore and weren't at the end under Holtz either.

How many "great" players has ND turned out in the last 10 years?

 

[conraddobler]

I mean when I was a kid Notre Dame was something special, both football and basketball. Say Duck Williams to a UCLA fan like me and I still cringe.

These days, they're just another program, just like UCLA is in basketball right now.

Kids used to grow up wanting to play for them, now they want to play for Miami, OU, USC.

You said recruit, that's what I'm talking about, Willingham can coach but not recruit. In the NFL you don't have to recruit players you coach them.

Carroll at USC is the exact opposite, was fired in the NFL for being too nice, but college kids love him.

I just don't think Willingham is cut out for college.

Well if he is into discipline then the NFL is shortly becoming not his strong suit either.

Tom Coughlin.... hero... wait dictator..... wait hero..... emmm ker plunk ... loser.

I don't really know him and he might be great in the NFL.

To me the prototype NFL coach is Pete Carroll and Stoops is close behind but not really the prototype because he's more cut out for the Sooners who are an entirely different animal.

Just be a fun loving but knowledgeable guy run a few plays college defenses can't cope with and presto you're a genius.

I always wanted to see what would happen if you took Jim Johnsons Eagles defense and unleashed it in college.

Complicated blitz schemes are still easier than the average offense to learn and assuming you did not coach at a little school who had no chance of stopping the run I think just blitzing oddball blitzes all day would work. Just send something ridiculous like 8 or 9 every play and have a bit of delay to it from the outside rushers for possible screens.



You'd be hated but it would work.

 

[Russ Smith]

Well if he is into discipline then the NFL is shortly becoming not his strong suit either.

Tom Coughlin.... hero... wait dictator..... wait hero..... emmm ker plunk ... loser.

I don't really know him and he might be great in the NFL.

To me the prototype NFL coach is Pete Carroll and Stoops is close behind but not really the prototype because he's more cut out for the Sooners who are an entirely different animal.

Just be a fun loving but knowledgeable guy run a few plays college defenses can't cope with and presto you're a genius.

I.

Carrol failed miserably in the NFL because he was too nice, was friends with players not their coach. In the NFL when guys make a ton of money that runs out quickly.

Willingham is no tyrant, but he's disciplined and organized, maybe Wood is too and I don't know it. To be honest I think Wood will be the fall guy this isn't his offense afterall.

 

[Skkorpion]

Sigh. So much misinformation. It's really quite simple.

The Notre Dame administration thinks it can win with real students and not admitting the marginal students. They are wrong.

Lou Holtz got forced out because he kept trying to force the school into admitting criminals and dummies. When Randy Moss committed to Notre Dame and the school refused to admit him, it was the beginning of the end. Then the woman embezzler who showered players with gifts was tolerated by Holtz. That too pissed off the admins.

I am a Golden Domer and our administration is hypocritical. They expect to win without giving the coaches the tools -- those great athletes who are marginal students. It can't be done. Those players can go to Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and other places and stay elligible. At Notre Dame, they get suspended academically. So why go there? I wouldn't. Not if I was majoring in football.

Notre Dame needs to decide if it wants to truly compete for national titles or keep its standards high. It cannot do both.

Willingham got screwed.

As far as Notre Dame's popularity diminishing, as Russ claimed, we just sold out the LA coliseum and other USC opponents can't do that. We sell out everywhere, still. The home ticket waiting list keeps getting longer.

We play anybody, anywhere, anytime and don't dodge tough schedules. Other schools love to play us because we make them money.

We'll soon know if the school wants to win. If it does, the hire will be Urban Meyer and a loosening of admission standards.

 

[conraddobler]

Carrol failed miserably in the NFL because he was too nice, was friends with players not their coach. In the NFL when guys make a ton of money that runs out quickly.

Willingham is no tyrant, but he's disciplined and organized, maybe Wood is too and I don't know it. To be honest I think Wood will be the fall guy this isn't his offense afterall.

Russ I meant to ask you,

Who is your favorite young head coach? I know Bill B get's the nod by everyone but that's boring.

Who's the best of a new bunch, I like Mora right now he's using Vick about the only way you can but what's your opinion?

 

[Dback Jon]

Sigh. So much misinformation. It's really quite simple.

The Notre Dame administration thinks it can win with real students and not admitting the marginal students. They are wrong.

Lou Holtz got forced out because he kept trying to force the school into admitting criminals and dummies. When Randy Moss committed to Notre Dame and the school refused to admit him, it was the beginning of the end. Then the woman embezzler who showered players with gifts was tolerated by Holtz. That too pissed off the admins.

I am a Golden Domer and our administration is hypocritical. They expect to win without giving the coaches the tools -- those great athletes who are marginal students. It can't be done. Those players can go to Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and other places and stay elligible. At Notre Dame, they get suspended academically. So why go there? I wouldn't. Not if I was majoring in football.

Notre Dame needs to decide if it wants to truly compete for national titles or keep its standards high. It cannot do both.

Willingham got screwed.

As far as Notre Dame's popularity diminishing, as Russ claimed, we just sold out the LA coliseum and other USC opponents can't do that. We sell out everywhere, still. The home ticket waiting list keeps getting longer.

We play anybody, anywhere, anytime and don't dodge tough schedules. Other schools love to play us because we make them money.

We'll soon know if the school wants to win. If it does, the hire will be Urban Meyer and a loosening of admission standards.

Skkorp - hoping you'd reply on this thread, since I knew you are a ND'er.

Yes, ND is still popular with alums, etc. But it has lost some of its mystique with the people that matter - athletes in High School. Notre Dame is not the "cool school" it once was. And until it does loosen academic requirements, and join a conference, it is going to be Insight Bowl bound more often than not.

Meyer will give them a boost, and his offense will wins games they lost this year, but until they do both above, they will not be playing for the NC.

Back to thread - would Willingham make a good OC for the Cards?

 

[clif]

Back to thread - would Willingham make a good OC for the Cards?

I think it would be a good pick... the familiarity with him and DG would be good for the team.

not sure on the play calling simply because I dont know how much he called at ND, but if I remember his stanford team were pretty stout.

 

[Russ Smith]

As far as Notre Dame's popularity diminishing, as Russ claimed, we just sold out the LA coliseum and other USC opponents can't do that. We sell out everywhere, still. The home ticket waiting list keeps getting longer.

We play anybody, anywhere, anytime and don't dodge tough schedules. Other schools love to play us because we make them money.

We'll soon know if the school wants to win. If it does, the hire will be Urban Meyer and a loosening of admission standards.

Skorp that's fans, not PLAYERS.

Notre Dame fans can't block and tackle on Saturdays. 20 years ago kids dreamed of playing for Notre Dame, not just locals, kids all over the country, they don't anymore.

My comments to Conrad about Holtz were self edited, I originally said the reason Holtz won is Holtz took the shortcuts the other Notre Dame coaches couldn't, but I cut that out before I sent it.


The school rejected Moss over outcry from boosters after the malicious wounding incident in highschool, not over his grades.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ I meant to ask you,

Who is your favorite young head coach? I know Bill B get's the nod by everyone but that's boring.

Who's the best of a new bunch, I like Mora right now he's using Vick about the only way you can but what's your opinion?

I really like Heimerdinger the OC with the Titans. Head coach, frankly Mora was bad in SF, but he's doing great in Atlanta.

I'll have to think about that, nobody comes to mind immediately.

 

[conraddobler]

Skorp that's fans, not PLAYERS.

Notre Dame fans can't block and tackle on Saturdays. 20 years ago kids dreamed of playing for Notre Dame, not just locals, kids all over the country, they don't anymore.

My comments to Conrad about Holtz were self edited, I originally said the reason Holtz won is Holtz took the shortcuts the other Notre Dame coaches couldn't, but I cut that out before I sent it.


The school rejected Moss over outcry from boosters after the malicious wounding incident in highschool, not over his grades.

College football is a joke.

The players need to be paid "legitimately" and the whole system needs an overhaul.

I'd say about the top 50 to 75 schools should form a paid league and then the rest can have a real College championship and the others a paid league championship.

College basketball is just about as bad.

The NCAA is the single most hypocritical organization on the planet.

 

[Skkorpion]

Would I like Willingham here as offensive coordinator? You bet I would. But I think he wants to run his own show as a head coach.

And Russ, for the record, if I was the Notre Dame president, I would not compromise the standards and I'd settle for 6-5 and 7-4 records from now on.

 

[Russ Smith]

College football is a joke.

The players need to be paid "legitimately" and the whole system needs an overhaul.

I'd say about the top 50 to 75 schools should form a paid league and then the rest can have a real College championship and the others a paid league championship.

College basketball is just about as bad.

The NCAA is the single most hypocritical organization on the planet.

Completely agree. The reason a guy like Willingham can't recruit at Stanford or Notre Dame is he can't compete with USC, OU and Miami when going after kids because of all the "fringe" stuff they get there that they won't at a real academic school. If players got paid, they would be more likely to choose a real education.

Of course, if the players got a stipend, no reason to think schools still wouldn't cheat and pay extra, but a stipend would be a good start.