Ty Willingham received |
a crock of bull
By ERICKA P. THOMPSON
I was going to be fair and wait to write this column around Oct. 15, when Notre Dame was half way through its schedule. But then I remembered that fair and Notre Dame don’t belong in the same sentence so here it is…
The Irish are a despicable 0-3 and have lost five in a row dating back to last season.
Their highly touted quarterback freshman Jimmy Clausen has yet to score a touchdown.
The defense has allowed 23 sacks in three games – 23!
The three defeats were by a combined 89 points including a 38-0 stomping by Michigan who entered the game unranked and winless.
And to make matters worse, the Irish are below the bottom of the totem pole – at least by their standards – ranked 119th in the nation in rushing, total and scoring offense and 111th in rushing defense.
Yet, no alumni are calling for coach Charlie Weis’ head. Boosters haven’t threatened to burn their checkbooks. Students haven’t posted FireCharlieWeis.com.
Before you ask, yes, I’m pulling the race card. Actually, I’m yanking it like a dog does a piece of steak.
In Tyrone Willingham’s three dubious years as coach of the Irish where he was ridiculed endlessly, he NEVER began a season 0-3. Which by the way hasn’t happened EVER.
Willingham’s 5-7 record his second season was mediocre by college football standards but embarrassing to the Irish. After going 6-5 his third year he was given the ax without a chance to coach his first recruiting class because the team didn’t improve.
Enter “the great” Charlie Weis who with his rotund midsection was made out to be “the god of offense.” Now, I think Weis is brilliant. But being an offensive coordinator (I don’t care if it was New England) is nothing compared to being a college football coach, especially in South Bend.
An offensive coordinator doesn’t make draft picks, evaluate talent and scout free agents. A college coach travels all over the U.S. and out of the country competing for top talent with hundreds of schools.
Weis, who in his first season went 10-3 just like Willingham (and received a 10-year extention), wasn’t working with a team he picked. This year there is no Brady Quinn, Darius Walker or Jeff Samardzija – and he’s losing, badly. And, with Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA, Boston College and USC waiting, it’s possible the Irish might not win a game until November.
Where is the hate mail?
Where is the negative talk?
Why isn’t anyone crying that he be fired?
It’s simple, he’s not a Black man.
I understand that whites are tired of Blacks playing the race card. Truth be told, we’re tired of using it. I’m not yelling racism. I’m yelling for you to notice that Blacks and whites are treated differently, especially in Indiana.
There is no way Willingham could have began a season 0-3 at Notre Dame and his job not immediately be in jeopardy.
Weis on the other hand is allowed a chance to “start training camp in September” as alumni, boosters and fans wait patiently for the tide to turn.
What a crock of bull.
