Tyrone Willingham Named Home Depot National Coach Of The Year
First-year head coach has guided Irish to 10-2 record and a berth in the Toyota Gator Bowl.
Dec. 9, 2002
ATLANTA - University of Notre Dame head football coach Tyrone Willingham will be named The Home Depot National "Coach of the Year" during a live telecast scheduled to air on ESPN this week, it was announced Monday.
Willingham had an outstanding first season at Notre Dame. In addition to compiling a 10-2 regular-season record and earning a berth in the Toyota Gator Bowl, he became the first coach in the heralded history of Notre Dame football to win 10 games in his first season. He also has guided the Irish to the third-best turnaround in school history (+4.5 games).
"To be named Home Depot 'Coach of the Year' is an honor, but in choosing the word 'honor,' it falls short of the respect and emotions that I feel for this award and its presentation," Willingham said. "It would be a stretch to say that I thought this day could happen in my life. However, because of the work, courage and character of the Notre Dame family, coaches and players, it is a reality.
What did Arizona's or Duke's AD that's better than what Woodward did this year?
The man hired Christ Petersen. Unless the other ADs cured cancer or established peace in the Middle East, I don't think there's anything they've done that can outmatch the Petersen hire.
Rebuilt stadium. Dumped Sark. Hired Petersen. Now fire Romar and he has my vote.
What did Arizona's or Duke's AD that's better than what Woodward did this year?
The man hired Christ Petersen. Unless the other ADs cured cancer or established peace in the Middle East, I don't think there's anything they've done that can outmatch the Petersen hire.
If Woodward leaves I'd go after the Arizona AD or at least have him on the short list. I mentioned him a year ago on here. He shitcanned Stoops and hired Rich Rod. He also has raised a lot of money and they have some new facilities. His background is also impressive. Has SEC ties as well as ties to the northwest.
Stoops was a fucking clown but if you look at the advanced metrics and W/L he improved Arizona's lot considerably. Arizona's AD made a move that you only see from big time programs. He replaced a coach who had earned a few more years with someone who was obviously better.
FYFMFE for not mentioning @PatHadenFS yet. We'd be nowhere without him.
To get to the point that he is no longer always referred to as Pool Boy (or was that Sark?) tells me he is at least in the conversation. Fire Romar and he is final ballot.
Rebuilt stadium. Dumped Sark. Hired Petersen. Now fire Romar and he has my vote.
Huh? I like the revisionist history going on around here that he "dumped Sark". More like Sark dumped him and he didn't object.
Hiring Petersen is a big success. Deserves all the credit in the world for that. Far as Sark goes? That is more luck than Woodward's doing.
To get to the point that he is no longer always referred to as Pool Boy (or was that Sark?) tells me he is at least in the conversation. Fire Romar and he is final ballot.
I thought Sark was pool boy
He wasn't going to fire Sark after 8-4.
Big difference between not liking a guy so you won't extend him and not liking him to fire him.
I doubt he fires Sark at 8-4 as he'd have to pay off his salary.
Facts are he didn't dump Sark, Pat HadenFS bailed him out.
What did Arizona's or Duke's AD that's better than what Woodward did this year?
The man hired Christ Petersen. Unless the other ADs cured cancer or established peace in the Middle East, I don't think there's anything they've done that can outmatch the Petersen hire.
If Woodward leaves I'd go after the Arizona AD or at least have him on the short list. I mentioned him a year ago on here. He shitcanned Stoops and hired Rich Rod. He also has raised a lot of money and they have some new facilities. His background is also impressive. Has SEC ties as well as ties to the northwest.
Stoops was a fucking clown but if you look at the advanced metrics and W/L he improved Arizona's lot considerably. Arizona's AD made a move that you only see from big time programs. He replaced a coach who had earned a few more years with someone who was obviously better.
Stoops ended the 2010 season losing five games in a row then began 2011 losing five of six. So he had a stretch where he was 1-10. The AD shouldn't be getting praise for firing him at that point.