Notre Dame shows its true colors

I'm not talking about green and gold, just green, and perhaps white. Yesterday, Notre Dame fired head coach Tyrone Willingham, one of less than a handful of African-American head coaches in Division 1 NCAA football. Willingham was hired just three years ago after the first choice, George O'Leary was fired after it was found out that he was less than truthful on his resume. So Willingham was hired, and ND was able to take all of the kudos that went with it.

Willingham was fired after only three seasons. Most coaches get 4-5 years, to bring through their own players. Even Gerry Faust and Bob Davie were given 5 years to achieve success. Willingham's transgressions included not winning a bowl game, a perceived lack of good recruits, and a dull offensive scheme. What he really did wrong was not get to any BCS bowl games, and not win enough. The latter is enough to get any coach fired. But Ty's failings came at a time when a former ND assistance and latest hot prospect Urban Meyer is available. Meyer currently coaches Utah, who is undefeated and will be playing in a BCS bowl. BCS bowls are guranteed payoffs of $14M+, and ND being an independent means they can keep all of that money, unlike conference teams who must share it. Meyer has an out in his contract for the ND job, and ND doesn't want him sucked up somewhere else.

If Meyer is more successful in his first three years, great for him. It will vindicate ND's decisions and put them back on the football map that is necessary for their survival as the lone independent and only team with its own network TV contract. If he doesn't, they will look even worse then they do now.