Guest Author Bryan's College Football Thoughts

Is it possible that Notre Dame really did not think that Tyrone Willingham was that bad of a coach, just that they could now get somebody who would be better? Willingham compiled a record 21-15 in his three seasons at the Golden Dome. Was this not the same Tyrone Willingham that led his Irish to upset wins over Michigan and Tennessee? He did, however, lose tough games to Purdue and USC – though it should not be a surprise that they would have lost to a team such as USC.

As Horace Greeley once said, “Go west young man,” and that is what Notre Dame Athletic Director will do just now. Look for them to quickly make a trip to Utah and begin to court Utah’s coach Urban Meyer. Meyer, in his second season at Utah, has led his team to an 11-0 record this season, and have the Utes ranked fifth. A former assistant coach at Notre Dame, Meyer has one peculiar aspect to his contract. After signing a contract extension at Utah last year, he put in his contract that if he was to be named head coach at Michigan, Ohio State, or Notre Dame he could leave without incurring a penalty. One more thing about Meyer that I would like to throw out there; He’d win more games at Notre Dame in his first year, than Steve Spurrier will win in his first year at South Carolina.

Three coaches come to mind in Notre Dame’s search to recapture their glory. Meyer is the most obvious one, but I would not be surprised if you hear the names Butch Davis, or even Charlie Weis. Davis, compiled a great record at Miami, and was really able to turn that program around. Weis, the spectacular offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, is a Notre Dame graduate.

I want to say something else about Butch Davis. As a former coach from Miami, the one who turned that program around, the one who recruited the players that Larry Coker eventually won a national title with, why is he not the perfect person to be roaming the sidelines for the Florida Gators? To me, this is a no-brainer.

There is another coaching decision that has been puzzling me for some months now, and the reason I can speak about this is because I do live in the Big 10 market. Exactly what is Joe Paterno still doing coaching? What purpose is being served by him still on the sidelines? At what point do you begin, as a member of the Penn State Athletic Department, do you begin to think of the future?

Joe Paterno is college football royalty; there is no doubt about that. It looks though that the game has maybe passed him by. I look at Joe Gibbs current success at Washington and then compare it to Paterno and I see no difference. Penn State is not what it used to be. How long should you have him stay around before you say that you need to do something to turn your program around?

Change the name of the stadium after him, or if you do not want to do that, make the road leading up to the stadium, ‘Joe Paterno Way.’ After another lackluster season, it might be time for the Nittany Lions to think of other options. Either way, I would not wish that job on anybody. Look at what Ron Zook went through after taking over for the ‘Ole Ball Coach. That is what the successor to Joe Pa will get. I would think that Butch Davis would be another good fit for Penn State. Though it pains me to say it, because he ruined my Chicago Bears in the mid-90’s, but Dave Wannstedt might even be a good match for Penn State.

I suppose since I am doing College Football, I should make a watch for everyone about the Heisman. I do not like the idea of that being awarded before bowl games, but what do I know? Anyways, that will be forthcoming.