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As a second-generation University of Washington alumnus, I could not have been more proud when the school hired Tyrone Willingham as its head football coach in 2004. It made the UW the only Division I-A school in the nation to have an African-American basketball coach and head football coach on staff at the same time. Considering the dramatic underrepresentation of African-American coaches in Division I sports (that continues to this day), this was a groundbreaking move by the university. Alas, like all things associated with Seattle-area sports nowadays, the story that began so well ended badly.
After the ugly and premature dismissal Coach Willingham received at Notre Dame, I was eager for him to have an opportunity for redemption. More importantly, though, I was proud that the university which my parents and I had attended had done the right thing in hiring two African Americans to coach sports teams dominated by African American players. It was another sign of Seattle's bold progressivism. The Lorenzo Romar hiring had paid off in providing the first exciting years of UW basketball since German natives Detlef Schrempf and Chris Welp starred in the 1980s. The team has receded back into mediocrity after losing several underclassmen to the NBA, but still has a bright future. Unfortunately, the UW football team has continued on the wrong path Rick Neuheisel set them on in the early part of the decade.
The 2007 Husky football team, though a disappointing 4-9, showed grit and potential. They hung in with some of the top teams in college football until late in the 4th quarter and showed great promise heading into this season. Then came perhaps the most grueling schedule in the nation. Even a team on its way back to national prominence would have struggled with this schedule. Arguably, some of the best Huskies teams in history might have been 4-3 at this point in the season. One absurd call by an official and an injury to the team's last best hope later, and the season is over. And along with it, Tyrone Willingham's brief career at the UW.
Who knows how long it takes to turn around a football program? Is it five years? Seven years? Longer, if the athletic director signs your team up for the toughest schedule in the nation in your 3rd and 4th years on the job? How long does it take when a program has been decimated by a venal football coach known for leaving a path of wreckage in his wake? Some coaches have turned things around fast, but even the "genius" Charlie Weis dragged the Notre Dame faithful through one miserable season last year. Or was that Tyrone Willingham's fault, too?
Maybe a better question is whether winning is more important than running a program with integrity. During the Rick Neuheisel years, rumors of assaults, robberies, and even worse acts committed by UW football players were commonplace. Yes, victories were relatively plentiful, but do we want to go back to those days? If so, there are plenty of coaches out there who will make us feel good momentarily, but will we be proud to host a parade for them after they win the Rose Bowl?
Whatever one thinks of Tyrone Willingham's coaching skills, he restored some honor to the UW football program. Maybe not much swagger, but is honor so undervalued in modern America? We could use a dose of it in our politics, our sports, our culture, indeed, our national identity.
I'll admit I was pulling for Tyrone Willingham to succeed at the UW partly because he is African American. But I was also pulling for him because he is a good man. He is someone whom I could root for without wondering to myself, "Is this guy a total creep?"
Maybe in this age of Barack Obama, my viewpoint is too quaint. Maybe it's time to move past rooting for someone because of his or her race.
I just hope it never becomes outdated to root for decent people. Decent people like Tyrone Willingham.
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Comments:
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 7:54 a.m. Inappropriate
How good of a person is Ty Willingham? I was raised by Cougars - raised to hate the Huskies - and I was rooting for him. I wanted him to succeed even though it meant that UW would win games. That he didn't succeed on a timeline that satisfied the alums and university is sad indeed.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, noon Inappropriate
This is a perfect example of the complete lack of logic in "progressive" thinking and the emotional tie to political correctness at all costs--
This is really, really simple. Ty is a really bad football coach. Anyone with an eye for the game sees the in game mistakes, lack of player development, alienation of fan base, boosters, and the lack of emotion on the sideline and lack of execution on the field. Do you think maybe this takes its toll on the student athletes knowing we've got a mockery of a program and one of the worst coaches in the nation? But, it's all about Ty's feelings, right? And, oh yeah, its real neato to have to head coaches that are black. That's FAR more important than a quality or successful product.
A once proud program is worse off than when he took over. The excitment and passion are gone. Ty killed them. There is no honor in being horrible. That kind of thinking needs to stay in the abstract and out of the real world. And by the way this whole "integrity" thing...strictly adhering to a rigid set of rules regardless of the result could describe both integrity and insanity---the only difference is whether its a success.
Ty is a good man? From everything I've heard, probably. But so is my pastor, and I wouldn't want him coaching either. Try a little triage--greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time--it's a good logical rule to make decisions and live by. Unfortunately your progressive mind will always hurt the majority for the sake of "feelings" for a few---
It's time to find a coach that will win games AND do it right. It is possible. Ty is not the guy, never was.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 2:31 p.m. Inappropriate
koopdog, you'll notice that I never actually say Willingham should stay, just lament that it all went so badly. And, for the record, Ty's lack of success was really just at the UW. He was quite successful at Stanford and at least moderately successful at Notre Dame despite impossible expectations there.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 7:22 p.m. Inappropriate
As much as koopdog believes it may be, this column is not about being "progressive" or politically correct. It's about giving a once-successful coach the opportunity to build his own program and start winning games here at the UW. A coach who also happens to be a respectable person and demands the same from the players on his team. An admirable trait in my book.
The point is, we'll never know what a Willingham-built UW team would be capable of. We'll never get to see the results of a team built from the ground up by him. In today's environment, anything short of instant success gets a coach a pink slip. Sure, Willingham might have made a better call here or there but there are plenty of other factors that contributed to their miserable record beyond his control.
So scapegoat him if you like, koopdog, but in my opinion, your anger directed at Willingham is for the most part misplaced.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 7:26 p.m. Inappropriate
Adam,
I sincerely appreciate your lamentation. I wish it had went well, too, but more for the season ticket holders, players, and fans than for Ty. Yes, there is certainly a part of me that feels bad for Ty, but that is shoved to the back of my heart when I see another embarassment like tonight at USC that can't be explained by needing more time, etc. This is his 4th year and there are tons of coaches who have showed rapid improvement.
My problem with your article is not your sympathy; it is for the obvious misplaced priorities. Being black should have NOTHING to do with this. Is it a great thing that our society has changed to the point where we had two head coaches that are black? Yes! Now, let it change some more to the point where one not succeeding and being fired is no more significant that Keith Gilbertson (a big white guy) being fired. I'm also rooting for nice guys, and hope (know) our next coach will be a good man and good coach.
BTW, I could go on and on about Ty's (lack of) success. He was a mediocre coach at best before coming here, bottom line. His claim to fame was a Rose Bowl appearance at Stanford (during a down year in the Pac 10) where he lost. He never beat Washington and he was wildly erratic. He had a 3-8 year in the middle of the run and was 1-4 in bowl games. Even in winning years, he lost several games by 25+ points. After starting 8-0 at Notre Dame, he went completely downhill Going 10-3, 5-7 and 6-6. He was ofer in his two bowl games. He has a bad rep for developing players---you see that on the field right now. Impossible expectations? You're talking about Notre freaking Dame. They should be in the title hunt every year.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 7:26 p.m. Inappropriate
Adam,
I sincerely appreciate your lamentation. I wish it had went well, too, but more for the season ticket holders, players, and fans than for Ty. Yes, there is certainly a part of me that feels bad for Ty, but that is shoved to the back of my heart when I see another embarassment like tonight at USC that can't be explained by needing more time, etc. This is his 4th year and there are tons of coaches who have showed rapid improvement.
My problem with your article is not your sympathy; it is for the obvious misplaced priorities. Being black should have NOTHING to do with this. Is it a great thing that our society has changed to the point where we had two head coaches that are black? Yes! Now, let it change some more to the point where one not succeeding and being fired is no more significant that Keith Gilbertson (a big white guy) being fired. I'm also rooting for nice guys, and hope (know) our next coach will be a good man and good coach.
BTW, I could go on and on about Ty's (lack of) success. He was a mediocre coach at best before coming here, bottom line. His claim to fame was a Rose Bowl appearance at Stanford (during a down year in the Pac 10) where he lost. He never beat Washington and he was wildly erratic. He had a 3-8 year in the middle of the run and was 1-4 in bowl games. Even in winning years, he lost several games by 25+ points. After starting 8-0 at Notre Dame, he went completely downhill Going 10-3, 5-7 and 6-6. He was ofer in his two bowl games. He has a bad rep for developing players---you see that on the field right now. Impossible expectations? You're talking about Notre freaking Dame. They should be in the title hunt every year.
Posted Sat, Nov 1, 7:33 p.m. Inappropriate
Romanknows,
You do know what a Willingham built team is capable of: 11-33. Getting crushed night after night on national TV. Almost 4 years into this, my friend. Players that quit and look overmatched. Bad recruiting. Terrible player development. Horrible in game management. (a delay of game on the first play? I've watched hundreds if not thousands of games, and I don't even see that at the Pop Warner level)
If you want me to list the coaches that have turned around worse situations, I can, cuz I'm a guy of facts, I don't just run on feelings. Ignoring empirical evidence is just part of the insanity of defending this guy. He's a good guy with integrity. Okay, I'll concede. Instills that in his players. Got it. You're missing the rest of the 80% of what football is about. He's one of the worst football coaches I've ever watched (and yes, I am a former DI player). So lament away on a nice guy getting paid a million dollars next year to play golf. I'll lament about the sorry state of the program, or better yet, some folks that make 24K a year that get laid off from Boeing.
Maybe Ty's skills could lead to a different career, I don't know, youth counseling, etc. But he is NOT a football coach.
Posted Sun, Nov 2, 10:22 a.m. Inappropriate
Can't really explain what is wrong with this year's team, but they are awful. But last year's team was not that bad. They beat a few good teams and hung in with some of the top teams in college football (USC, Hawaii). This year is a complete and total disaster. It seems like everyone has given up.
Posted Sun, Nov 2, 1:26 p.m. Inappropriate
Your point's well taken, koopdog. Bottom line is, I wish it had worked out for Ty and here's to hoping the UW can right this ship and reclaim its former glory.
Posted Mon, Nov 3, 6:29 a.m. Inappropriate
It is a rare football program that can win on the field without recruiting losers off the field. The UW record over the past several decades is not encouraging.
Posted Tue, Nov 4, 9:47 a.m. Inappropriate
Why not abandon the whole damn program? Six times a year all traffic becomes gridlock around Husky stadium as 25 thousand cars and buses a 75 k purple morons stream to and back and burn up a small oil field! Get a different mascot than something as primitive and moronic as football! Lead the way!
Posted Mon, Nov 10, 1:51 a.m. Inappropriate
I think that there is a sense among fans that Notre Dame was criticized unjustly for the firing of Tyrone Willingham, so by him struggling at Washington, I think there is a pretty sizable section of the fan base that thinks we've been vindicated, and that the move has been justified.
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Jennysmith
MLS
Posted Mon, Nov 10, 1:55 a.m. Inappropriate
"I think that there is a sense among fans that Notre Dame was criticized unjustly for the firing of Tyrone Willingham, so by him struggling at Washington, I think there is a pretty sizable section of the fan base that thinks we've been vindicated, and that the move has been justified,"
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Jennysmith
MLS