Washington coach Tyrone Willingham and Notre Dame coach
Charlie Weis are facing off for the second time since Willingham was fired as the coach of the Fighting Irish.
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
This weekend's matchup between Notre Dame and Washington is starting to stir up feelings from 2005. That was the first time Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis and Huskies coach Tyrone Willingham met on the field -- just months after Willingham was fired from Notre Dame.
Even now, as both coaches are moving in opposite directions -- Willingham is likely on his way out after his fourth consecutive losing season while Weis is starting to get the Irish back to a winning standard -- some still question whether it was the right move to knee-jerk fire Willingham and hire Weis. Especially since some believe that the bulk of Weis' success came with Willingham's recruits in 2005 and 06.
"In 2005 it was definitely there. You could act like it wasn't there because you felt like [it was] this dog-and-pony show that we always talk about, that's how I felt at the time. I don't feel that way now," Weis said. "We've gone our separate ways from there. I think that that was probably the one hurdle that we both had to get through, just so we could get through it. But I've gone my way, he's gone his way, our programs have as well."
The success of this year's Irish team is starting to bridge some of the gap between Weis supporters and what's left of the pro-Willingham faction. As Weis proves he can win with players he's recruited and Willingham continues to struggle, the comparisons between the two coaches become few and far between.
This is the first time these teams have met since 2005 and though Weis has had his struggles, his 4-2 Irish are in a much better position than Willingham's 0-6 Huskies. The Irish should win their first road game relatively easy this week.
And Weis said he's not thinking about comparisons to Willingham or any of the naysayers that still question whether he's the right man for the job. The Irish are worried about a bowl berth and they can't help the fact that the road goes through Washington.
"Now I feel like, hey, it's the second half of the season, we need to get off to a good start, we've just had a nice long weekend off," Weis said if his team's bye week. "We've got to get off to a good start, and Washington happens to be the team we're playing.
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
This weekend's matchup between Notre Dame and Washington is starting to stir up feelings from 2005. That was the first time Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis and Huskies coach Tyrone Willingham met on the field -- just months after Willingham was fired from Notre Dame.
Even now, as both coaches are moving in opposite directions -- Willingham is likely on his way out after his fourth consecutive losing season while Weis is starting to get the Irish back to a winning standard -- some still question whether it was the right move to knee-jerk fire Willingham and hire Weis. Especially since some believe that the bulk of Weis' success came with Willingham's recruits in 2005 and 06.
"In 2005 it was definitely there. You could act like it wasn't there because you felt like [it was] this dog-and-pony show that we always talk about, that's how I felt at the time. I don't feel that way now," Weis said. "We've gone our separate ways from there. I think that that was probably the one hurdle that we both had to get through, just so we could get through it. But I've gone my way, he's gone his way, our programs have as well."
The success of this year's Irish team is starting to bridge some of the gap between Weis supporters and what's left of the pro-Willingham faction. As Weis proves he can win with players he's recruited and Willingham continues to struggle, the comparisons between the two coaches become few and far between.
This is the first time these teams have met since 2005 and though Weis has had his struggles, his 4-2 Irish are in a much better position than Willingham's 0-6 Huskies. The Irish should win their first road game relatively easy this week.
And Weis said he's not thinking about comparisons to Willingham or any of the naysayers that still question whether he's the right man for the job. The Irish are worried about a bowl berth and they can't help the fact that the road goes through Washington.
"Now I feel like, hey, it's the second half of the season, we need to get off to a good start, we've just had a nice long weekend off," Weis said if his team's bye week. "We've got to get off to a good start, and Washington happens to be the team we're playing.
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