Quote:
Originally posted by KSig RC
What's the "ND Thing" right now? Mediocrity? Overrated and inflated reputation in the media, that doesn't carry over to the general population? Recruits turning them down for UF, for NC State, for Minnesota (as has happened recently)? A history of "winning" that traces back 70 years, but not 15 years?
For my money, it's the inverse of Florida - UF sucked terribly until Spurrier took over, just decades of losing and third-tier statues. Now it's a tier-one job - why? b/c it's increasingly a "what have you done for me lately?" lifestyle. And Carroll might or might not "get" USC - but would you fire him if he didn't? Of course not, b/c he WINS.
I think you can conflate "gets it" with "is winning" and not lose a beat. Think about it.
In this case, apparently most of the nation doesn't "get it" with Notre Dame, b/c their ratings on NBC are falling, their recruiting classes were weak (up until, uh, Willingham's last two, including the incoming), and a couple (minor) scandals that were way outside of ND's perception of itself.
I think the "gets it" argument is sort of a cop-out, especially for ND. On the other hand, Amy, you should have pushed for the two previous USC coaches to be shot out of a cannon, b/c they were political hires and subpar choices (who haven't exactly resurfaced in college football, IIRC) . . . not just b/c they didn't revere OJ and Marcus Allen.
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No, you're not "getting" it.
lol The "thing" is not about football at all. Its about the spirit of the school and its programs. Some schools have a very unique and definitive spirit. USC, Auburn, Notre Dame-- schools that define themselves as part of a FAMILY.
Ex USC Coaches did not "get" the USC pride. As Willingham has been said not to "get" the spirit at Notre Dame.
John Robinson "got" the USC thing--he was a beloved coach--IN THE PAST. When he came back to SC he tried to play the same style of ball from his first era and the Pac-10 had changed. Hello, West Coast offense.
Hackett never got it and fought with AD Garrett and the administration---much as Willingham is reported to have done at ND.
And when that "spirit" is as revered as it is at schools like USC and ND, not understanding it, not playing to it, can be a death knell for you. Not the SOLE reason for a dismissal, of course, but a big factor in it. When a coach plays to that spirit--he will get what he wants out of the boosters, AD and admin... which DOES help him to have a successful team.
As I wrote this, I understood more of what you meant by cop-out... but I have read that this was a factor so many times now, and knowing how it can be a factor at USC, that I do believe it is part of the story with Willingham.