Spartan Profiles: Tyrone Willingham

WAKING UP THE ECHOES

            Knute Rockne.  The Four Horsemen.  Win One For the Gipper.  Rudy.  The “Game of the Century” (10-10 tie with Michigan State in 1966).  The great football tradition of Notre Dame now rests on the shoulders of former Spartan quarterback and assistant coach Tyrone Willingham, ’77, whose selection will surely enhance the special rivalry between Notre Dame and MSU dating back to 1897. 

            In the past, MSU often looked towards South Bend when hiring a football coach.  In 1922 MSU tried to lure Rockne to East Lansing, but Rockne decided to stay put in South Bend.  Frank Leahy, an MSU assistant coach in 1932, later carved his legend as Notre Dame head coach from 1941-53.  MSU enjoyed great football success from 1929-46 under two former Notre Dame All-Americans, Jim Crowley, one of the “Four Horsemen,” and then Charles Bachman.  In the late 1940s, when MSU sought entry into the Big Ten Conference, Notre Dame helped MSU’s credibility by scheduling the Spartans.  That move was appreciated by President John Hannah and legions of Spartans, but it exacted a price on the Fighting Irish, as MSU proceeded to win 11 of 12 games from 1950-65. 

            The first Spartan to be head coach at Notre Dame, Tyrone brings some very impressive credentials to the table.  As head coach of Stanford since 1995, Tyrone took the Cardinal to four bowl games, including the 1996 Sun Bowl (when he spanked Nick Saban’s MSU team 38-0).  He was twice named PAC-10 “Coach of the Year” (1995 and 1999).  While at MSU, Tyrone was a back-up quarterback to his North Carolina high school rival Charlie Baggett, now an assistant coach in the NFL.  Tyrone faces many challenges as he tries to restore the Fighting Irish to greatness.  Foremost among them, ironically, is to end Notre Dame’s current five-game losing streak to his alma mater.