New head coach meets with team for first time
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
He didn't get specific. He was relaxed. But Tyrone Willingham made his point perfectly clear at his first team meeting with the Irish.
"He doesn't accept losing," wide receiver Lorenzo Crawford said of the new Irish head football coach. "He's all about winning."
At a Thursday afternoon team meeting, the Notre Dame football team met Willingham for the first time since his hiring on Jan. 1. During the hour and a half meeting, Willingham outlined his game plan for next season — winning.
"Win. That was underlined, bold-faced, everything," said cornerback Vontez Duff. "He wants to win in the classroom, on the field, in social life."
Following a 5-6 season, the team welcomed Willingham's ideas and took with them a sense of confidence in the Willingham's ability to take the team in the right direction.
"My first impression is that the guy is really pushing his point to win," center Jeff Faine said. "... He just makes a great point that that's what he's here for. I think he's really going to get it done."
Although 5-foot-8 and smaller in size than many of the Irish players, Willingham made his presence known. Following his hiring earlier this month, players were expecting someone who would take control, but what surprised them was the laughter.
"I thought he was more of laying down rules and things like that," Duff said. "It was a nice atmosphere in there, everybody laughing and having a good time."
Willingham's offense at Stanford, which used less option and more passing than the 2001 Irish offense, raised the question about who will take the quarterback role. Following the meeting with the team, the question still remained. Willingham did not address any specific players, instead keeping the focus on his theme of doing what it takes to win a game.
"He just said whoever will win games for us will be out there," quarterback Carlyle Holiday said. "He doesn't care who plays, just get out there and work hard."
When spring football begins in April, Holiday, Jared Clark and Matt LoVecchio will all be looking to adjust to the new offense. And with a new coach, the quarterbacks may all be starting over.
"He's got a plan and he knows what he wants us to do," LoVecchio said. "We're just going to have to follow his plan and do what he tells us and everyone will be on the same page."
"We're starting over. It's a whole new ball game," Holiday said. "But you've just got to adjust yourself to it, to what's going on. I mean, you're a college football player. You should be able to do that."
The fullbacks and tight ends may also see a change in offense. Following the team meeting, tight end Billy Palmer expressed his eagerness to get in and play.
"It's a great opportunity for everyone," he said. "Hopefully, do as much as they can as soon as they can."
Despite the uncertainty about what positions they may be taking, there was a general consensus that the team is ready to play. After the coaching controversies and a month away from the Stadium, April can't come to soon for the Irish.
"Being home for a month, there was this waiting to get back, just get back and see my team," Faine said. "It's just part of my life ... Everybody wants to get back here and get back on track, a better track than last year."
And following Thursday's meeting, the players say there is only one answer to whether or not Willingham can get the job done.
"Definitely. Definitely," Faine said. "Without a doubt."
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 18, 2002
