Notre Dame’s two captains stuck with the company line in talking about former coach Tyrone Willingham during a conference call Wednesday. They said nice things in as few words as possible.
“He was a great man with a great sense of leadership,” linebacker Brandon Hoyte said.
“He’s the type of coach that’s a players’ coach,” quarterback Brady Quinn said. “He was always able to talk about and discuss things with the players whether it was football or outside of football.”
Both players, like both Willingham and Irish coach Charlie Weis, say the only time they think about the connection of Willingham and Notre Dame is when they are asked about it. Both say they’ve moved on and have embraced Weis as their coach.
“Things have changed, times have changed,” Quinn said. “There’s been a decent amount of time between when things happened. You just have to move on.”
“We have a great deal of respect for coach Willingham and the University of Washington and we know he’s going to prepare them well,” Hoyte said.
Quinn and Hoyte say that while both coaches’ styles are different, there are similarities. They call them both “players’ coaches.”
“They’re both individuals that you can tell they really care about their players,” Hoyte said. “That’s one of the greatest tributes for a coach. They not only care about what happens on the field but they want to see you succeed outside the field and in life.”
Hoyte and Quinn had similar experiences as those Washington players are having this week. In 2002, they played host to Stanford the year after Willingham left the Cardinal to join Notre Dame (the Irish won 31-7). Their description of the experience mirrors the Huskies’.
“There was a lot of hype coming back to a situation he had been in,” Quinn said. “The biggest thing (he said) was having our team focus on the task at hand, the football game, and not worry about the other things.”
As for Washington, Hoyte said he knows the Huskies have talented skill players, particularly quarterback Isaiah Stanback.
“He’s definitely elusive,” Hoyte said. “With his ability to run the ball, he can definitely make plays.”
Hildbold excited for reunion: Washington defensive graduate assistant coach Joey Hildbold said there are definitely some greater emotions in preparing to play Notre Dame.
Hildbold played four seasons for the Fighting Irish, including one year under Willingham. The 2003 graduate finished his career ranked sixth on the school’s all-time punting list with a 40.3 average, and was twice a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.
“There’s definitely some emotions,” Hildbold said. “My girlfriend went there, my dad graduated from there. Notre Dame is a part of me.”
Hildbold said his girlfriend, a 2002 Irish graduate, played lacrosse at Notre Dame and his dad, a 1973 graduate, wrestled and competed in crew there.
He first approached Willingham about becoming a coach while Willingham was still at Notre Dame. After Willingham was fired, Hildbold thought his chances were dead but he received a call from his former coach in January telling him Washington may have a job available.
Roster update: Willingham said starting cornerback Roy Lewis (foot) and running back Kenny James (shoulder) both “moved around” more on Tuesday, but had no further update on left tackle Joe Toledo (ankle). All three missed last week’s game. Quarterback Carl Bonnell (leg) is still unable to run.
Willingham said Durrell Moss continues to work into playing time at cornerback. He is listed as the backup to Josh Okoebor in the latest depth chart. Also, Marlon Wood could begin to see more time at receiver.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
