As we highlighted in this entry last week, injuries and attrition have been a major topic in WolfpackNation over the last couple of years.
Our numbers are not a pretty sight; but, we’ve surprisingly found another program that has had it worse. Of course, that program has fired their coach (who will stay on until the end of the season) for his performance in the midst of his retention issues. I’d say the Wolfpack is a long way from that conclusion in light of the optimistic mood that most fans continue to have about the future of State’s program under the guidance of Tom O’Brien.
The following chart is an excerpt from this analytical article focused on Tyrone Willingham’s retention issues at Washington.
Need a little more reminder of NC State’s ties here?
How about the fact that Willingham – a Jacksonville, NC native – was an assistant coach for Tom Reed at NC State from 1983-1985?
Or the fact that Willingham was the Head Coach on Notre Dame’s sidelines for NC State’s 28-6 big win over the Fighting Irish in the 2003 Gator Bowl?
Or the fact that everyone’s favorite Athletics Director – Todd Turner – hired Willingham and was himself fired last year in large part for his reluctance to take actions to improve the on-the-field results of his his programs. You will very much enjoy reviewing the situation by clicking here.
If you want some REAL fun, check out some of Todd Turner’s stellar predictions and comments after last football season and before his ouster at Washington. Note the confidence with which Turner states some of this as absolute fact. (Remind you of any other ADs who just like to make comments as if they were all-knowing and that whatever rolls out of their mouth is fact?)
I think it’s clear that none of the Husky nation is thrilled to have only four wins under our belt this past year, but the body of work that I’ve observed and the university leadership has observed over the past three years gives clear evidence to me that that record will change in the very near future. We’re committed to that and we feel strongly that coach Willingham has provided the kind of leadership that gives us the base to make it happen.
The charge that Tyrone had when arrived at the University of Washington was to put in place the building blocks for a program that could sustain itself over a long period of time, and by any measure the foundation, we believe, is firmly in place to allow the wins now to take care of themselves.
We’re not pleased to be at this point. I’m not surprised frankly that there are a lot of people interested in this topic. In some ways it’s disappointing the commentary in some ways on our enterprise and what we do in higher education and what we do in athletics today that we would be so concerned about one measure of excellence and success when the quality of the experience for your students should be primary. We think our students are getting an exceptional experience here and that will improve even as the record improves, which will happen.
Despite Todd Turner’s surprise that people would be interested and his conviction that ‘by ANY MEASURE the foundation is firmly in place to allw the wins now’…Washington is currently winless in the Pac-10 and 0-7 overall.
Additionally, Todd Turner has not been invited to the annual sports handicappers convention at Caesar’s Palace.
