With Notre Dame rallying in the fourth quarter against Michigan State, Tyrone Willingham peered into the TV.
His pose suggested he was far more than a casual viewer. His right arm folded, his left index finger raised to his mustache, Willingham saw his past and future collide.
Notre Dame is next on his schedule, on Washington’s schedule. For that reason alone, it would have been reasonable for Willingham to insist on watching the remainder of the game without interruption.
But with about four minutes to play in South Bend, he indicated his willingness to address questions about his former employer, which fired him two seasons after he was named National Coach of the Year.
So what’s it like watching Notre Dame play?
“It’s like watching football,” he said.
It’s really that easy to detach yourself?
“I know it may sound strange,” he replied. “But Willingham can do that.”
So all you see is uniform numbers?
“Obviously, you see a lot more than numbers,” he responded. “You see people and you see habits and trends and a lot of things. But, no, it’s very easy to watch.”
Very easy because Willingham insists on living in the present. Even when he’s reminded that many people think he got a raw deal at Notre Dame, getting bounced three years into a six-year contract, he doesn’t bite.
“I don’t even discuss that,” he said. “It has always been my belief that life is in front of you. And that’s where I spend mine.”
Willingham’s present got a lot better Saturday, when his Huskies overcame a slow start to hammer Idaho 34-6 on a crisp, fall-like day before 61,183 at Husky Stadium. That ended Washington’s streak of eight losses, two under Willingham.
Although Idaho was winless and picked to finish last in the Western Athletic Conference, there had been a sentiment the Huskies were vulnerable.
California had pounded them 56-17 a week earlier in their most lopsided loss at Husky Stadium in more than 50 years. And Idaho had kept it close against Washington State (38-26) and UNLV (34-31).
The Seattle Times’ Saturday headline said it all: “Huskies trying to avoid hitting bottom of barrel; Idaho no gimme win.”
But the Huskies shook off a dreadful first-quarter series–getting zero points after having a first-and-goal at the 2–to power their way to a breezy victory.
The final rushing stats: Washington, 192; Idaho, minus-4.
For that you can credit defensive coordinator Kent Baer, who assisted Willingham at Stanford and Notre Dame before joining him at Washington.
Baer might harbor resentment over the way the coaching staff was treated at Notre Dame, but he said he and Willingham did not spend their summers plotting revenge.
“I’ve known Ty a long time, and honestly we have not talked one thing about Notre Dame,” Baer said. “We have our time to prepare and we’re going to start [Sunday]–early.”
How early?
“We’ll be here at about 6,” Baer replied. “Might be earlier than normal.”
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tgreenstein@tribune.com
