For me, it was my third year of Russian language study at Notre Dame. Having navigated the introductory and intermediate courses smoothly, I anticipated a similar experience during my senior year. However, the combination of senioritis and the requirement to speak only Russian during midday classes thrice weekly promptly altered that perception.
By the drop period, my professor and I had a candid conversation about my progress, ultimately deciding that I could persevere despite setbacks. Though the semester concluded with its challenges, my academic standing remained intact.
Tyrone Willingham’s third evaluation point as Notre Dame’s football head coach didn’t follow a similar trajectory.
The 2004 college football season marked Willingham’s third year at the helm of the Irish program. Despite a promising 10-3 overall record, including a Gator Bowl appearance, the season ended on a sour note with a 5-7 final record and no bowl game berth.
From a quantitative standpoint, the third season didn’t exhibit a significant decline.
The team maintained a 0.50 record (6-6-), starting with a narrow (-3) loss to BYU but rebounding with three consecutive victories. However, inconsistency plagued the middle stretch of the season, highlighted by a notable -25 point loss to Purdue. The overall tone of the 2004 season was undeniably negative, characterized by a -31 point defeat against USC and a -17 point loss in the Insight Bowl to Oregon State.
In hindsight, regardless of the season’s outcomes, Willingham’s tenure concluded following the 2004 season. While not the lowest point in our series of reviews, it undoubtedly marked a significant downturn in the larger context.
