SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame has more to worry about than a possible losing season. The Irish could soon lose their long-held status as college football's winningest program.
Worse yet, they would lose the title to their hated rivals to the north, Michigan, which already embarrassed Notre Dame once this year with a 38-0 victory.
The schools have long been 1-2 in victories and winning percentage, with Michigan holding the edge in wins and Notre Dame having the better winning percentage.
The Irish were on the verge of passing Michigan in victories during the 1970s, closing to within two wins following their national championship season in 1977 (593-591). But since then the Wolverines have been gaining steadily on the Irish.
While the Irish have posted five losing seasons since then, Michigan has none. Now Notre Dame (2-4) is just two losses and two victories by No. 13 Michigan (6-2) from falling to second in winning percentage. If it happens in the next two games, the Wolverines would move ahead 74.67 percent to 74.61 percent.
Asked whether that would hurt Notre Dame at all, Willingham replied Tuesday: "It depends on how bold your print is."
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr didn't want to talk about the possibility, saying he is focused on No. 10 Purdue (6-1).
"Those are all things that other people can be concerned with, but I don't have any concern for it," he said.
Former Irish coach Bob Davie said losing the title would not hurt Notre Dame.
"It's all about what happens right now," he said. "Having been at Notre Dame, that's not something you really talked about a whole lot other than maybe in recruiting."
But what's happening right now at Notre Dame isn't too good either. After getting off to an 8-0 start in Willingham's first year as coach last season, the Irish are 4-7 since.
Worse yet, the Irish have lost three of those games by 30 points or more. The Irish have just 17 other 30-point losses in their history, including just one under Davie and just two under former coach Gerry Faust.
Willingham said he doesn't think the three big losses show anything more than the Irish lost.
"We're not comfortable with losing. We're not comfortable losing by one, by 10, by 20," he said.
Willingham said the focus this week is trying to beat Boston College (4-3) to keep Notre Dame's bowl hopes alive.
"This game is very important to this football team, very important for what we want to accomplish as we get toward the end of this season," he said. "Can we get to a bowl game without beating Boston College? I think it puts a serious cramp in that effort."
He would not comment on whether he would want to go to a bowl with a 6-6 record.
He did respond, though, when asked to comment on what he thinks of his coaching performance.
"I would say it's not successful," he said. "We haven't won games."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7068946.htm
Worse yet, they would lose the title to their hated rivals to the north, Michigan, which already embarrassed Notre Dame once this year with a 38-0 victory.
The schools have long been 1-2 in victories and winning percentage, with Michigan holding the edge in wins and Notre Dame having the better winning percentage.
The Irish were on the verge of passing Michigan in victories during the 1970s, closing to within two wins following their national championship season in 1977 (593-591). But since then the Wolverines have been gaining steadily on the Irish.
While the Irish have posted five losing seasons since then, Michigan has none. Now Notre Dame (2-4) is just two losses and two victories by No. 13 Michigan (6-2) from falling to second in winning percentage. If it happens in the next two games, the Wolverines would move ahead 74.67 percent to 74.61 percent.
Asked whether that would hurt Notre Dame at all, Willingham replied Tuesday: "It depends on how bold your print is."
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr didn't want to talk about the possibility, saying he is focused on No. 10 Purdue (6-1).
"Those are all things that other people can be concerned with, but I don't have any concern for it," he said.
Former Irish coach Bob Davie said losing the title would not hurt Notre Dame.
"It's all about what happens right now," he said. "Having been at Notre Dame, that's not something you really talked about a whole lot other than maybe in recruiting."
But what's happening right now at Notre Dame isn't too good either. After getting off to an 8-0 start in Willingham's first year as coach last season, the Irish are 4-7 since.
Worse yet, the Irish have lost three of those games by 30 points or more. The Irish have just 17 other 30-point losses in their history, including just one under Davie and just two under former coach Gerry Faust.
Willingham said he doesn't think the three big losses show anything more than the Irish lost.
"We're not comfortable with losing. We're not comfortable losing by one, by 10, by 20," he said.
Willingham said the focus this week is trying to beat Boston College (4-3) to keep Notre Dame's bowl hopes alive.
"This game is very important to this football team, very important for what we want to accomplish as we get toward the end of this season," he said. "Can we get to a bowl game without beating Boston College? I think it puts a serious cramp in that effort."
He would not comment on whether he would want to go to a bowl with a 6-6 record.
He did respond, though, when asked to comment on what he thinks of his coaching performance.
"I would say it's not successful," he said. "We haven't won games."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7068946.htm
