Ouch!

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tyrone Willingham was dismissed as University of Notre Dame football coach Tuesday, three years into a five-year contract.

"We simply have not made the progress on the field that we need to make," athletic director Kevin White said. "Nor have we been able to create the positive momentum necessary in our efforts to return the Notre Dame program to the elite level of the college football world."

White said a decision had not been made on whether the team would play at the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 or who would coach the game. Notre Dame accepted the invitation to the game on Sunday.

No action has been taken on a successor to Willingham, White said.

White praised Willingham's handling of the team, but pointed to its struggles in winning games.

"From Sunday through Friday our football program has exceeded all expectations, in every way," he said. "But on Saturday, we've struggled. We've been up and down and sideways a little bit."

Willingham had a three-year record of 21-15. Notre Dame went 6-5 this season.

Speculation on a successor immediately centered on University of Utah coach Urban Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant. Meyer, who has guided undefeated Utah to a No. 6 national ranking, reportedly has an out clause in his Utah contract allowing him to seek the Notre Dame job if it became available.

Meyer said he hadn't heard about Willingham's departure from Notre Dame until he was asked about it by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Asked whether he has had any contact with Notre Dame or whether he would be interested in coaching the Fighting Irish, Meyer responded: "I won't comment on it."

Notre Dame started the 2004 season on a sour note with a loss at Brigham Young, but bounced back with an upset victory over Michigan and a win over Michigan State. The Irish also beat Tennessee, which was ranked 11th at the time. But losses at home to Boston College and Pittsburgh had ND supporters grumbling, and rumors of a possible change surfaced after Southern California beat Notre Dame by 31 points in the regular-season finale, the third straight year the Irish had lost to the Trojans.

Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches Association, said he was disappointed with Notre Dame's decision.

"In three years, I think he has done everything, short of winning a national championship and I don't think he inherited national championship talent," Keith said.

White and Willingham met with some players Tuesday to tell them of the firing.

"As a player, you think it's our fault. We didn't get the job done," senior tight end Jared Clark said. "I think coach Willingham was a great coach and I enjoyed playing under him."

Willingham came to Notre Dame from Stanford after the 2001 season. Stanford also has an opening after firing Buddy Teevens, Willingham's successor, on Monday.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
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