Tyrone Willingham sacked for losses

Miserable season plus new athletic director equals football coach departure. The formula is as old as impatient, angry alums, so the resignation of Tyrone Willingham was announced Monday, after the hapless University of Washington Huskies went 0-7 on Saturday.

Lots of people wanted Willingham to succeed because he brings a work ethic to college football that stresses rigor in the classroom along with reckless abandon on the field. In reality, academic virtue is no match for a winless season.

The word resignation is in italics above because Willingham made it clear he was being shoved out the door — as in fired. A $1 million buyout clause in his contract provides a soothing balm for any righteous indignation.

Coaches suffer the consequences for sloppy tackling, missed blocks, dropped passes and grievous injuries to key players. Coaches do recruit the players and call the plays. Firing a team is impractical, so the frustrations are concentrated and focused.

Teams go through cycles, which is both a cruelty and a beauty of sports. Willingham has a handful of games left to prove everyone wrong. See, the game is rooted in optimism.