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January 20, 2004
To: List of ND BOT Members
We are writing this letter because we believe that the pronounced and persistent deterioration of the Notre Dame football program requires a concerted response
from concerned alumni. We are appealing to you, the members of the Board of Trustees, because you bear the ultimate responsibility for protecting Notre Dames
traditions and maintaining the Universitys place as an icon of American culture. Part of that responsibility is to take the necessary steps to restore the
excellence of the football program.
Our concern is that the importance of Notre Dame football as a source of spirit, pride, and energy for students and alumni is no longer valued among those who
are currently in positions of leadership. Notre Dame football provides a legacy that has inspired millions, from aspiring students to admiring subway alumni.
It is the basis of a tradition that crosses generations to bind alumni to one another and to the University. We fear that through years of neglect this bond is
eroding to the point that current and future generations will lose their rightful link to our University's storied past.
Catholic identity, academic excellence, and championship football are the three pillars on which the University was built. Remove any one of those pillars, and
Notre Dame ceases to hold its unique place among American universities. If the football program continues to wither, the University will lapse into a crisis of
identity, destined to remain perpetually eclipsed by ill-chosen aspirational peers.
We are mindful that the last decade has seen Notre Dame make significant advancements in such areas as facilities, overall academics, and non-football
athletics. These are laudable achievements. It is dismaying to us, however, that the same Board of Trustees that has overseen so much positive development
could remain unmoved in the face of the precipitous decline of the institution that has done so much to elevate the visibility and reputation of Notre Dame.
Under your watch and that of your immediate predecessors, those whom you have entrusted with the day-to-day management of football have proven incapable of
running a program worthy of its heritage. Their record of mismanagement is evidenced by a series of mediocre or poorly vetted coaching hires, the subordination
of winning to revenue generation, a reluctance to reinvest in the program, NCAA probation, and an alarming transfer rate among scholarship players. On the
field Notre Dame has suffered an unprecedented three losing seasons in the past five years and stands on the verge of losing its status as the all-time leader
in win percentage. Finally, the subtle campaign by the Athletic Department to promote conference affiliation in football is perhaps the most disturbing
indication that the current leaderships priorities are misplaced.
Conference membership was never a serious topic from 1940-1993 when Notre Dame was enjoying football success on a regular basis. For the vast majority of
alumni, abandoning independence is tantamount to a declaration of surrender by an administration that is unable to address the underlying weaknesses in the
program. It would be a grave mistake to assume that those alumni would remain passive and compliant if this option were presented as a fait accompli. Such a
decision would be met with intense resistance and evoke various methods of protest, including withheld financial support.
That Notre Dames independence is even subject to negotiation betrays the current athletic administrations mindset that the purpose of the football program is
to produce revenues. Rather than address the programs present woes, they prefer to come up with stratagems that exploit Notre Dames storied past. Squeezing
revenues from a struggling brand is not a substitute for rebuilding an elite football program. When the football team is strong, ample revenues and a
commanding post-season bowl position have always followed. Lamentations that recent changes in BCS selection criteria have made it tougher for Notre Dame fail
to address the inescapable truth that Irish squads in 1998, 2000 and 2002 did not deserve to play in first tier bowl games.
Our current Athletic Director acknowledged footballs importance when he stated recently, Football is the emotional engine that drives Notre Dame.Unfortunately,
he appears incapable of reversing its decline. Lip service will not suffice. Recycling past glory will not mask current shortcomings. Each passing year has
rendered the challenge of restoring Notre Dame football exponentially more difficult.
This is not a call to fire Tyrone Willingham. Coach Willingham is a fine leader who represents Notre Dame well, but he has yet to demonstrate the high level of
competence that this demanding job requires. Although we continue to support him and hope he succeeds, his performance, marked by unprecedented and humiliating
defeats, deficiencies within his coaching staff, and his inconsistent record as a head coach, indicates that he may not. Absent significant progress in 2004, a
coaching change will become necessary.
We submit three concrete proposals that would lay the foundation for the resurrection of the football program:
First, the Athletic Director should be given specific expectations and timetables for restoring the football program. The program's status should be the
primary basis for evaluating the performance of the Athletic Director without regard to whatever success Notre Dame may achieve in its non-football athletics
programs. Thus, the organizational structure of the Athletic Department should reflect the importance of football vs. other sports. Responsibilities for other
sports should be delegated to enable the Athletic Director to devote appropriate attention to football.
Second, the process of identifying, vetting and recruiting coaching candidates must be reworked. The Athletic Director must have unfettered authority to select
coaches who possess the appropriate football knowledge, integrity, professionalism and acumen, subject only to approval by the Athletic Affairs Committee of
the Board of Trustees. A broad based selection committee with conflicting agendas, such as the one that produced George OLeary and Tyrone Willingham, is
ineffective and unaccountable. That process should never be repeated. We urge you to prepare now for the possibility that Coach Willingham may need to be
replaced by authorizing the identification and discreet vetting of potential candidates. This approach, used effectively in 1985 by then Athletic Director Gene
Corrigan, enabled the University to conduct its search outside the glare of public scrutiny, and spared the University the possibility of numerous,
embarrassing rejections.
Third, there is a need for organizational change at Notre Dame such that financial, administrative, and athletic pursuits should be entrusted to persons
qualified and experienced in the management of such matters. This could be accomplished by the appointment of a layperson to the currently vacant Executive
Vice President position. Meanwhile, the Universitys academic and spiritual mission would remain under the auspices of the traditional CSC leadership via the
President's office.
We encourage you to implement this model early in 2004.
We regret the football program has declined to the level that required us to submit this letter, but we fear our silence may be interpreted as tolerance. As
alumni who understand football's irreplaceable contribution to Notre Dame's greatness, we could not remain idle as the University's vital third pillar
crumbled. We ask you as Trustees to fulfill your responsibilities in this area.
For the purposes of providing your response or engaging in further discussions of this matter, please utilize the contact information for the individuals
listed on the attached page.
Sincerely yours in Notre Dame,
Signatures to follow
Charlie Kenny
Class of 1963
The Right Brain People®
279 Norseman Drive
Cordova TN 38018
901.682.8569
www.rightbrainpeople.com : email
www.ndirishmusings.com : email