Willingham firing gives 'black eye' to Irish, trustee says

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame mishandled the firing of Tyrone Willingham as football coach and is not doing a good job in its search for his replacement, board of trustees member Dave Duerson said Friday.
Duerson, a former defensive back for the Irish and the Chicago Bears, told Chicago radio station WSCR-AM there are bigger problems at Notre Dame than the football team's struggles.
"With all the other things going on at the university, the least of the problems was wins and losses," he said. "There's greater dissension in some other things at the university that need to be corrected and dealt with."
Duerson said he could not be more specific because of his obligations as a trustee.
The Associated Press left a message seeking comment Friday at Duerson's home Lincolnshire, Ill.
Duerson said trustees were not consulted -- but should have been -- before Willingham was fired Nov. 30 after the Irish went 21-15 in his three years as coach.
"As we all see, it's left quite a black eye on the university," Duerson said.