Willingham gets reprive, stays at UW

News out of Seattle is that Washington HC Tyrone Willingham will return as head coach for the Huskies, despite a 3-9 record this season and a 11-25 mark through three seasons at the helm.

This effectively eliminates Willingham, a Kinston native, as a candidate for Duke's opening. It's a shame too, because he would have been a groundbreaking hire for Duke in many respects. There have been concerns mentioned about his ability to recruit and that it was Willingham's fault that the cupboard was bare at ND when he left (leading to this year's debacle season). Still, I dissagree—Willingham's high-profile stint under Touchdown Jesus gave him some name cache that still should be able to impress recruits, and his experience at Stanford indicates that he can find good players under academic recruiting constraints.

All that said, he's probably a free agent after next year if UW doesn't make a bowl.

Cutcliffe Not Contacted Yet

According to Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton, Vols OC David Cutcliffe has not been contacted by any schools in regards to a head coaching vacancy. Cutcliffe, who coached Eli Manning and Deuce McAllister during his six full seasons at Ole Miss (44-29 record), had been mentioned by some as candidate for the job.

There are some concerns, however about Cutcliffe's health—he left an assistant job at Notre Dame in 2005 and spent a year out of coaching after undergoing a triple bypass in 2005. Ironically, his leave of absence at Notre Dame provided a job opportunity for Duke OC Peter Vaas, who filled Cutcliffe's former position as the Fighting Irish's QBs Coach.

UPDATE (12/4): Cutcliffe told the N&O that he wants to get back into head coaching and that he'd be receptive to such an offer.