The following are some quotes from Freddie Parish, a national Top 75 DB recruit from CA who committed to Notre Dame over the weekend, which I thought I'd share as I know some of you will appreciate the refreshing nature. Something tells me this is not the approach used by coaches at Miami, Oregon St., Mississippi St., et al....
"Coach Willingham told us (at dinner) that he's looking for a certain kind of player. He's not looking for guys who wear their pants sagging down. He said, 'You're not working for Joe Boxer. Joe Boxer doesn't pay you any money, so pull up your pants,'" Parish said laughing. "He wants a player who is respectful and ready to represent himself and the team and school and he said if you're not that kind of kid, then please don't come here. I really respected that."
Coach Willingham gave Parish his first lesson that night before he even gave his commitment.
"We were outside the restaurant and Coach said to me, 'Inside this restaurant, there could be all kinds of people that you want to impress. You never know who could be there and you represent yourself wherever you go.' He said, 'When you see two girls at school and one looks all pretty and the other could be pretty, but doesn't have herself looking her best, who do you go talk to?' I said the pretty girl and he said, 'Exactly, when you go back in that restaurant, you take the beanie and the doo-rag off. I know you're a good kid, but someone you want to impress may judge you before they get to know that,'" Parish told the story laughing.
"I really respect that about him. I like that he treats people that way. That's something that my dad would say and I know that Coach Willingham is someone that I can look up to."
I'm torn. I hate Notre Dame but I'm really starting to like this guy. What a class act.
"Coach Willingham told us (at dinner) that he's looking for a certain kind of player. He's not looking for guys who wear their pants sagging down. He said, 'You're not working for Joe Boxer. Joe Boxer doesn't pay you any money, so pull up your pants,'" Parish said laughing. "He wants a player who is respectful and ready to represent himself and the team and school and he said if you're not that kind of kid, then please don't come here. I really respected that."
Coach Willingham gave Parish his first lesson that night before he even gave his commitment.
"We were outside the restaurant and Coach said to me, 'Inside this restaurant, there could be all kinds of people that you want to impress. You never know who could be there and you represent yourself wherever you go.' He said, 'When you see two girls at school and one looks all pretty and the other could be pretty, but doesn't have herself looking her best, who do you go talk to?' I said the pretty girl and he said, 'Exactly, when you go back in that restaurant, you take the beanie and the doo-rag off. I know you're a good kid, but someone you want to impress may judge you before they get to know that,'" Parish told the story laughing.
"I really respect that about him. I like that he treats people that way. That's something that my dad would say and I know that Coach Willingham is someone that I can look up to."
I'm torn. I hate Notre Dame but I'm really starting to like this guy. What a class act.
