Willingham out at Washington

Tyrone Willingham was fired Monday as Washington's coach after failing to restore the Huskies to national prominence.

Two days after Washington fell to 0-7, athletic director Scott Woodward said Willingham will step down at the end of the season.

When asked Monday if this was his decision, Willingham said flatly, "No." At his weekly news conference, he added he never considered resigning.

"No, it's just not in my makeup," he said.

The decision comes after Saturday's 33-7 loss to Notre Dame on national television and after eight days of discussions with Woodward, who has said he did not want to change coaches during the season.

Willingham coached Notre Dame for three seasons until being fired in 2004. Willingham, who's out with a year left on his contract, will receive a $1 million buyout, Woodward said.

He is 11-32 overall in his four seasons.

MORE FOOTBALL

ACC ANNOUNCES TIMES: N.C. State at Duke on Nov. 8 has been scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast by either ESPNU or on the Internet at ESPN360, the ACC said Monday.

Also on that date, Wake Forest's home game against Virginia will be carried either at noon on Raycom Sports or 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Georgia Tech at North Carolina and Clemson at Florida State times and TV assignments won't be announced until Sunday.

ACC HONORS UNC PLAYERS: North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks and cornerback Kendric Burney were among athletes receiving ACC player-of-the-week honors.

CIAA HONORS ST. AUG'S PLAYER: St. Augustine's defensive end Marcus Crump is the CIAA's defensive lineman of the week.

VOLLEYBALL

MEREDITH PLANS SPECIAL EVENT: Meredith College will host a "Dig Pink" volleyball event to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month when it hosts crosstown rival Peace at 7 p.m. today.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

WILSON/ITA SOUTHEAST REGIONAL: North Carolina senior Sophie Grabinski and junior Sanaz Marand completed a five-match run by winning the doubles championship Monday at Wake Forest's Indoor Tennis Center.

Grabinski and Marand, the No. 2 seed in the event and the No. 10 duo in the nation, defeated N.C. State's Berkeley Brock and Lenka Hojckova 8-2 to earn an automatic bid to the ITA national tournament Nov. 6-9 in Charlottesville, Va.

MEN'S GOLF

ODU/SEASCAPE COLLEGIATE: Four Campbell golfers are among the top 20 individuals, and the Fighting Camels hold a two-stroke lead after Monday's first round at the par-70, 6131-yard Seascape Golf Club in Kitty Hawk.

The Camels combined for a 5-over-par 285. Radford (287) is second, followed by Elon (288), USC Upstate (289) and host Old Dominion (290) in the 15-school field.