Maybe it's because I've been in the broadcasting business for thirty years, but when someone either gets fired or is forced out at gunpoint, I believe the best way to deal with it is to inform the terminated party, give him a box and half an hour and then have security escort him from the premises.  Ty Willingham was a lot more fortunate than that yesterday, when he was told he was done at the end of the season, but he could stick around.  Yeah, that will be good for a win against USC Saturday.

Willingham's fate is still better than that of Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, who not only will be gone at the end of this year, but in lieu of his being shown the door immediately, his university has hired a search firm to find his eventual successor.  Nothing motivates an employee more than to know a) he is going to be replaced and b) his replacement is currently being sought.  Always nice to have a heads up before you pack up the station wagon, I suppose.

If I ran the world, the rules of engagement in situations like this would be clear.  Once you fire a coach, do what Clemson did with Tommy Bowden: Cut ties immediately.  How can anyone, knowing he's already fired, function at a high level for a month?  It's against human nature.  Let some assistant take over the team for the rest of the year and if they actually do something, give them the opportunity to return next season.  That's continuity for you current players and perhaps your recruits.  Don't let a lame duck coach stand on the sidelines after you've already made the call, especially if the call is made public.

I've never known anyone allowed to stick around a month to six weeks after they have been told they are terminated.  They certainly don't do it that way in the NFL.  Or anywhere else.