SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Phillip Fulmer is gone at Tennessee. Tyrone Willingham is out at Washington. And now Greg Robinson has been fired by Syracuse.
 
Yes, it means that each of those schools is looking for a coach. But it also means that recruits previously committed to them could be looking at different college destinations.
 
And Notre Dame's coaches, like coaches everywhere, need to keep their radar up.
 
With nothing binding until a player signs a national letter-of-intent, players committed to other schools are open game.
 
And while players reneging on commitments to schools with coaches on solid ground has opened up the debate for an early signing period, prospects looking around after a coaching change is considered more acceptable in recruiting.
 
And Notre Dame's roster, like the rosters of many a school, is filled with examples of both.
 
Last year, Notre Dame signed two players who at one time had been committed to Nebraska, which last year went through a coaching change.
 
Running back Jonas Gray gained more interest from the Irish after ND began to lose out on some of its other running back targets. When an Irish offer arrived, which came as pressure on Nebraska coach Bill Callahan was mounting, he flipped to Notre Dame.
 
Offensive guard Trevor Robinson committed to the Huskers early in the process, but began looking around shortly before the start of the season, zeroing in on Nebraska, ND and Michigan. When coaching changes occurred at Notre Dame's two competitors in the Robinson race, the Irish had the inside track for Robinson, who is now starting as a true freshman.
 
And freshman defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore was at one time committed to Texas A&M, which also went through a coaching change last year.
 
But it works both ways when coaches leave. Four years ago, when Willingham was fired at ND, the Irish list was picked apart by other schools. Receiver David Nelson switched to Florida, where he was recruited by former ND assistant Greg Mattison, who had just left South Bend to take a job with then-new coach Urban Meyer.
 
Cornerback Brandon Harrison ended up signing with Michigan, where he now starts at safety.
 
But the biggest hit may have been defensive end Lawrence Wilson. Wilson re-opened his recruitment on the night Willingham was fired, and a fierce battle between ND and Ohio State ensued. Irish coach Charlie Weis dispatched seven assistants, the maximum allowed by the NCAA to be on the road at one time, to Wilson's home one Sunday afternoon, to no avail.
 
Two years ago, after Bobby Petrino left Louisville to (briefly) become the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, ND was able to fill a need. The Irish landed kicker Brandon Walker, now in his second year as a starter.
 
Two years ago on signing day, after the Irish lost receiver Greg Little to North Carolina and offensive lineman Chris Little to Georgia, Weis issued his "if they’re looking, we’re looking" mantra.
 
Three current commitments to the Irish had previously been committed elsewhere — receivers Nyshier Oliver (Tennessee) and Shaquelle Evans (USC), along with cornerback Marlon Pollard (UCLA).
 
Notre Dame's current roster includes a number of players who had at one time been committed to schools where there was no coaching change.
 
Seniors Asaph Schwapp (Maryland) and Steve Quinn (Penn State) reneged on earlier commitments.
 
Sophomore cornerback Gary Gray committed to his hometown school, South Carolina, before changing. And middle linebacker Brian Smith had been committed to Iowa before changing to Notre Dame late in the cycle.
 
Smith's switch to ND came after the Irish lost defensive end Justin Trattou to Florida two years ago. And last year, the Gators again got the best of ND when defensive lineman Omar Hunter, a longtime Irish verbal, switched to Florida over the holidays.
 
As the holidays approach, as does recruiting's busy season, fans will no doubt be watching as their favorite teams finish their roster shopping. But they also need to be aware that exchanges may also occur.

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