For a team that has exactly one national championship in the past thirty football seasons, Notre Dame and Company certainly have an inflated opinion of their football program. In fact, the notion that the rightful place for Notre Dame is among the elite of college football each year is, at best, outdated, and more aptly, lamentable.
Coach Charlie Weis was rewarded with a 10 year contract midway through his first season on the way to a 9-3 record and a Fiesta Bowl appearance. Visions of Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz danced in the heads of Golden Dome decision makers.
Now those same individuals are ready to pull the plug on a coach whose results have left the Irish Nation seeing the Ghosts of Coaches past, namely Gerry Faust and Bob Davie.
So what should Notre Dame do? Well, it is really quite simple. The Fighting Irish need to take advantage of whatever minor bowl game they get as a "reward" for a 6-6 season to end a bowl losing streak dating back 15 years.
Then, the Domers need to accept that these types of bowls are more than likely what their future holds. No other independent 6-6 team would even garner consideration for a bowl game in most circumstances.
All of the millions in NBC's bank account will not erase the fact that the Irish are surrounded by schools with more captivating offensive styles designed to attract the nation's top high school talent. Ohio State, Michigan, and Illinois, are just a handful of the programs which look more attractive to the typical recruit.
Lowering expectations is difficult for a program with 11 consensus national championships, but those were in a different college football universe. Paying Charlie Weis north of $15 million to exit stage right will not erase that fact.
Let's hear it for the 2008 Texas Bowl Champions, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish! Next year, it's PapaJohns.com Bowl or bust.
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about 1 month ago
"No other independent 6-6 team would even garner consideration for a bowl game in most circumstances."
Notre Dame's ability to attract 1000's of fans to the game make them very attractive to bowl organizers. The Texas Bowl will sell out because Notre Dame is there.
The fact that they still get millions from NBC, lead the country in merchandise sales, and sell out every game for over 16 years goes to show how relevant they are.
Than can do better.
about 1 month ago
I think it's hard to argue that Notre Dame will never be back. Clearly, ND can recruit. They had arguable the best class last year and three top ten classes in a row. I understand ND is not doing well with these recruits, but that is due to the coaching. The point is, ND is still attractive to recruits. Also, I don't know how much money is sent to the football program, but considering that it's ND, it has got to be a lot. Finally, ND is still very popular; many people want them to do well. The most popular teams are the most successful teams, and ND is the most popular. Sure, they are bad now, but the program has all the tools to be back one day.
from about 1 month ago
Danny:
There's always the possibility that ND could be back. But "back" probably means 10-2 seasons at the most.
from about 1 month ago
I said all the tools are there. The only thing lacking is a good coach. If ND gets one of those, then future titles and perfect seasons are not impossibilities.
about 1 month ago
Also, just to note, had it been one year ago, ND would have won 2 titles in the last 30 years.
about 1 month ago
2005...9 wins.
2006...10 wins.
2007...everyone graduates, 3 wins.
2008...underperforming but young team, will end at .500.
Notice a trend?
Now many national championships has whatever SEC team you back won...ever?
Get over it, ND will rise again....soon. Enjoy it while you can.
from about 1 month ago
That's what ND fans have been saying for 15 years. I will have to see it to believe it.
about 1 month ago
"All of the millions in NBC's bank account will not erase the fact that the Irish are surrounded by schools with more captivating offensive styles designed to attract the nation's top high school talent."
What is more attractive than an offense that was used to win multiple Super Bowls? The rest of the article is well stated opinion. This seems to be a little flimsy.
about 1 month ago
This article is full of howlers.
"No other independent 6-6 team would even garner consideration for a bowl game in most circumstances." Learn your history lesson: No other team is Notre Dame.
"Ohio State, Michigan, and Illinois, are just a handful of the programs which look more attractive to the typical recruit." Uh...newsflash...ND had the no. 1 recruiting class last year.
This whole thing is really just wishful thinking. Despite what guys like Brad think, Notre Dame is on the way back, with or without Coach Weis.
from about 1 month ago
Clashmore:
Perhaps we should change Coach Weis's name to Mr. February. Seems like ND has had a bunch of great recruiting classes. I haven't seen a whole lot of them playing on Sundays in recent years, though. I wish ND would get back to a Top 10 program. It's good for college football.
from about 1 month ago
I'll agree that as far as performance on the field goes, Coach Weis has failed in developing the outstanding talent he has recruited to Notre Dame. The Irish have a 100% graduation rate. His recruiting classes are, as I pointed out earlier, top ten and higher. He has also reestablished the Catholic school feeder system for recruiting that for decades served Notre Dame so well. For Domers who know, Weis had done most things right, and 90% of the criticism that has come his way has been unwarranted, mean-spirited, bigoted, and inappropriate. But the team's performance last year, and especially this year...that has been terrible.
All the pieces but one are in place for a turnaround: the program has invested in infrastructure so their facilities are second to none; as critics love to point out, we have our own TV contract; the endowment, fan base, history, and tradition are unprecedented in college football. If we can land a coach who can coach College Football, and land him soon, in a year or two this conversation will have an entirely different aspect.
about 1 month ago
Notre Dame is on its way back? Really? Ive been hearing it for 15 years, folks.
Still waiting....
about 1 month ago
And dont waste your time with telling me theyve went to BCS bowls, because 1) they never shouldve been there and 2) they got blown out.
Notre Dame is relevant, and it has the richest tradition in college football. No question about that. But this team has averaged a 7-5 season in the last 15 years, with no bowl victories. Notre Dame will never be what it once was.
about 1 month ago
I thought it was twenty years since the 1988 championship. Only fifteen schools have won that championship since 1988 including some ties prior to the BCS. Certainly you have bragging rights if you are from any of those schools.
Among the schools who have not won the national title since ND last did are Penn State, Georgia, Wisconsin, Auburn, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Illinois, and all the SEC West teams except LSU.
Are you just striving to be offensive with your statements?
from about 1 month ago
Seems like you're forgetting 1992...I believe Alabama won the national championship over Miami (ie: All the SEC West Teams except LSU)...
from about 1 month ago
That's true.
I forgot Bama's seventh consensus national championship - but counted them among the fifteen since ND's.
about 1 month ago
Okay, you've made the point that the last 15-20 years have been mediocre at best and that the faithful have hoped for those 15-20 years of a resurgence... What are you suggesting here though. That we give up hope and just settle with mediocrity? What's the point of playing the games then? "Notre Dame will never be what it once was". Okay, you can believe that, but as fans we cannot.
from about 1 month ago
A tradition rich program like ND should NEVER settle for mediocrity. You have every right to hope for a national title every 20 years or so, but that is as good as it gets.
about 1 month ago
"Notre Dame will never be what it once was." Never is a long, long time, and nothing can make you more wrong than being so certain.
about 1 month ago
God, I hope that Notre Dame keeps Charlie Weis. This is freaking awesome.
from about 1 month ago
It would sure cost them a lot to say, "Sorry, Charlie..." They can swing it though. My guess is that they give him another year.
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