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They haven't won a National Championship since 1988, haven't had a Heisman Trophy winner since 1987, yet, Notre Dame has won 11 National Championships, 11 Heisman Trophy winners, and usually in Sports, doesn't success breed success? don't players want to be apart of a great legacy, tradition? Also, Notre Dame at one point set an NCAA-record, which still stands, for most Bowl Game losses, and every year started off the season with a loss, would lose the first game, etc.
So overall, what happend to Notre Dame? how come it does not attract the talent it used to? what led to it's downfall?
As you pointed out, ND last won a national championship after the 1988 season. Today's blue-chip recruits, therefore, they've never seen a championship-contending Domer squad. Past glories mean nothing to them.
I think TV has a little to do with it too. Most of the major college teams have national TV exposure today. In the past, Notre Dame would have been one of the few teams on national TV.
Notre Dame was in the national championship hunt through the early 90s as well, but only one team out of... what, 118?... can win it and just one loss often means playing for the national championship and not even having a chance. People don't tend to remember if you were close. They just remember if you won or not. If you finished the season 3rd or 16th or unranked, doesn't matter. People only remember who finished 1st.
Notre Dame's opponents have gotten tougher as well. USC, Standford, Michigan, Michigan State. They've all seen dominance at one point or another over the past 20 years. Even Purdue had a period in the late 90s early 2000s where they were really good. And those are all opponents that Notre Dame plays every year.
But ND hasn't been the same since Lou Holtz. Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, Charlie Weis. None of them were great coaches. Weis could recruit, but he didn't seem to be able to coach. And many in the South Bend area never really embraced him. I think Brian Kelly is taking the team in the right direction, though. They're even favored by 7 this weekend over Stanford
Notre Dame was in the national championship hunt through the early 90s as well, but only one team out of... what, 118?... can win it and just one loss often means playing for the national championship and not even having a chance. People don't tend to remember if you were close. They just remember if you won or not. If you finished the season 3rd or 16th or unranked, doesn't matter. People only remember who finished 1st.
Notre Dame's opponents have gotten tougher as well. USC, Standford, Michigan, Michigan State. They've all seen dominance at one point or another over the past 20 years. Even Purdue had a period in the late 90s early 2000s where they were really good. And those are all opponents that Notre Dame plays every year.
But ND hasn't been the same since Lou Holtz. Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, Charlie Weis. None of them were great coaches. Weis could recruit, but he didn't seem to be able to coach. And many in the South Bend area never really embraced him. I think Brian Kelly is taking the team in the right direction, though. They're even favored by 7 this weekend over Stanford
I've heard other people say Lou Holtz was the last good Notre Dame Coach, but do you think Lou Holtz was successfull because he inherited his predessor's recruiting class?
I've heard other people say Lou Holtz was the last good Notre Dame Coach, but do you think Lou Holtz was successfull because he inherited his predessor's recruiting class?
You could possibly say that about the 1988 championship team. But they were also a game away from playing for the championship in 1992 and 1993 as well, long after Lou had his own recruits playing. Plus the coach before him, Gerry Faust never won more than 7 games in any of his five seasons as head coach. And Lou's first season in 1986, they still went 5-6.
You could possibly say that about the 1988 championship team. But they were also a game away from playing for the championship in 1992 and 1993 as well, long after Lou had his own recruits playing. Plus the coach before him, Gerry Faust never won more than 7 games in any of his five seasons as head coach. And Lou's first season in 1986, they still went 5-6.
do you think they will ever contend for a National Championship ever again?
That's the Big Ten. Teams go to the ACC to focus on basketball, which is what ND did.
Quote:
"I told our AD when conference movement was being talked about and the Big 12 was coming after us for this same kind of setup, I said, ‘Jack, we just can’t lose the East,'" Brey said. "'The East is important to our school, especially our basketball program. Please don’t take me to the Big 12.’"
Last edited by DtX4415; 10-14-2012 at 05:06 PM..
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