As some of you might recall I am not a big fan of Notre Dame football. I think they are the most overrated program in the history of college football. I grew up rooting against them despising all the attention and notoriety they received and hoping they lost every bowl game they played in. The only Irish players I've ever really liked are Rocket Ismail, Jerome Bettis, and now Golden Tate (because he's a Seahawk and we need him to produce). Last year I happily wrote a blog chronicling the demise of Notre Dame football and how they have become irrelevant. Unfortunately in 2012 I am forced to eat my words.
The Irish are currently undefeated and ranked in the top 10 with impressive victories over Michigan, Michigan St., and Miami. Their schedule is favorable down the stretch with marquee games against Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC. If they can win 2 out of the 3 they have a good chance to appear in a BCS bowl game. Te'o Manti is a beast at linebacker and Cierre Wood is looking like an elite running back. Both players will be 1st round picks.
In addition, Notre Dame has joined a power conference. Sort of. They will still maintain their independence, but have an agreement to play 5 ACC teams a season. They also get to keep their exclusive and lucrative TV contract. This almost guarantees the Irish will have BCS bowl game consideration every year.
The tradition at Notre Dame runs deep and their followers have extreme loyalty to the program.. This would explain how a program mired in mediocrity for the last two decades still attracts so much attention. This year the attention is warranted and it looks like the Irish are on their way back to their dominant past (unless the Pac 12 teams step up to beat them down). Good luck Irish!
The last sentence was meant to be a double jinx on the Notre Dame football program. Hopefully it works!
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