Dear Notre Dame,
Posted by Scott on December 2, 2008
This letter goes to you and your mouthpiece the Chicago Tribune
Sure Charlie Weis hasn’t put up the kind of numbers that you want to see in terms of wins and losses. But, honestly has it occurred to any of you that your beloved Notre Dame’s struggles are not related to the head coach but the staunch insistence that you must remain “independent”? Has it occurred to you in the least that perhaps this has harmed you in recruiting? Sure, the talking heads on tv/radio will insist that the recruiting issues are related to the academic standards required to get into Notre Dame. But, perhaps the problem is that despite your belief that you have a national recruiting appeal, you’ve been ignoring the talent that is relatively in your “backyard” that is the foundation for any successful program. Has the thought even crossed your mind, that by consistently diluting your schedule to be weaker and weaker each season, you end up putting a more embarassing content on the field when it comes to a bowl game. Perhaps it’s time for you to take a good long look in the mirror, is it the coach?, is it the past?, is it the recruiting?, is it the fact that Notre Dame has lost it’s way in a modern world?
Look back to when Notre Dame was last considered a power. The bygone days of Lou Holtz as the head coach. Look at the landscape of college football then, and compare it to now? Penn State, Florida State, Miami whom were all strong powers back in those days were also independents. Now, all three of those schools have joined conferences, in Miami’s case two conferences. Those schools have still consistently competed despite giving up their independent status with a few down years here and there. That isn’t something that can be claimed in South Bend, Indiana. It’s time to join the modern world Notre Dame, it’s time to start talks with the Big-10 about becoming that 12th member, or to join the Big East in football as the rest of your teams are already aligned in that conference. Personally, I think your future stands a better chance by staying with the upper midwest and joining the Big-10. It’s time to swallow your pride, and adapt to modern times.
