ND was in the drink.... Davie, Willingham and Weis. All thought this historic program was toast.
At this point ND has resurrected the program at a much higher level than many other traditional programs facing similar dry spells. Although the ND skid has been long since Holtz left (22 years to date is you you measure it up until today or 16 years if you measure it up to the 2012 National championship game), ND has tasted much success in recent years even if ND has not won a coveted National Championship. I have not been the biggest Brian Kelly fan over the years but in the end he has brought the ND program back to a level where ND is relevant again.
2012 undefeated regular season and participation in the BCS National Championship Game
2015 participation in the New Years Day 6 Fiesta Bowl
2018 undefeated regular season and participation in the CFP as the #3 ranked team
Three 10 or more winning seasons in the last 4 years
Other “big time” programs have hit dry periods and have not recovered as well:
Michigan is in year 11 of the rebuild after Carr with Rodriquez, Hoke and Harbaugh as coaches. NONE have gone to either the BCS Championship game nor the CFP. Hoke went to a Sugar Bowl and Harbaugh to an Orange Bowl. But NO MICHIGAN TEAM has been even close to a BCS Championship Game or the CFP since Carr retired.
Miami is making yet another coaching change since the glory years. They are now in year 18 of the rebuild since the departure of Dennis Erickson. They have had Butch Davis, Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, Al Golden, Larry Scott and now Mark Richt resigning today. No BCS or CFP appearances after the glory years of Schnellenberger, Johnson and Erickson wiphich ended 18 years ago.
USC has had two dry periods. After John Robinson they had Tollner, Smith and Hackett as coaches before the glory years of Pete Carroll. Carroll of course won 2 National Championships the last of which was 15 years ago. Since Carroll they have had Kiffin, Orgeron, Sarkisian and Helton with mostly lackluster seasons. One can speculate that they are on the verge of yet another new coach after next season.
Florida has had luck with only Urban Meyer and his 2 National Championships since Steve Spurrier left 17 years ago. They have struggled with Ron Zook, and Charlie Strong (interim) before Meyer and with Muschamp, McElwein, before current coach Mullen after Meyer left. No real sustained success before or after Meyer.
Texas had a reprieve with the glory years of Mac Brown and won one National Championship and appeared in one more championship game but lost. Before that they went through 22 years of mediocre football under Fred Akers, DavidMcWilliams, John Machovic, and since Brown have had Charlie Strong and now Tom Herman.... ALL except Brown with less than stellar results.
Alabama is king under Saban, but from 1982 until 2007 (25 years) they had 1 National Championship under Gene Stallings and a slew of crummy coaches. Included were Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, Mike DuBois, Dennis Franchione, Mike Price, Mike Shula and finally Nick Saban. One good year before Saban in the previous 25 years. now they are the undisputed kings.
Ohio State had ups and downs from 1978 to 2001 (23 years) with Cooper and Bruce before Tressel saved them.
For ND to have had legitimate shots at National Championships in 2012 and 2016 is better than most even though ND has not won a title in 30 years. Clearly we should have won in either 1989 or in 1993 or even in both years.
ND is relevant again. Miami is not, Michigan is not, Texas is not, Florida is not, USC is not, FSU today is not, PennState today is not, NONE of these traditional power schools has played for 2 National Championships in the last 6 Seasons...... ........
At this point ND has resurrected the program at a much higher level than many other traditional programs facing similar dry spells. Although the ND skid has been long since Holtz left (22 years to date is you you measure it up until today or 16 years if you measure it up to the 2012 National championship game), ND has tasted much success in recent years even if ND has not won a coveted National Championship. I have not been the biggest Brian Kelly fan over the years but in the end he has brought the ND program back to a level where ND is relevant again.
2012 undefeated regular season and participation in the BCS National Championship Game
2015 participation in the New Years Day 6 Fiesta Bowl
2018 undefeated regular season and participation in the CFP as the #3 ranked team
Three 10 or more winning seasons in the last 4 years
Other “big time” programs have hit dry periods and have not recovered as well:
Michigan is in year 11 of the rebuild after Carr with Rodriquez, Hoke and Harbaugh as coaches. NONE have gone to either the BCS Championship game nor the CFP. Hoke went to a Sugar Bowl and Harbaugh to an Orange Bowl. But NO MICHIGAN TEAM has been even close to a BCS Championship Game or the CFP since Carr retired.
Miami is making yet another coaching change since the glory years. They are now in year 18 of the rebuild since the departure of Dennis Erickson. They have had Butch Davis, Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, Al Golden, Larry Scott and now Mark Richt resigning today. No BCS or CFP appearances after the glory years of Schnellenberger, Johnson and Erickson wiphich ended 18 years ago.
USC has had two dry periods. After John Robinson they had Tollner, Smith and Hackett as coaches before the glory years of Pete Carroll. Carroll of course won 2 National Championships the last of which was 15 years ago. Since Carroll they have had Kiffin, Orgeron, Sarkisian and Helton with mostly lackluster seasons. One can speculate that they are on the verge of yet another new coach after next season.
Florida has had luck with only Urban Meyer and his 2 National Championships since Steve Spurrier left 17 years ago. They have struggled with Ron Zook, and Charlie Strong (interim) before Meyer and with Muschamp, McElwein, before current coach Mullen after Meyer left. No real sustained success before or after Meyer.
Texas had a reprieve with the glory years of Mac Brown and won one National Championship and appeared in one more championship game but lost. Before that they went through 22 years of mediocre football under Fred Akers, DavidMcWilliams, John Machovic, and since Brown have had Charlie Strong and now Tom Herman.... ALL except Brown with less than stellar results.
Alabama is king under Saban, but from 1982 until 2007 (25 years) they had 1 National Championship under Gene Stallings and a slew of crummy coaches. Included were Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, Mike DuBois, Dennis Franchione, Mike Price, Mike Shula and finally Nick Saban. One good year before Saban in the previous 25 years. now they are the undisputed kings.
Ohio State had ups and downs from 1978 to 2001 (23 years) with Cooper and Bruce before Tressel saved them.
For ND to have had legitimate shots at National Championships in 2012 and 2016 is better than most even though ND has not won a title in 30 years. Clearly we should have won in either 1989 or in 1993 or even in both years.
ND is relevant again. Miami is not, Michigan is not, Texas is not, Florida is not, USC is not, FSU today is not, PennState today is not, NONE of these traditional power schools has played for 2 National Championships in the last 6 Seasons...... ........
