People been saying the same thing about Notre Dame post Rockne era until a coach comes along and maximizes the football program and ND goes on a dominant tier 1 run *yet again*. It's a story that spans the test of time and one of the reasons why people love & hate this football program so much.
This fan base is already supporting ND to a sales-and-ratings topper in a prodigiously wealthier industry while the product has been largely stale & subpar since at least the start of the 21st century.
Can you imagine if ND actually went into a season as a bonafide tier 1 team favored to win it all, with a heisman QB, and some first round CBs and edges all on the same defense?
ND is a sleeping RHINOCEROS. When we get the right leadership in here, with our rabid national fanbase, prestige, old-money, power, increasing academic reputation, etc. ND is going to go on a run like we've never seen. I just hope to still be alive when it happens.
This may be true of a professional sports organization...of which the University of Notre is not one...it is a UNIVERSITY with a mission to educate, generate knowledge and contribute to the advancement of the society in which it exists...football does none of that...nor does basketball, hockey, soccer....
You seem to believe that you are personally cheated because the University earns money from its endeavours in the sporting world...well, don't contribute to them. Don't buy "the shirt;" don't watch the games; don't purchase the sponsors' products; don't visit campus and Hammes on football or basketball or hockey or soccer (well, you get the gist) weekends...
The University believes that it can COMPETE for a football national championship within the academic space in which it works...doesn't mean it can win one, especially since the sport has become NFL-lite. When the likely national champion is discussed as much for its payroll as its offensive systems, you are no longer playing intercollegiate sports...you might as well be talking about the Columbus Buckeyes versus the Eugene Ducks...
I THINK it goes without saying that Notre Dame will never LOWER itself to "compete" in this realm...and if they do, I will take the advice I gave you above and simply walk away from a life-long interest in Notre Dame football...and frankly, I have already turned to face that direction...I'm not walking yet, but I am starting to feel like I should be more actively leaning that way...
notredame.rivals.com
