The excitement accompanying a new toy on Christmas Day is something everyone can relate to. Likewise, we all understand the decided let down of opening grandma’s gift and finding a home knit wool sweater designed in crooked argyle. Now that most of us are a bit older we certainly see more Fruit of the Loom packages on Christmas than new toys, but we get our kicks elsewhere in life. One area in particular:  Watching college football. 

It is no secret that Notre Dame fans enjoy the pleasurable anxiety of drooling over a blue-chip recruit’s film while praying every day that he opts to put on the Golden Helmet and signs on the line. Then hopefully comes the rush on signing day when that long awaited player declares, "I will be playing football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish".  Then we wait. 

Withdraws soon take over as we hover like addicts, waiting for any tidbits of news from spring and fall training.  Then that shiny new toy plays a season or two and isn’t the clone of The Rocket that we imagined. He doesn’t run like The Bus, and he doesn’t catch like Tim Brown.  But, by then we are fine, we have some new toys waiting.

Cut to the scene unfolding now in South Bend on the Notre Dame campus. Talented toys are coming into Notre Dame in numbers that have not been seen for a long time. 

With new toys comes the every growing expectation of overnight success—those elusive super-stud freshmen and underclassmen that will come and save us all. There are a myriad of areas that fit this bill currently at Notre Dame, from linebacker to quarterback. I want to talk about the running back situation. 

Many have already waved their magic off season wands of decision and said indeed, Jonas Gray is the uncontested starter at tailback for Notre Dame. Not so fast my friend. 

Let's not forget about those he will have to beat out for the spot—specifically Armando Allen. I personally think Robert Hughes is a different kind of back that can be used effectively and is very talented, but since Armando Allen was pretty much the uncontested starter for the 2008 season I will focus on him. 

First, let us meander down memory lane.

The recruiting class of 2007 is set to have a big role in rebuilding the Notre Dame program.  Enter all of the names we know and love from Jimmy Clausen to Golden Tate and beyond. Also enter Armando Allen.

The year before Notre Dame grabbed up James Aldridge a five-star back that was to return the Irish to a team that can run the ball with force. Time now tells a different story as James has been injured often, ineffective at tailback and the Irish ground game worse for it. 

As much as James is a great person and a hard worker—it is an example of a top recruit not panning out as expected. So Notre Dame recruited Armando Allen and Robert Hughes to be the future if James Aldridge couldn’t get his feet under him. Here is where I point to first to explain why Armando Allen hasn’t been the incredible back that we expected out of the gun.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?