Notre Dame and Rock and Roll: 7 Lessons from Rock Bands

Charlie Weis

Band: Oasis

Lesson: It's never too late for a little bit of humility.

Oasis's Story: After tremendously popular first and second albums, Oasis was on top of the world. Their snarling bravado worked because they backed it up with great music. And then, everything imploded. The music became worse, but the cockiness remained until the band became a joke.

Finally, Oasis made a comeback. Toning down the excess and the bragadaccio, the band returned with Don't Believe the Truth in 2005. Suddenly, they sounded like journeymen not there for the show but to make lean, mean rock.

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Weis's Story: After a hugely successful first season, Weis was on top of the world. His smugness and risky playcalling worked because he backed it up with results on the field. And then, everything imploded. The team became worse, but Weis's cockiness remained until he became a joke.

After 2008's moderate success, it seems Weis is on an upswing. But he really needs to tone down the bravado even more if he wants to find success further in the future.

Shut up, focus on football, and win games. Then we'll care again about what you have to say.

The Notre Dame defense

Band: The Kinks

Lesson: Good is better than flashy

The Kinks' story: Among the stable of bands that composed the 'British Invasion,' the Kinks are forgotten in the face of legends, including The Who, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles.

But take a listen to some of their hits and they hold up very well. In many cases, better than a lot of British counterparts' music does.

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The defense's story: Among the stable of football icons that are Notre Dame legends, defenders are forgotten behind offensive performers and minds like Joe Montana, Knute Rockne, and Tim Brown being three examples.

But take a look at their numbers, and they hold up pretty well, even with a difficult schedule and Weis pulling in more offensive recruits than defensive. For the team to find success, the defense needs to play well even though the lights aren't as brightly on them as they are Weis and the offense.

Jimmy Clausen

Artist: Rick Springfield

Lesson: Overnight success takes years of hard work

Springfield's story: Most music fans remember Springfield as that one hit wonder who sang Jessie's Girl. His career was more than that one blip, though.

Springfield worked hard as a singer and an actor for years, honing his craft and his presentation until everything fell into place.

Working Class Dog and Jessie's Girl shot up the charts and into radio airplay at phenomenal levels. He's been dismissed as a vapid sensation and product of marketing way too often. He worked hard to make well-crafted power pop that has aged surprisingly well.

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Clausen's story: Most sports fans think of Clausen as that snotty prospect who came into South Bend way over-hyped. His career has been more than that one early flash, though.

Clausen has worked hard as the Notre Dame QB and leader for a couple years now, honing his craft and his command, until this season.

I have a gut feeling this junior year will be his breakout one. He'll move past controversy and hype and become one of the Irish's greats.

His performance in the bowl game last season has given fans hope that Clausen can be prolific and fearless.

The vast Notre Dame football legacy

Band: Weezer

Lesson: High expectations are important but can destroy you

Weezer's story: After an unexpected sunny hit, The Blue Album, followed by a dark masterpiece, Pinkerton, band leader Rivers Cuomo was driven into seclusion by a tepid response to Pinkerton and his own depression.

Coming out of retirement five years later, Cuomo and Weezer have recorded solid but mostly unoriginal rock since.

The band might have been forgotten by now if not for the devoted who keep hoping Weezer will churn out a new Blue Album or Pinkerton. Yet, every album is a little bit of a disappointment because it isn't as great as pre-hiatus Weezer was.

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Notre Dame's story: After becoming the face of early football then maintained that prestige through the late 20th century, Notre Dame football has gone through a series of unspectacular seasons.

After nearly returning to glory partway through the 00's, Notre Dame and Weis have provided disappointing to middling to passable seasons.

The football program might not be as relevant a program if it weren't for the devoted fans who keep expecting a true return to the pinnacle of college football.

Yet, those fans see every season as a disappointment when it doesn't end with a BCS win. Fans: keep high hopes, but have patience.

The schedule

Band: Led Zeppelin

Lesson: Hitting hard help builds edge and reputation

Led Zeppelin's story: Few would argue that Led Zeppelin is an easy listen. The music is loud, dense, and layered. It thrives more on carefully created noise than melody.

Yet, it's unmistakably great and powerful music. The band leaves every ounce of passion it has in its rich, satisfying hard rock.

The music has aged well particularly because it has so much edge and force. It's uninhibited and never glossy. In an age where processed, marketed music controls the charts, Zeppelin's purity speaks louder than ever.

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The schedule's story: Few would argue that Notre Dame's schedule is a pushover one. The lineup includes teams storied, talented, and dangerous. It thrives more on difficulty and reputation than ease of getting a strong record. Yet, it's an unmistakably consistent and smart startegy. The team develops muscle and experience against solid teams instead of the cupcakes that they certainly could schedule.

The reason that Notre Dame is moving in the direction of respectability and even greatness once again is because its players consistently play dangerous teams. Even during off-years, few games are throwaways.

This year is no exception: Michigan, USC, Michigan State, Pittsburgh. It's not SEC difficult, but it pits the Irish against mostly teams that nearly equal or surpass them in raw talent.

If the Irish escape the regular season with only a few losses worse for wear, they deserve a good bowl game, and will get one.

The Notre Dame-USC so-called rivalry

Band: The Four Tops

Lesson: Some rivalries are destined to be one-sided

The Four Tops' story: In Motown's long history, The Four Tops stand as one of the label's better acts. Unfortunately, they're usually remembered less fondly than The Temptations, a band they playfully fostered a rivalry with. For every Four Tops hit, there's a better Temptations hit.

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The rivalry's story: In college football's long history, Notre Dame stands as one of the sport's better teams.

Unfortunately, they're usually thought of by recent fans as having lower pedigree than USC, a team they pathetically attempt to foster a rivalry with. For every great game the Irish play against USC, the Trojans play a better one.

If the Irish want to break their bad luck in the rivalry the way that The Four Tops never could, they need to accept that they're the underdogs and that the expectation is that they'll get beat up. Then they can harness an underdog, now-or-never attitude.

Courtship of Urban Meyer

Band: Mott the Hoople

Lesson: Too-good-to-be-true really can come true

Mott the Hoople's story: After years of careening as an extremely talented and promising hard rock outfit, Mott the Hoople was ready to phone it in as a band after the eclectic Brain Cares. They just couldn't break through.

Enter David Bowie. He decided to produce an album for Mott the Hoople. On paper, this seems like a great idea. A band that lacks a strong identity but has definite musical chops is matched with one of rock's great trendsetters.

Lo and behold, it worked wonders. All the Young Dudes is one of glam rock's greatest albums. The title song is one of rock's high points.

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Urban Meyer's story: After years of recruiting as a top-tier program but constantly failing to meet astronomical expectations, Notre Dame is settling in as a mediocre-but-improving team after the mixed 2008. They just can't seem to really break through.

Enter Urban Meyer? Well, not this season, obviously. He's already spurned the Irish once, but rumors still pop up that Notre Dame is his dream job. And he's running out of things he needs to prove at Florida.

Most Irish fans would embrace him in South Bend, I think. Maybe it'll happen in the next year or two. Most think Weis is on a short leash at this point.