Notre Dame's 2009 Football Schedule: Enough Already

(Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Manageable.

Ugh. It's like describing a blind date as "nice."

Sure, Notre Dame's 2009 schedule is "manageable."  The Irish are independent.  They, like everyone else in college football, want to play seven home games.  They, unlike everyone else, aren't constrained by a conference schedule handed down by the league.

So yes, the schedule is manageable. That's by design and administrators have spent years getting it to this point.

Shouldn't analysts be required to delve a little deeper into a preview of the most publicized program in college football? Because when they talk about Charlie Weis' "manageable schedule" they're insinuating one of two things—and neither is true.

First, that Notre Dame's schedule is soft...and shame on them for taking advantage of their independence.

Actually, Irish opponents won 76 games last season.  And that includes a whopping five victories from Washington, Washington State, and Michigan combined.

So essentially, with three BCS-conference programs dragging tail through rebuilding seasons, Notre Dame's opponents still averaged better than the bowl-eligible threshold of six wins.

To put that figure in proper context, Texas' 2009 opponents won 80 games last season.  Mississippi's won 77.  Penn State's won 72.

It's also worth pointing out that the Irish still have not dipped into the FCS pool and never will.

If Irish-haters aren't scoffing at Notre Dame's " manageable" schedule, Notre Dame supporters are using it to justify why this squad has the potential to be great, maybe even BCS-worthy.

Excuse me?

If the Irish schedule is manageable, why should nine wins be celebrated? If Florida or Ohio State or Oklahoma would run through this slate unscathed, why should Notre Dame be rewarded for anything less?

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