I'm part of the '90s generation—the generation that remembers the world without the Internet, T.G.I.F, and watchable cartoons. And, if there were several constants in my life, there were some that were certain:
1. Chicken McNuggets were made of unknown chicken bits and pure magic.
2. Raphael was the best Ninja Turtle and no one could convince me otherwise.
3. The Simpsons was the greatest television show EVER.
At it's prime, The Simpsons, quite simply, rocked. They were television and pop culture royalty. They were criticized for pushing the envelope, and yet, embraced for blazing a trail that would lead the way for so many shows.
The characters became household names and their catchphrases became part of the English language.
Bart Simpson shirts were being banned from schools for embracing the slacker lifestyle. Celebrities jumped on The Simpsons bandwagon, guest starring in almost every episode. It says a lot to have Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, Sting, Magic Johnson, Joe Frazier and Spinal Tap as guest stars, and I only mentioned the guests in Season 3 (not to mention the classic Homer at the Bat with the MLB players as ringers).
The Simpsons became a phenomenon, revolutionizing television as we know it. Without it, there is no Family Guy, King of the Hill, South Park or Adult Swim. It's impact transcends the FOX network. It became a part of our culture.
D'oh became a word. "Cheese eating surrender monkeys" became part of our history.
Sadly, today The Simpsons is a shell of itself; silly one-bit gags and a recycled plot have made it a show that is like the old athlete that should have retired a long time ago and ended its run as they were declining.
I always have said that if The Simpsons had ended in say, 2003, it would be regarded as the greatest piece of entertainment EVER. However, The Simpsons show an occasional flash of greatness and it shows in episodes like "The Debarted" and the so-so movie.
The greatest parts of The Simpsons (the writers and Phil Hartman) have been long gone and become bigger successes. The Simpsons set up the animated prime-time comedy, but it has fallen back and stagnated when the other shows have surpassed their forefather.
Which brings me to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame, like it or not, is college football. The Golden Dome, Touchdown Jesus, and so many other landmarks of college football have made Notre Dame hallowed ground in the eyes of the fans.
There are rules set exclusively for Notre Dame, who has "too many classic rivalries" for it to be in a conference. They have their own television rights with NBC, which is huge because no other school could amass the type of contract NBC offered Notre Dame. Without Notre Dame, college football would be nowhere near what it is today.
Notre Dame became known when they defeated the Black Knights of the Hudson 35-13. It was a game that put the forward pass into the national spotlight. Before this, football was a smash-mouth, slow-paced game (much like the Big Ten today). To pass downfield for a large gain was inconceivable. Yet, Notre Dame did it.
Their star receiver from the forward pass game, Knute Rockne, soon became coach of the Fighting Irish. Under Rockne, the Irish would post a record of 105 wins, 12 losses, and five ties. They would win six national titles, and would sport some of the most dominating players of their generation.
Rockne died in a plane crash, which set Notre Dame back for a while until Frank Leahy became coach. Leahy led the Irish to an equally impressive 87 wins, 11 losses, and nine ties. During his tenure the Fighting Irish had a 39 game unbeaten streak to accompany four national titles and six unbeaten seasons.
Coaches Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz also won national titles for the Fighting Irish.
Since Notre Dame has existed, they have amassed the following accolades:
- 13 National Titles (The Athletic Department only recognizes the top polls as national titles so the school claims 11)
- One of four schools with 800 wins
- The second highest winning percentage (.738) ever behind Michigan (.743)
- Tied for the most Heisman Trophy winners, with seven
- Most All-Americans (79 consensus, 96 selected)
- Most NFL Players Drafted (459)
- Second Most NFL Hall of Famers (10)
After Lou Holtz's retirement in 1996, a fall from grace occurred. In the twelve years following Holtz's retirement, Notre Dame has been 78-56, with a .583 winning percentage. They have been relevant in random seasons, but have fallen short often. They are the holders of the longest losing streak in NCAA Bowl History, currently at nine games.
They are projected to have a 7-5 season in the eyes of many top analysts. A 7-5 season is epic at Duke. It's great at Vanderbilt. At Notre Dame, this is cause for concern.
Charlie Weis, the current coach and offensive mastermind of two of the New England Patriots' Super Bowl Championships, could be on the hot seat if this doesn't improve soon.
Fans hate Notre Dame.
To the fans of the BCS conferences, Notre Dame is a "grandfather rule toting waste of space that should give it up and join a conference so they don't take my team's bowl spot again."
However, we owe Notre Dame a lot. Without them, there would be no Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, or USC. The Big Three in Florida would be Epcot, MGM and Magic Kingdom. College Football would be a novelty to many, like the majority of college sports in the nation. It would not demand multi-million dollar bowls and a system that, although flawed, has made college football a billion dollar industry.
Notre Dame and "The Simpsons" paved the way for their genres and created a culture within their respective realms.
Both have regressed from their old glory and have become weaker. If one were to pinpoint incidences in which both declined, it would be astonishing to see the similarities.
The first bump in the road for Notre Dame was the unfortunate passing of Knute Rockne. The first for The Simpsons was Conan O'Brien leaving to host Late Night. The Simpsons' form of Frank Leahy is the fifth and sixth season, run by David Mirkin. Even their rivals parallel each other.
Family Guy consistently rips off The Simpsons, and Urban Meyer consistently steals Notre Dame's recruits.
Notre Dame can lose an unprecedented tenth bowl game in a row this season if they become bowl eligible, and The Simpsons are in jeopardy of falling in the five million viewers bracket for the first time ever.
The difference is that Notre Dame is a football program and they will inevitably rebound.
The Simpsons probably will not. They will most likely last a season or two more and finally end their run.
I hate Notre Dame with a passion that can only be described as unhealthy, yet in a weird way, I respect them. Notre Dame is part of the college football pantheon, with OSU, Michigan, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and the Florida Big 3.
The Simpsons are what made prime-time TV in the '90s something other than a saturday morning cartoon. Television forever changed with The Simpsons, and football forever changed with Notre Dame. However, through all this, one question remains.
Does this make Poochie The Simpsons' version of Ty Willingham?
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3 months ago
We owe Notre Dame nothing. It IS time for them to join a conference. Charlie Weis is a fat, ugly waste of space who can't win a bowl game. And Notre Dame fans are the worst because they think Notre Dame is God's chosen program. Pointless article.
from 3 months ago
CB,
You're an idiot. Must have a great college degree to be able to come up with those very detailed and factual reasons for Notre Dame to join a conference. I'm not a ND fan at all, but thats good that at least everyone will recognize that we don't want you to be the one arguing for reasons that ND should HAVE to join a conference...because you, my friend, are an idiot. Not to mention probably a junior-college drop out. Smoke another bowl.
from 3 months ago
It IS God's chosen program!!! I should know, I am GOD!!!
3 months ago
Why should they join a conference CB? They are the ONLY program that can command the national interest (love them or hate them) to remain free of a conference affiliation. How many people in Oregon care about the Oaklahoma Sooners? How many in South Carolina care what kind of season Penn State is having? But no matter where you go, you'll find plenty of people tuning in to Notre Dame football on NBC. Yes, their rating were down last year, but they are still the team that year in and year out, draws the most interest nationwide. Don't blame Notre Dame for their TV contract. There is not a single school in the nation that would turn that deal down. But the networks know that no other team would draw the national interest that the Irish do.
Oh and finally, to all those that claim Notre Dame plays an easy schedule? How many I-AA teams has Notre Dame played in the last 20 years? Zero. How many has your team played? Now shut up.
from 3 months ago
First of all, I am so glad people like to read and bitch about my opinion. The reason why people tune in is due lack of choice. When Notre Dame vs. whoever is on, I watch, not because I want to see, but because of lack of a better option.
The reason they command a national contract is because of what they USED to be. NBC is hoping they become what they were.
As for non-conference opponents are concerned, do you want me to control it? I could if I would. But Ohio's Buckeyes do have a nice non-conference schedule. Look at who we play through 2012. It just so happens they had two down years. Need I remind you we had Texas two years in a row?
To Kevin,
You are right. I am obviously lacking a great degree. Because why? I say what I feel like saying, when I want to say it? But great, keep complaining about me. The greatest part about this website is, I dont have to, dor do I, give two thoughts about what you think. The reason I am writing this is because I had a high-schooler complain to me just like you. So, next time, save your thoughts. I dont care what you thin or say. If you feel my comments are worth nothing, don't reply. Save your time and energy.
A wise man once told me, opinions are like ass$$les, everyone has one. Get over yourself and you comments towards me/opinions.
3 months ago
You are wrong that without ND, there would be no Michigan. Michigan began playing football in 1879 and introduced the sport to Notre Dame in 1887. Notre Dame's first game was in 1888, losing 8-0 to Michigan. Notre Dame may have elevated college football with the forward pass, but they by no means, are owed anything.
from 3 months ago
I hate Michigan, but at least someone agrees. We owe Notre Dame nothing.
3 months ago
Notre Dame. No fraternaties. Hall football. No athletic dorms. Hey, you're roomate is the quarterback.
Players go to class. All the students go to class ( apparently this is a problem among students at other
schools). Are some alumni and alumnae overbearing? Absolutely. Has the won-lost record been poor for a dozen years. Unfortunately. Still, a diploma from the school in South Bend is worth every minute spent during four years. That's what counts. And most players have one. GO Irish!
3 months ago
If any other school could operate as an independent like Notre Dame does and have its own TV contract with a network, they would. If any other school could use their football program's profits to fund the rest of their athletic teams and scholarships, they would. Notre Dame is the greatest team in the history of college football. By hating Notre Dame, you keep them famous. Try and ignore them, but you'll fail. The author is right: without ND, college football would be about as popular as college baseball.
3 months ago
Brilliant and true....Flanders counterpart would have to be the well intentioned Navy Midshipmen program which are clean cut but never seem to get one over on Homer except on the rarest of ocassions.
3 months ago
Even a great dynasty will eventually become irrelevant if it continues to produce an irrelevant product. Notre Dame is dangerously close to disappearing. Weis is an idiot and apparent fraud. NBC is absolutely CARRYING the Irish right now. I'm not saying that the ND won't come back, only that they are generally losing the interest of America with their futile play. They aren't doing themselves any favors by accepting undeserved bowl bids only to lose again and again. Anyone that is consistently owned by Michigan State doesn't deserve the nations attention.
3 months ago
Notre Dame could have losing seasons for the next 5 years and ESPN would still cover non-stop them with unabashed hatred (save for Lou). 10 more crappy years, maybe we fall out off the limelight for a while, but I can't see that happening. It's not just NBC who is all over the Holy Mother, it's the rest of the national media as well.
3 months ago
Some shallow comments regarding the greatest football program in history.
3 months ago
Who would've ever thought horses could chug vodka? Trey Wingo's trying to figure out if that's Big Brown or Barbaro.
about 1 month ago
Notre Dame will rise again... just wait and see
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