Notre Dame Football: Why the Irish Will Fall Short of a BCS Bowl Yet Again

There are a few certainties in life:

Death.

Taxes.

And lately, Notre Dame not making it to a BCS bowl game.

So will "the luck of the Irish" take a turn for the better in 2012?

Well, as long as they remain an independent, rather than bucking up and joining a BCS conference, don't count on it.

Heading into the 2011 season, Notre Dame was a trendy pick by many to not only make it to a BCS game, but possibly, the National Championship Game.

The schedule was set up just right for head coach Brian Kelly and his team to make that run, but it never happened.

If it didn't happen in 2011, there is no way Notre Dame gets back to relevancy in 2012.

Why do I say such harsh things?

Just look at the 2012 schedule, then get back to me.

With a tougher schedule in 2012 than the one the Irish faced last season, expect another return to the Sun Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl or any other one of the "insert stupid name here" bowls.

Notre Dame opens the season against the Naval Academy in Dublin, Ireland, followed by dates with Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan. 

Irish fans should be happy if their team is 2-2 after that stretch.

October should be just as brutal, as they face Miami (FL) at Soldier Field in Chicago, followed by two-straight home games against Stanford and Brigham Young, then close the month out with a nice little road trip to Norman, Oklahoma to face a probable Top-Five opponent in the Sooners.

November couldn't be as bad as September and October, could it?

Sorry, but yes it is.

November begins with a tough matchup with Pittsburgh under the watchful eye of "Touchdown Jesus," followed by a trip to Boston College.  The final two weeks of the regular season see the Irish travel back to South Bend to face Wake Forest before closing out the year with a team many have ranked No. 1 heading into the year, the USC Trojans.

Life hasn't been easy for this once proud football program during the past 20+ years. 

And I sorry to say Irish fans; 2012 won't be much better.