I Detest Notre Dame Football

Since 1988, every major sport both at the college and professional level has seen a return to glory of storied programs and franchises.  The New York Yankees and Boston Redsox in MLB; The UCLA Bruins, Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks in NCAA Basketball; the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics in NBA Basketball; the USC Trojans, Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, and Ohio State Buckeyes in NCAA Football; The Pittsburgh Stealer, Dallas Cowboys San Francisco 49’rs, and New York Football Giants in the NFL; the Detroit Redwings and New York Rangers in the NHL…        

Notre Dame almost has.  On Saturday in South Bend, the USC Trojans almost made too many mistakes.  They almost let a big lead get too their heads.  Jimmy Clausen almost hit Golden Tate before USC won the game the first time.  Clausen almost hit Duvall Kumara before USC won the game the second time.  The Notre Dame fans almost had a chance to rush the field.  The Notre Dame coach almost had his signature win.  Notre Dame almost won!

Almost made you happy, baby
Didn't I didn't I
You almost had me thinkin'
You were turned around
But everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

-      Brandy Norwood

Those were the words R&B star Brandy sang on her second LP to an unknown lover.  In the case of Notre Dame fans…the words are a little more profound.  I know that many may wonder why an individual who despises Notre Dame is writing this article.  In order to understand this concept as well as the frustration and pain of Notre Dame fans; one must look at it from that angle...the angle of a Notre Dame fan. 

But everybody knows…(for Notre Dame Football)…almost doesn’t count!

-      Brandy (Shaka Barrett) Norwood

For those who don’t know I am a former Notre Dame fan…a diehard Notre Dame fan that spent 15 years scheduling my Saturday’s around Notre Dame Football.  I fell in love with the Gold helmets after watching Tony Rice lead the Irish to the 1988 National Title when they defeated Major Harris and the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Fiesta Bowl.  I loved everything about Notre Dame Football.  The Rocket almost winning the 1990 Orange Bowl versus Colorado.  The Miami/Notre Dame rivalry.  I cried when the Irish squandered the 1993 National Title after losing to Boston College; only a week removed from upsetting Charlie Ward and #1 Florida State in South Bend.  Notre Dame was almost national champions…they were almost back! 

Year in and year out I felt like Notre Dame would continue to fight back and regain their status as the elite program in College Football.  From 1994-2004, I spent countless fan time obsessing over what was missing.  Ron Pawlus’ four touchdown debut versus Northwestern in 1994 gave fans hope.  The 1997 Notre Dame/Navy game which almost ended the Irish win streak over the Midshipman before Allen Rossum knocked the Naval Academy’s Pat McGrew out of bounds in the final seconds.  Memory upon memory of close calls and high pre-season rankings resulting in another year without a national title.  My loyalty was as dependable as Derrick Mayes hands versus Florida State in the 1996 Orange Bowl.   I use to have a subscription to Blue & Gold Illustrated for almost four years (while I was in high school for which I used Christmas/birthday money to pay for).  I knew all of the recruits, the players, the depth charts, and the inside information about the goings-on’s under the Golden Dome.  I even saved the papers for several years after I could no longer afford to pay for the subscription.

Let be honest.  Notre Dame Football has not been a legitimate National Title contender since 1993.  In fact, Fighting Irish Football has not been the same since Lou Holtz left.  I recently spoke to a former Irish player who was an incoming freshman when Coach Holtz decided to step down and he stated that a big reason for Holtz’ departure involved the schools unwillingness to allow the coach to get his players.  For those who don’t remember, Randy Moss originally committed to Notre Dame before off the field issues led to administration’s decision to prevent him from enrolling.  Randy Moss was supposed to be a Golden Domer.    

After Holtsz’ left, Bob Davie began the process of defiling the Notre Dame name.  The same inside source informed me that Davie made numerous promises he did not keep.  The situation was so bad that Notre Dame’s name in the recruiting game was the first part of the Golden Dome that was tarnished.  Players at the time were telling recruits not to come to Notre Dame because of Bob Davie’s antics.  The trend would have continued were it not for former coach Tyrone Willingham’s ability to connect with players and make them feel comfortable about trusting Notre Dame Football.  His ability to restore the Irish’s good name amongst recruits (before his untimely departure) resulted in the foundation for the programs recent recruiting surge.  That 19-6 record with two BCS bowl berths that coach Charlie Weiss currently hangs his coaching reputation on were built on the backs of “poor recruiting” by Willingham.

When you lose, almost doesn’t count for much of anything.  The Buffalo Bills “almost” beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV.  The Georgetown Hoyas “almost” won three national titles in four years.  On the same day as Notre Dame’s “Almost Bowl II;” the #1 Florida Gators “almost” lost to Arkansas in the swamp and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim “almost” evened the 2009 ALCS at one game apiece.  In fact, the 2009 NBA Finals saw the Orlando Magic “almost” win two of the four games they would eventually loose.  So when did sports become about “almost” and building the idea of what might have been?  Memphis “almost” won the 2008 NCAA Basketball National Title.  The New York Knicks “almost” defeated the Houston Rockets in the 1994 NBA Finals.  Eli Manning “almost” got sacked before completing a pass to David Tyree that changed the fate of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXI.  The Kentucky Wildcats “almost” won three consecutive NCAA Basketball national titles.  Team USA almost lost to Spain in the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Basketball game.  Spike Lee “almost” won the Oscar for best movie with Malcolm X.

But everytime you built me up
You only let me down
And everybody knows
Almost doesn't count

Would Barak Obama have had the same impact if he “almost” was president ?   How did Al Gore feel when he “almost” became president?  Hey, guess what…I “almost” won the Mega Millions. 

The story can go on and on but the questions remains the same…Will Notre Dame Football ever return to its past glory?  Does “Almost” really count?  If you ask most people; they will tell you that “almost” are not acceptable in most walks of life.  And maybe that is what is wrong with Notre Dame Football; they almost captured past glory on Saturday as Charlie Weis almost lived up to his self-proclaimed tactical hype and Jimmy Clausen “almost” made himself a Heisman frontrunner.  Notre Dame “almost” became relivant again…the problem is that the Fighting Irish Football program is currently built upon the idea of “almost” and will never get there because “that’s the way it goes…almost doesn’t count” until “almost” becomes did!