Notre Dame's Problem?: Irrelevancy

I'm just guesstimating here, but I'd say 70-percent of you just skipped all the way to the comments section to fire your inflammatory words and harsh wishes toward the author.

About 20-percent will actually read the article before you fire inflammatory words and harsh wishes toward the author.

Five-percent will probably shake your head in agreement without leaving comments and the other five-percent will agree and leave insightful bits wisdom for yours truly.

No matter the odds or percentage breakdown what I will say is the harsh, cold reality about Notre Dame football.

In 2009, Notre Dame is completely irrelevant in the world of college football.

I will admit I have been a harsh critic of Notre Dame football for most of my writing days (over ten years). I have never liked the preferential treatment given to the program from the NCAA, the media, and the bowls.

I do realize, however, how important a thriving, successful Notre Dame program is to college football as a whole. It is for this reason I decided to delve into this subject. 

Contrary to opinions of the establishment at Notre Dame, college football has changed greatly since 1960. As a matter of fact college football has changed drastically since 2000, much less 1960.

Notre Dame as an independent entity in the NCAA is no longer a viable solution. I know you have heard this all before, but just hear me out.

Why are Florida, LSU, and Alabama dominant every year? In part because they all get to whip up on the likes of Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Mississippi State every year.

How about Texas and Oklahoma? Ever heard of Baylor, Texas A&M, Iowa State, and Colorado?

Then you have USC out west. They just have deal with Arizona State, Washington, and Washington State.

Ohio State plays the wonderful trio of Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota.

Sure, all those schools play better opponents as well, but the point is they do not play 12 middle-tier opponents in a regular season.

Most successful teams plays three to four conference cupcakes, three to four non-conference cupcakes, two decent conference teams, and one to two elite conference teams.

Notre Dame plays eight teams that are mid-level teams from four BCS conferences. They usually end up with at least one to two elite BCS conference foes, and they have a cupcake or two on their schedule as well.

Just look at USC's schedule from '09. The Trojans played three common Irish opponents. Washington, Washington State, and Stanford. USC lost to two of the three.

How about Pittsburgh? The Panthers were ranked No. 9 in the BCS until losing at West Virginia last week. They are one last second field goal away from playing for the Big East title this weekend!

Boston College took the ACC Atlantic Division down to the wire. Michigan and Purdue would be considered weak team's this season, but in most year's they are quality Big Ten opponents. Michigan State is at worst a middle-tier Big Ten team.

The Irish play the majority of these teams on a yearly basis!

Continuing to stay an FBS Independent has it's advantages, but when the disadvantage is assuring your team at least four losses a year, they far outweigh any advantage. Especially when you are intent on returning the program to BCS-caliber.

I realize the television contract and exclusivity is very important to Notre Dame. It rakes in the dough on a daily basis.

There is no doubt that having money is the key to winning at every level of sport in America. Just ask Alabama and Florida whose coaches make $4-million-plus every year. Ask the rest of the SEC who just signed a $2.25-Billion, 15-year deal to have ESPN as it's flagship network.  

The SEC rakes in the cash and racks up the championship titles. Notre Dame rakes in a ton of cash and goes 15-24 in three seasons.

So why in the world is Notre Dame still losing? Is it Charlie Weis? Was it Tyrone Willingham or Bob Davie?

I know there were BCS appearances, but when facing top caliber BCS talent the Irish got their doors blown off even when they were good enough to make a championship level bowl.

The problem is not a coach. It's not a system.

College football in the 2000's is about conference dominance. The SEC has it. The ACC wants it. The Big XII has experienced it. The Pac-10 needs it. The Big Ten desperately desires it, and the Big East in the beginning stages of it.

The mid-major conferences can't be a part of it and it costs them any shot at a championship.

Notre Dame wants no part of it and that fact alone will continue costing this tremendous fanbase and program for a long time to come.

Irrelevancy is a tough animal to take on. By the very definition of relevance one can see the problem at the most storied program in the land.

Relevant is a term used to describe how pertinent, connected, or applicable something is to a given matter.

As long as Notre Dame is disconnected and on it's own island, it will continue to become more and more irrelevant until it reaches the point of disgrace.

No one wants that.

Even most Notre Dame-hater's out there do not want to see the demise of the program. I am certain it's millions of loyal fans shutter at that very thought.

Unfortunately, that point is a lot closer than some want to believe.