Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Seem Doomed for Mediocrity

Notre Dame has gone from one of the most prominent football schools in the country to a mediocre football program with a prominent TV package.

If it wasn't for their TV deal, almost nobody besides the fanbase would want to watch Notre Dame football, and that's for good reason.

The past 10 years of Fighting Irish football have been abysmal.

They have been been poorly coached and poorly played, yet the Irish have been shoved down our throats.

If it wasn't for all the history and tradition that came along with the program nobody would want to watch it at all.

More accurately, if it wasn't for their multi-million-dollar deal with NBC, we wouldn't be forced to watch it.

It would be an understandable obligation if their matchups were against good teams, or if they themselves were a good football team, but when was the last time Notre Dame played in a truly meaningful game?

Sure, games against their rivals will always be "meaningful," but I'm talking about a game that actually meant something to the BCS.

How about a game that featured two national championship-contending programs?

That's the problem with Notre Dame football as of late. It's been so mediocre and for some reason it just seems to be accepted.

One of the downsides to the school being "holier than thou" and not joining a BCS conference is the fact that they barely ever play any programs worth mentioning.

Why don't we ever see Notre Dame match up with LSU or Alabama?

Are they afraid that a true SEC team would expose them for the mediocre program that they really are, or are they just too steeped in tradition to see that the college football landscape is drastically changing?

If there is one thing that the program could use, it would be a few more matchups against some quality opponents.

I'm sorry, but games against South Florida, Air Force and even a phony Michigan team aren't really going to cut it.

Notre Dame needs a change, and perhaps joining the expansion plan is exactly what is needed.

As of right now all they are is an overhyped team that leaves us with mediocre results year after year. 

The worst part is we are forced to watch it.