Notre Dame is still THE college program as far as recognition. But this is not an always was and always will be. Time changes everything. Time, and a lack of wins (The Irish seem to lose as often as Lindsay Lohan is called a bitch by another actress. Which means A LOT.) is putting Notre Dame on an even playing field with its contemporaries. The aura is fading, and fading quickly. Every disappointing season knocks the program down a notch. How soon until another program (and there is a good number of challengers) knock the Irish of their long-held pedestal in the college football world? The Irish haven’t won a championship in 20 years. .500 or losing seasons have become as common as boobs being flashed on Mardi Gras. All Americans litter the rosters at USC or SEC schools-not Notre Dame. Big time coaches dis Notre Dame because they think it is easier to win elsewhere (Urban Meyer at Florida), and who can blame them?

SI’s Andy Staples (good writer) shows how far Notre Dame is slipping is his latest article, Destination Jobs. His article is from a coaching standpoint-but he has 11 programs in front of the one in South Bend. Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, and LSU, just to name a few. All are programs the have tradition. All are programs that have had much more recent success than the Irish-and are therefore currently more attractive. Remember, he is talking from an “who wouldn’t want to coach there?” standpoint, but a few of these programs could take over Notre Dame as the most prestigious in college football if current history holds true. These are the signs of the time for the Irish.

Naysayers have their reasons why Notre dame is declining (a topic for another day), but I choose to believe in an Irish Rising. Notre Dame can change their momentum, and still be the ONE (but not in a gay, duster wearin’ Keanu Reeves kinda way). Even in Staples’ article, he points out that a few of these were not destination jobs not so long ago, USC, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama. They have all been turned around, and you know it if you follow college football.

They all found the right coach. The right general. Their Washington.

Notre Dame is down, this is true. But, can any naysayer seriously tell me that the Golden Domers can’t make it right if they have the proper leader? With all of the tradition and resources? With all of the prestige? No, the naysayers can’t. Because if a true luminary emerges, Notre Dame will make its presence felt once again.