The first decade of the 2000’s is drawing to an end, and that’s not such a bad thing for Notre Dame. Because there hasn’t been a lot of winning so far. The beginning of the new Millenia has been rather sad for the Irish, and these are the 5 biggest disappointments:

5.) The entire 2007 season. To watch Notre Dame in ‘07 was to watch a team struggle to cross the goal line. Just once. They got blown away in almost every game, and lost to Navy for the first time in a lifetime. The only reason the season wasn’t more of a letdown was that we knew early on that the team would be about as successful as white rappers, and expectations were never very high.

4.) Sam Young. He could have starred on Baywatch, ‘cuz Pam Anderson’s bust has nothing on this bust (I got mad bad jokes, son.). Even though he was Florida’s Mr. Football, and a top 5 recruit, Young will be best remembered for perfecting his “brush off the jersey” technique and he picked Jimmy Clausen up off the ground after he had been knocked down yet again.

3.) BCS beatdowns. Following the 2000, 2005, and 2006 seasons where we thought Notre Dame was starting to ascend up the ranks of the elite, the Irish got whacked by more aggressive, and far more athletic teams in BCS bowl games. Oregon State, Ohio State, and LSU all looked like Usain Bolt, and Notre Dame looked like a chubby kid running on the Nintendo Power Pad.

2.) Overtime loss to Nebraska in 2000. Julius Jones and Joey Getherall sparked some Notre Dame magic by returning kicks to put the barely ranked Irish on the verge of upsetting the #1 team in the nation. But, the Irish played for overtime, and Eric Crouch dashed golden dreams by turning the corner on the option, leading the Cornhuskers to victory, and keeping “Big Red” perched on college football’s thrown.

1.) Notre Dame versus USC 2005. SC was in the midst of a 34 game win streak, and thought to be one of the best college football teams ever. Brady Quinn spotted the Irish a 31-28 lead with just a few minutes remaining. The Irish had USC dead with a 4th and 9 in their own territory, but Matt Leinart completes a “go” route over Ambrose Wooden’s Stretch Armstrong pose by the width of hair to Dwayne Jarret for a 61 yard gain. The stage is set for the “Bush Push”, and the breaking of Irish hearts.