Irish at 20 years without a title
Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:36 AM PDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The last time Notre Dame claimed a national championship, this year’s freshman class ... wasn’t alive.
Such a statement once was unimaginable to Irish players and their fans. But it’s true, for the first time since Knute Rockne roamed the sidelines.
The Irish haven’t been champions since Lou Holtz led them to a title in 1988.
That’s the longest drought in school history — but it’s not just the lack of championships. It’s Notre Dame’s inability to compete for titles. During the longest previous dry spell, which began with the 1949 championship and ended in 1966, the Irish finished in the top 10 seven times.
So why can’t Notre Dame win like it used to? Whether it’s been Holtz, Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham or Charlie Weis coming out of the tunnel in Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish just haven’t been on top at the end of the season.
There a litany of standard responses about why. Some blame Notre Dame’s high academic standards. Others cite the facilities. Others say Notre Dame’s schedule as an independent is too tough. Last year, Notre Dame faced 10 bowl teams.
Former athletic director Kevin White took steps to soften Notre Dame’s schedule. The Irish open this year against San Diego State and next season start against Nevada and will play only four road games. Charlie Weis has recruited three straight top-10 classes, so academics don’t appear to be the problem.
Before 1970, schools could give an unlimited number of scholarships. In 1974, when Joe Montana was a seventh-string quarterback for Notre Dame as a freshman, the NCAA allowed a maximum of 105 scholarships. Two years later, scholarships were cut to 95, then to 92 in 1992 and gradually to the present 85 by 1994.
Weis can’t explain Notre Dame’s title drought better than any other Irish fan. He just wants to be on the sideline when it ends.
‘‘I’m just trying to get there,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m just worried about heading in that direction.’’
FALLING BEHIND: Since winning the national championship in 1988, Notre Dame has seen its winning percentage drop from 75.7 percent to 73.9.
GAINING FAST: The Irish remain second behind Michigan on the list of most victories with 824, but Texas is just four wins behind.
UNWANTED COMPANY: Since sitting atop the college football world from 1988-93, winning one national championship, finishing second twice and finishing sixth or better in all but one season, Notre Dame has had one top-10 season. That’s five fewer than Kansas State, three fewer than Washington State and the same number as Air Force, Marshall and Boise State.
BAD NUMBERS: Since finishing ranked second in 1993 season, the Irish have posted just two 10-win seasons, four losing seasons and have lost an NCAA-record nine straight bowl games.
NOT NO. 1: Notre Dame hasn’t been ranked No. 1 since its 41-39 loss to Boston College in the regular-season finale on Nov. 20, 1993. The longest previous stretch without being No. 1 at any point during a season was from a 27-14 loss to Purdue on Oct. 2, 1954, until after a 40-0 win over Navy on Oct. 31, 1964.
