I think the biggest thing we "learned" was that Notre Dame still does not have the preparation, execution, mental toughness and swagger of the elite teams in the college football world. When people play Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, etc. they are concerned because they know these teams are routinely well prepared, well coached, and fielding the best talent the country has to offer. With ND, they just don't get the "shaking in their boots" type of feeling because we routinely underachieve, are routinely over hyped because of our past and popularity, and it's really seen as "no big deal" to play the Irish anymore. I would imagine if you polled any team across the country, and asked them "Whom would you rather face? This current Notre Dame team or any team from the SEC?", they'd take us. Why? Because we just don't bring it.
We underachieve, fold like a lawn chair, have no intensity and mean streak, and always find ways to create holes for ourselves such as turnovers, mistakes and penalties. Understand, I am a die hard Irish fan and always will be...I'm just being realistic. This program is no closer to being back on top (no matter who the coach is) and hasn't been since Lou left town. We have some elite talent (not as much as, say, Alabama or Oregon, etc.) but we have some. I feel like we have good coaching (I really believe we do. I like Kelly and Diaco.) But for whatever reason, it just doesn't come together the way it should. It's like separate ingredients that don't add up to an amazing meal.
The disturbing thing to me is the lack of fire and anger over the past several seasons. Davie, Willingham, Weis, Kelly...they have all had regimes that seemed too "nice". I don't mean the coaches yelling at the players...I mean just good old fashioned mean spirited football players with an intent to murder anything moving. I don't get it...I really don't. If I were a football player, playing for Notre Dame which I hold above all else in sports, I would kill for that team in the game situation. It would insult me personally if someone made a first down at my expense. Maybe there are those types on the team and they simply get swallowed up by others' mediocrity or indifference, or perhaps even though they have that fire and anger it's just not enough to overcome the athletic gifts of the opponents they face. (Losing to teams such as USF and Tulsa, I just can't imagine this is the case).
The thing is, when Bama, Oregon, Florida, Oklahoma, etc...when these teams roll into an opponents town to play the hosting team knows they're in for a dog fight and they better bring it. The players on these teams know what's at stake, seize the moment, and refuse to let another's actions dictate the outcome to the best of their limits. We seem to differ like a kickoff...if you play us even, we'll probably win. If you play "up" on us emotionally, we cave. So I don't know...I think more than anything we need to change the "culture of winning" around here (which is odd, given Notre Dame's storied history). Maybe that's part of the problem? People are living too much in the past, and the immense media pressure is just too much for anyone to come in and surmount. (I swear, if I hear "Return to Glory" one more time I might vomit. Enough with the "Returning"...we'll get there when we get there...be patient). Nobody wants to be patient though...they want lightning in a bottle. Catch fire, win a BCS bowl and have the media anoint us as truly "Back!"
I think until we find a way to truly balance who we are, who we want to be, and who everyone seems to think we should be we're always going to be stuck in neutral. Coaches and athletes matter, but the real answer to me is looking oneself in the mirror, saying "I'm not going to let this happen...not on my watch." and not only knowing you, as an athlete, mean it...but that your teammate next to you does too. Then, go out and letting actions speak. Until then, expect more of the same in my humble opinion.
GO IRISH! FIGHT HARD, WIN THE DAY!
