I realize that most of my blogs have come out negative. This one isn't going to be different.
If there were college football programs that pop up in your head as "overrated" or "getting coverage due to their past prestige". You think USC, Michigan, Texas, Miami or Tennessee. But if one school tops this list, it has to be Notre Dame. I know what you are saying, "They are 5-1 and made the playoff last season, how do you consider that overrated?" Well, considering that the Fighting Irish seem to have great seasons every once in a while. When they make the "playoff" or any postseason championship game, they are overmatched. Their last championship game in 2013, Alabama quickly made damn sure the Irish knew they didn't belong in the game. Also, their last national championship was 33 years ago. At least Miami had a mini dynasty going. So did USC. Michigan had a co-national championship with Nebraska in 1997. Texas snuck in a championship during this time. So has Tennessee. The Irish? Nope, nada, nothing. Their unwillingness to join a conference has hurt them other than help them. The playoff committee usually leans toward schools who win conference titles or championship games. As much as Notre Dame leans on tradition to get them by, some people use the "What have you done for me lately?" mantra to describe the Fighting Irish in recent seasons.
I will give Brian Kelly credit. He has managed to keep the ship afloat during his tenure. In his ten seasons in South Bend, Kelly has a 106-39 record (.729 percentage). Coaches such as Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis failed to bring Notre Dame back to elite status. Kelly hasn't sent ND to elite status, but he's not doing a bad job. However, they are not the top tier institutions for college football as they used to be or how they think they are.
The one obvious reason why Notre Dame gets the recognition and overexposure is NBC. For many years, the network has aired their games on Saturdays. Not many major nationwide networks have dedicated sports programming based on one sole team now. TBS used to do that with the Atlanta Braves as WGN did with the Chicago Cubs and eventually, the Chicago White Sox. Other networks such as ESPN and FS1 use different matchups to entice the viewer to tune in. NBC has Notre Dame, despite if the team struggles or the matchup is against a heavy underdog. Don't get me wrong, there has been some great matchups to watch. The contest against #1 Florida State in 1993 was one of college football's many versions of "THE GAME OF THE CENTURY" and a game for the ages. But there has been too few in between.
There is one reminder that sums up the Fighting Irish in recent years. A viral video of a Notre Dame fan watching the Selection show for the playoff, finds out that the Fighting Irish are facing Alabama and puts her head in her hands, saying "No, God, no." Really reminds you of them, huh?
So, I beg you, media or any sort of fanbase that covers them. Calm down or stop pushing a team that hasn't earn the praise of an Alabama or a Clemson. They haven't earned it in 33 years and once they actually win a championship, then you can proceed to overhype them. But imagine the Pandora's box that will open when they win a championship?
No, God, no.
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