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The fact is, it's HARD to win at Notre Dame.
Here's why:
1-No redshirts: Virtually ever other program in the country allows them, but ND doesn't. When a kid comes to ND, their eligibility clock starts as soon as they hit campus. This is a huge obstacle.
2-Academics: A lot of high profile recruits simply can't get in.
3-No JUCOs: Junior College players can be used to shore up key positions while you wait for a freshman to develop. ND doesn't recruit JUCOs.
4-No conference affiliation: Some would say this doesn't matter, but conference play allows for weak spots in your schedule.
5-A challenging schedule almost every single year: This year's ND sched. hasn't been as tough as some, but typically ND plays a very difficult schedule year in and year out as opposed to some top teir BCS teams who may have only two or three games a year that the results of are in doubt when you look at the sched. before the season.
ND does have a lot of tradition and prestige on its side, but as a practical matter, those don't count for much on game day. ND should have been better this year (most who follow CFB knew this would be a down year) but I'm not surprised he has struggled. He's recruited very well which is what he will need to do to turn it around.
But one fact makes all your points a joke. and that one fact is that recruiting the best players to go to ND is the easiest job in the country.
And since that is true, it only makes sense that winning at ND is one of the easiest coaching jobs in div 1 football. How can they NOT succeed?
I believe my point is validated by their history of winning.