Wake up Notre Dame

J's World/Jeremiah Bartz

Like any other good natured and football loving Catholic boy, my college football alliances lie with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

But even those like me, who proudly sport their Fighting Irish cap, even in times of sorrow, realize that the shine is beginning to be worn off the golden dome.

Notre Dame has always stood tall as a pillar in the college football community. The standards are as insurmountable as fans' expectations. The high standards of Notre Dame have always separated the program from nearly everyone else in college football, but with a positive effect. Now those standards are being blamed for the annual collapse of the Irish.

Even with high standards pertaining to education and character, Notre Dame can survive. The Irish can return to the top of the football ladder. But without sacrificing their pursuit of education and pledge for character, the university can re-evulate the direction of the football program.

Notre Dame must first lose the need to be a Division I football independent and align itself in a conference. The only legitimate excuse for remaining an independent is its massive exclusive contract with NBC. But what comes with that deal is a brutal schedule, that can be likened to a trip down death row. But if the Irish were to move into a conference such as the Big 10 or Big East, Notre Dame could play a more realistic schedule and have the opportunity to advance to the Bowl Championship Series and obtain the Bowl Championship Series money each season.

The Irish could move into the Big 10, compete against historic rivals Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue and create natural rivalries with schools such as Indiana and Illinois.

With Miami and Virginia Tech out of the Big East, Notre Dame could go there and dominate.

Makes sense right? Maybe I should be the next president of Notre Dame.