Lemming believes Notre Dame’s biggest problem, though, has been its inability to attract game-breaking talent. "You have to have the great players," he said.

In 1990, Holtz recruited five future first-round NFL draft picks in one recruiting class — running back Jerome Bettis, defensive tackle Bryant Young, offensive guard Aaron Taylor, safety Jeff Burris and cornerback Tom Carter. In the 14 drafts since, Notre Dame has had a total of four first-round draft picks.

During that same span, Miami has produced 33 first-round draft picks, Ohio State 25 and USC 17.

The lack of impact players also shows up in Heisman Trophy voting.

From 1936 until Reggie Brooks finished fifth in 1992, Notre Dame never went more than five years without someone finishing in the top 10. After that, Notre Dame went 12 straight seasons without anyone until Brady Quinn finished fourth in 2005 and third in 2006.

Lemming believes Notre Dame’s troubles began with the 1991 recruiting class, when several players Holtz recruited weren’t admitted to Notre Dame.

Holtz confirms there were two recruits who scored well on their college entrance exams, but weren’t admitted because the admissions director had a policy that he wouldn’t accept a football player from a high school where another student who was more academically qualified was rejected.

"That’s just the way Notre Dame operated," Holtz said. "That was his philosophy. I disagreed with it, but obviously the president agreed with it because that’s the way it was."

Holtz said the coach at Notre Dame must realize there are challenges.

"That’s the way Notre Dame runs," he said. "That’s what makes Notre Dame special."

But it shouldn’t stop the Irish from competing for titles, said the coach who won 100 games for Notre Dame.

"The good students are going to be really attracted to Notre Dame. Even today, just the word Notre Dame carries such power. Now their facilities are tremendous," he said.

"Notre Dame is still Notre Dame. It’s still a special place."

Jack Swarbrick, who just started as athletic director full time on Aug. 18, said he knows of no reason why the Irish can’t compete, although he does believe its academics gives the school a smaller margin of error than other places.

"That doesn’t mean we can’t win. We might not be in that game as often as somebody who doesn’t face that. But it doesn’t mean we can’t be there," he said.

Weis also believes the Irish can be on top again, though before he took the job in December 2004 some people told him he shouldn’t because of all the obstacles critics cite.

"What I found from being here is it’s the furthest thing from being the truth," Weis said.

"We’ve taken all those things and flipped those. When we go out recruiting, we ask students, 'What are other schools saying, you’re too dumb to come here?' And that gets their attention because that’s a negative recruiting tool that’s frequently used against you. Or if somebody from the South tells them it’s too cold in South Bend, we say, 'You don’t want to play on Sundays then? Because it’s cold on Sundays in December.'"

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."

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