Thanks to Blue and Gold, we have a healthy dose of perspective today.
Not as good as an appetizer platter (we got apps!) but still good.
Not too long ago, a co-worker that's a USC alum postulated something like the following to me: "When did Notre Dame EVER have the upper hand in the ND-USC rivalry? It was like the 40's." I mentioned the DRUBBING/SHELLACKING/CRUSHING/ETC defeat that ND laid on USC at Notre Dame Stadium in 1996, but she quickly dismissed it. And I get why: it's been a WHILE since ND was the power it's purported to be, at least in terms of records and accolades. Heck, it was back in the early 90's, when today's top recruits were somewhere between 0 and 3 years old. But, it's important to gain a little perspective on ND's relative under-performance over the past few years. And the best way to do that is to realize that the "Top" programs of today had very similar issues not too long ago. Everything's cyclical folks, and based on the way things have been going in recruiting, I'd say that cycle is starting to come back in ND's favor. Over the last 14 years, ND has a winning percentage of about .60. Not great, but also not as bad as some droughts experienced by other perenial power programs (alliteration!).
Here's B&G's outline of a few of the "Top" programs' most recent periods of relative underperformance, for that dose of perspective I think we all might need:
USC: 1980-2001
During this 22-year period, the Trojans had only three top-10 finishes despite dwelling in one of the country’s premier recruiting hotbeds. It took USC 23 seasons before it had as few as one loss in a season (2003), and it couldn’t defeat Notre Dame in a 13-year stretch (1983-95).USC’s record in these 22 years was 156-98-7 (.611), which rivals Notre Dame’s .601 percentage since 1994. The Trojans fired four different head coaches during this time – Ted Tollner, Larry Smith, John Robinson and Paul Hackett – even though all but Hackett led Rose Bowl victories.
In the 12 years from 1990-2001, USC was 78-64-4 (.571), and six of them saw the Trojans lose at least six games.
Bottom Line: USC pretty much sucked until 2001. Since then, they've been great. But they sucked for 2 decades straight.
LSU: 1989-2002
In these 14 years, LSU fired three different coaches (Mike Archer, Curly Hallman and Gerry DiNardo), was 84-77-1 (.522) and had one top-10 finish.Even under Nick Saban, hired in 2000, the Tigers lost at home to UAB in his first year, and lost five games in his third season.
Bottom Line: I don't know if I'd call LSU one of the top programs today, despite their success last year, but it's a pretty big turnaround from a .52 winning percentage to national champs (even with 2 losses).
OKLAHOMA: 1989-99
During these 11 years, the Sooners fired three different coaches (Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake) in a span of six years.Add Bob Stoops’ 7-5 debut in 1999, including a loss at Notre Dame, and Oklahoma was 68-55-3 (.551).
Bottom Line: Oklahoma has had its ups and downs, but they've been solid for a while now. After a period where they went .551 for over a decade, that's a pretty nice turnaround.
TEXAS: 1984-97
During this 14-year span, the Eyes of Texas were cast upon sorrow with no top-10 finishes, a record of 92-68-3 (.574), the firing of three coaches (Fred Akers, David McWilliams and John Mackovic), five sub-.500 finishes, plus five others years with at least five defeats.Even with the hiring of Mack Brown in 1998, the Longhorns posted yet another five-loss season in 1999.
Bottom Line: Mack Brown knows what he's doing, and he's been doing it well for a while now. But for a long while before their recent/current success, the Horns struggled like a dancer in a crowded 'Backer trying to pick up his/her feet from the super-glue-covered floor.
