That Should Just About Do It...

I always used to say that Navy was the one team I didn't mind Notre Dame losing to because if they won, they truly earned and deserved that victory. Well, after two losses to the Middies in the past three years, I've realized I like ND losing to them about as much as I like ND losing to Southern Cal.

Here are the facts:

• ND was thought to have a chance to run the table this season, with a strong returning team and a favorable schedule.
• Weis was thought to have to bag at least 8 victories to keep his job after two abysmal seasons.
• After a blow-out win over Nevada, ND went on the road and lost to a Michigan team that is proving to be horrible.
• Aside from a easy win (that could have been easier) over Washington State, ND has needed to go down to the wire to win every game this season, including a down-to-the-wire loss to Southern Cal (8 in a row).
• Three games remain - @ top-10 Pitt, at home to UConn (who gave UC a mighty scare this weekend), @ top-20 Stanford.

Frankly, I don't see how ND can beat Pitt or Stanford the way they've played this season, and even topping an emotional UConn now seems suspect. Notre Dame finishes the season 6-6, with an outside shot at 7-5. Hopefully, a bowl game will be declined - ND doesn't need to play in another shoeshine bowl on Christmas Eve...