When is a Team Back?

So the media dusted off the old “is Notre Dame back” script following the Michigan State win.  Maybe a little premature given ND’s upcoming schedule, but it raises an interesting question.

Whether a certain program “is back” or a coach is “the one” is a staple of blogs and sports talk radio.  The best answer – you know a team is back when you don’t have to ask the question.  But what does it take for the question to no longer be relevant?

The last time Notre Dame truly returned to relevance was the 6th game of Holtz’s third season in 1988.  How can I prove that?  For starters, SI said as much on their cover. 

But beating a Miami team that hadn’t lost a regular season game in over two seasons and was the clear #1 team in the nation removed any doubt about ND’s position among the elite.

USC under Pete Carroll returned to relevancy in the first game of Carroll’s third season.  USC had a great 2002 season that included a 38-17 Orange Bowl win over #3 Iowa.  But the program had been inconsistent for so long, and Carroll wasn’t a proven entity so USC had to validate ’02 wasn’t a fluke.  The showcase opening game in 2003 was USC traveling to #6 Auburn.  USC dominated 23-0 and the Carroll era was in full swing.

Under Saban, Alabama was back after beating #3 ranked Georgia midway through Saban’s second season.  The combination of SEC exposure and Saban being a proven entity accelerated Bama’s ascent.

The mere act of writing this piece evidences ND has a ways to go.  Beating Michigan won’t do it.  Same goes for wins over Miami, BYU and Stanford.

On October 27th ND travels to Norman to face a most likely Top Five Oklahoma unit.  It will be 24 years and a week after ND topped Miami in ’88 and the eighth game of Kelly’s third season.  I don’t think it will happen, but if ND is undefeated and knocks off the Sooners, the debate shifts to whether ND can win a national title.  And the question whether ND is back will no longer have to be asked.