The luck hasn't run out for the Irish

I grew up watching one, and only one, college football team play on TV every Saturday in my home. That football team was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I shared the same dreams and aspirations as the movie character "Rudy" did. There was only one place I saw myself going to college and eventually playing football, and that place is located in South Bend. But I was a little kid, and quite frankly, I didn't have the slightest clue.\nGuys like "Rocket" Ismail, Tim Brown and Ron Powlus garnered more of my attention than any "Ghostbusters" cartoon ever could, and that's saying a lot. So then why does it pain me to watch the Irish play now?\nWell, there are several reasons, one of which is the most obvious -- I live in Bloomington, not South Bend, and I'm damn proud of it. The other big reason, though, involves the media, specifically ESPN and NBC, which have desperately tried to make the Irish "America's Team." A vast majority of the sports media jumps on and off the bandwagon just as they do with the Cubs, Yankees and other high-profile teams. It's ridiculous. This has gotten to the point where an ND loss doesn't just mean adding one to the loss column, but also means lingering harassment days and even weeks after the game's played.\nThat's why I just can't bare to watch Notre Dame football anymore. Any loss incurred means the end of the world, and consequently, any win picked up must mean they are going to a bowl game. Of course, neither of the scenarios is necessarily true.\nBut where are the Powlus' and Brown's when you need them? Notre Dame's recruiting seems to be dwindling, which is not something fans can blame on head coach Tyrone Willingham. The poor guy has already had to put up with enough during his tenure with the program that he doesn't need the constant harassment the media just loves to give him (myself included). \nHowever, I would challenge Irish fans to come up with a different object of blame. An inexperienced quarterback? Brady Quinn has had just as much experience as Chris Leak of Florida, and look how he is performing. A bad offensive coordinator? He's not the one throwing interceptions, fumbling the ball or dropping passes. The problem is not even a lack in recruiting. The place of blame comes with the level of expectation fans and the media have created for the team.\nThe bar is set so high for the Irish that if you were to stand on it you could see your reflection in the Golden Dome. Now, that's just not right. Nobody should be able to look "Touchdown Jesus" right in the eyes. But that's where Notre Dame fans place their expectations for their football team. They demand the best and only the best out of their team, and nothing less will satisfy (we Hoosier fans will settle for a few wins a year and the slightest chance of making a bowl game). \nIn the end, it really doesn't matter how the Irish do this year, next year or in five years. Notre Dame fans will never leave their team's side, that's just who they are. But the Irish need to be brought back down to earth and put on the same level of expectation as the rest of college football.\nI feel like now after writing this, I need to go to Blockbuster and rent "Rudy" and "Hoosiers" just to cheer me up a bit.