... debut last winter, there were two very distinct camps of Notre Dame observers.

One group was rejoicing because the Fighting Irish were improving, going to a bowl game in paradise (which the Irish would win in impressive fashion over a home-standing and good Hawaii squad), and the slate looked soft. Only a date with the USC Trojans was truly daunting and that came in South Bend.

Unwisely sincere visions of 11-1 or 10-2 shimmered on the sunny horizon.

Contrarily, the other group huddled under an ominous black cloud. Even more troubling, the dour-faced horde wasn't composed exclusively of Notre Dame haters. There were many intellige...

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