... weren't the only thing making the Notre Dame football team sweat as it opened camp this weekend. The Irish, for the first time in a long time, find themselves in the USA Today Coaches' Poll at No. 23 and officially move into the realm of expectation.

The last poll in which Notre Dame held rank was the final 2006 vote following a pounding at the hands of LSU. The Irish slid from No. 10 to No. 17 following the loss, beginning a slide that ended after the 2007 season with Notre Dame tallying many school-record "worsts."

After a year of rebuilding and overall improvement in 2008, culminating with a blowout bowl win, the feeling around South Bend has changed from one of hope to one of demands.

The faithful are expecting to w...

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