When you hear the words “football Powerhouse” or “perennial national title contender,” do the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame come to mind? Well, probably not lately.

Have the Irish lost it forever? There has been some speculation they have. Maybe their luck has just run out.

For the past eight years Notre Dame has struggled to have a winning season. It all started at the end of the Lou Holtz era. The administration got a wild idea to hire the defensive coordinator, Bob Davie, as the head coach. He was put in one of the most demanding seats in college football. Oh, and Davie had no experience as a head coach.

Once Davie took over it was downhill for the Irish. Yes, Davie was a good defensive coordinator but struggled as head coach. His record of 35-25 in five seasons speaks for itself. The third worst ever in the college’s history.

Currently, Tyrone Willingham is the head coach. He came from Stanford University in California. He is trying to coach the west coast offense to a team that has been used to playing the option. How is that working? If this season is any indication of how it is going to work, Willingham might see a need to change his strategy.

Willingham did come in as a breath of fresh air leading the Irish to a 10-3 season his first year. The second season wasn’t as pretty. Last year, Notre Dame finished with a losing record of 5-7.

Lets not judge to quickly, though. It usually takes about three years for a new coach to recruit “his” team. Willingham deservers a chance to prove himself as head coach. He had a good record at Stanford and should be given the chance to prove his worthiness at Notre Dame.

Maybe this season will prove to be a better year for the Irish. They have an extremely challenging schedule, but former Willingham recruits are maturing and becoming starters. Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor can Notre Dame’s storied football program be rebuilt overnight. Can Willingham resurrect this once powerful dynasty? Or, will the luck of the Irish continue to fade from the elite classes of powerhouse programs? Willingham’s impending third season will offer the best glimpse thus far as toward which direction Notre Dame football is headed.