Why is Notre Dame so much better than any other team?

The University of Notre Dame is a leading Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located in Notre Dame, Indiana, immediately northeast of South Bend, Indiana, United States. Notre Dame, meaning "Our Lady" in French, refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Notre Dame's picturesque campus sits on 1,250 acres (5 km²) containing two lakes and 136 buildings.

The school was founded in 1842 by the Rev. Edward Sorin, CSC and six Holy Cross Brothers who were members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, founded in Le Mans, France in 1837. The University's Catholic character is physically manifest throughout the Notre Dame campus. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is centrally located on campus. A statue of Mary stands atop the Main Building's dome, there are chapels in every residence hall, and crucifixes in most classrooms on campus. 82% of the student body self-identifies as Catholic.

The Indiana General Assembly granted the school its charter on January 15, 1844 under the name University of Notre Dame du Lac. While the translation of the French is "Our Lady of the Lake," the university actually has two lakes on its campus. According to legend, when Father Sorin arrived to found the school, it was November and everything was frozen. He thought there was only one lake, and named the university accordingly. (An on-campus joke has it that when Father Sorin and company originally stopped by a lake he said, "We'll make camp here until the weather improves.") Notre Dame athletic teams are known as the Fighting Irish (though students are called "Domers"). Exactly where and how Notre Dame's athletic nickname came to be never has been perfectly explained. One story suggests the moniker was born in 1899 with Notre Dame leading Northwestern 5-0 at halftime of a game in Evanston, Illinois. The Loras Football standout, Waldo, at tight end began to chant, "Kill the Fighting Irish, kill the Fighting Irish," as the second half opened.[citation needed] Another tale has the nickname originating at halftime of the Notre Dame-Michigan game in 1909. With his team trailing, one Notre Dame player yelled to his teammates - who had names like Dolan, Kelly, Glynn, Duffy and Ryan - "What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting worth a lick." Notre Dame came back to win the game and the press, after overhearing the remark, reported the game as a victory for the "Fighting Irish."[citation needed]

The most generally accepted explanation is that the press coined the nickname as a characterization of Notre Dame athletic teams, their never-say-die fighting spirit and the Irish stereotype qualities of grit, determination, and tenacity.[citation needed] The term likely began as an abusive expression tauntingly directed toward the athletes from the small, private, Catholic institution. Notre Dame alumnus Francis Wallace popularized it in his New York Daily News columns in the 1920s. Another such example is that of Father Corby and the Irish Brigade of the American Civil War, dubbed "The Fighting Irish."[citation needed]

The school has a comprehensive and nationally competitive Division I athletic program, but it is most famous for its football program. Notre Dame fielded its first football team in 1879. With eleven consensus NCAA football championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, famous head coaches, and the most consensus All-Americans of any school, Notre Dame football is considered the most storied program in the history of college football. Over 800 all time wins and a .744 winning percentage make Notre Dame the nation's all-time winningest college football program. The school has many rivalries in football, the most famous ones being with USC, Navy, Michigan State University, and Michigan. Notre Dame played in arguably the greatest and most watched college football game in history: the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Michigan State at Spartan Stadium in 1966. Other Notre Dame rivalries include those with Purdue, and Pittsburgh. Former rivalries include a very intense rivalry in the 1980s with Miami, and a rivalry with Penn State, which will be renewed in 2006 and 2007.

Charlie Weis was appointed head football coach in December 2004. On October 28, 2005, his contract was extended through 2015.

Because as an Independent they can set the schedule they want. To be fair they set a decent schedule and have a good coach but other then last year they haven't been that much better for a few years. A good part of it is Weis, and if they start winning they will be able to do a good job recruiting. After all they are Notre Dame and have a history/legacy.

Take of the Notre Dame colored glasses. They're NOT so much better than any other team. Did they win the championship this year? Last year? The year before last year? Yep that's what I thought.

What? I haven't seen any national championship trophies won by Notre Dame lately.

Face it. You're a team full of overfed nancy boys who are coasting on tradition when you are actually mediocre to the core.

They aren't, quit living in the past. When was the last time they even played for a National Title?

Because losing to Southern Cal builds character.

NOTRE DAME WILL WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE THIS YEAR WITH SR. QB BRADY QUINN. HOPEFULLY THE SECONDARY IS RESOLVED.OH YEAH MR.YELLOW HAT BOY TM. WE WANT YOUR ANSWER NOT THE ENCYCLOPEDIA'S.

Recruting. With Charlie Weiss everyone wants to go there

What in the world are you talking about? They haven't won an NCAA championship in so many years.

ok they had a good season..but when was the last time they won the national championship??? until they do hold off on the better talk....