I”l admit, I never really got it.  I’ve never really been a fan of Notre Dame.  I remember how interesting they were back in the Lou Holtz era.  I remember watching Tim Brown and Tony Rice and Rocket Ismail and they were all exciting in their own ways.  I was always intrigued that they played USC and Michigan and these huge national teams every single year and how that was pretty cool.  But I never understood why they got the credit that they did.  It’s great that they had good teams when my great grandparents were around, but why does that matter to me?  Why did they get included in the BCS along with six conferences?  Why did they get their own television contract?  Why does ESPN insist on cramming every coaching change and every victory and every conference rumor down our throats?  It’s almost like they are the organizational equivalent of Tim Tebow.  I just didn’t get it.

Now that I’m older, I’m starting to see it.  It’s hard to win a national championship, yet they claim eleven (tied for second most among major colleges).  It’s hard to for a program to have a Heisman trophy winner, yet they have seven (tied for the most with Ohio State).  It’s hard to survive as a college football independent and they’ve thrived.  I’m starting to see it, but I’m not sure I get it yet.  Even so, I do recognize their place as a historical program.  I do see why South Bend was chosen as the location for the College Football Hal of Fame.  And now that they are winning again, I do understand the attention they are getting.

But this weekend they play Oklahoma.  And OU has some national championships and Heisman winners of their own.  Oklahoma has historical achievements to rival or best any other university.  And this weekend Notre Dame plays in Norman, Oklahoma.  And OU is on a roll.  Notre Dame is #5 in the BCS standings, and yet OU is an 11 point favorite.  This is why this such an intriguing game and why this is the Game of the Week.

Other Games I’ll be Watching:

Texas Tech at Kansas State:  The Red Raiders are stronger at home, but they are still 6-1.  This is another test for the Wildcat‘s quest for an undefeated season.

Florida at Georgia: Any game known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” is only enhanced when both teams are ranked in the top 10.

Mississippi State at Alabama:  Did you know that Mississippi State in ranked #11?  Did you know that Alabama is still favored by 24?

Duke at Florida State:  Duke is 6-2 and bowl eligible for the first time in forever.  And yet because of Christian Laettner I hope they get crushed.

Michigan at Nebraska:  These two storied programs are both 5-2 and there are some serious Big 10 championship implications in this one.

* Once again these opinions are from Dustin, not Gameday Cloth.  He is afraid of spiders and mice.  Gameday Cloth doesn’t fear anything, not even fear itself.