They went 10-3 in 2006, 9-3 in 2005, 10-3 in 2002, and 9-3 in 2000. That’s just in the last ten years, and doesn’t even include Holtz’s teams of the early ’90s. From 1989 (when you argue that the Irish started losing) until Lou Holtz left Notre Dame in 1996, Notre Dame racked up 75 wins to only 20 losses (with their WORST seasons being the 6-5-1 season of 1994, and the 8-3 season of 1996. Other than that, the Irish finished EVERY season during that time with AT LEAST 9 wins, and won 5 out of 7 bowl games.

During that same 21-year period, Northwestern has put up 13 different LOSING seasons, with two more ending at .500. Of their six winning seasons from the last two decades, their BEST record came in 1995, when they went 10-2. Outside of 1995, they have had only two other 9-win seasons.

Fitzgerald has done a tremendous job with Northwestern, but there is no comparison between the NU program and the ND program. Charlie Weis and Tyrone Willingham may not have done Notre Dame many favors in the past few seasons, but they also have not destroyed the program. Head coach at Notre Dame is hardly a scrub position!

Moving to South Bend would be a HUGE step up for Fitzgerald, both in prestige and pay.

I agree that Fitzgerald is doing an outstanding job at Northwestern. In fact, the argument is really a compliment to the coach that he should even be considered. Do you think, if offered a prestigious position like Notre Dame, Fitzgerald would just turn it down without being tempted at all? If so, why?