FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, center left, talks to his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Miami at Soldier Field in Chicago. About the only thing the Irish havent done yet this season is rally from behind to win. The Irish have been able to ignore what coach Kelly refers to as the noise so far, but it keeps getting louder with every victory.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2007, file photo, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis watches from the sidelines during their 41-14 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl college football game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Anytime Notre Dame is eligible for a spot in the BCS, you can guarantee the Fighting Irish, with their national following, will be picked. Problem is Notre Dame has not been able to compete with top competition. (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly looks at the scoreboard during the first half of an NCAA college football game Miami at Soldier Field Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
NFL_FLAT_LOGOS_041699: NFL team logos; stand-alone; 1c; 52mm; MOVED Fri. April 16.
Sure, Ara Parseghian was impressed by Notre Dame’s lockdown defense. Yes, he was encouraged by linebacker Manti Te’o’s inspirational leadership. Absolutely, he saw plenty of promise in young quarterback Everett Golson. But it was a Ping-Pong ball — more specifically, a bunch of players hooting …
