A Star from Notre Dame Criticizes the Texas Longhorns
In the world of college football, the rivalry between teams is as fierce as it is historic. Each season, fan bases across the nation engage in heated debates, passionate displays of team spirit, and occasionally, sharp criticism of other programs. One of the most storied programs in college football history is Notre Dame, a school known for its proud traditions, illustrious past, and competitive spirit.
However, even such an iconic institution can’t help but have its moments of critique—especially when discussing programs it feels have yet to live up to their potential. This is where the Notre Dame perspective on the Texas Longhorns comes into play. The Longhorns, a program with a rich history of success, have often been criticized for their inability to return to the elite levels they once commanded.
For those of us who have been on the inside of a championship-level program, it’s hard to watch a school with as much talent, resources, and history as Texas continue to struggle. Notre Dame, with its own deep legacy, has a unique perspective on what it takes to be a true football powerhouse. And in that context, the Longhorns’ current standing in college football is worthy of criticism. So, let’s examine some of the key aspects where Notre Dame might have a problem with Texas and why the Longhorns’ trajectory in recent years has been a source of disappointment.
The Texas Longhorns’ Historical Significance
Before diving into the critique, it’s important to understand why Texas has historically been considered one of the top programs in the country. Texas boasts a tradition of success, with national championships, a strong alumni base, and countless professional players who got their start in Austin. From the days of Darrell Royal in the 1960s and 1970s to the early 2000s with Mack Brown, Texas has experienced its fair share of glory.
The problem, however, is that the expectations for Texas have always been high. With such a deep history, it’s easy to see why their fans and players expect consistent championship contention. Yet, for the past decade or so, the Longhorns have struggled to reclaim that level of dominance, even as teams like Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson have ascended to the top of the college football world.
From the outside, Notre Dame sees a program that is failing to meet the lofty expectations that have been set for it. In fact, for all of Texas’s potential, there have been times when it has underachieved, especially in comparison to other top-tier programs. It’s a sentiment that resonates with those who have witnessed Notre Dame’s consistent ability to field competitive teams, despite its own challenges.
The Hiring Carousel and Lack of Stability
One of the most glaring issues with Texas football in recent years has been the lack of coaching stability. In the era of college football where consistency and long-term vision are essential to sustained success, Texas has struggled to find a coach who could bring the program back to prominence. Since Mack Brown’s tenure ended in 2013, the Longhorns have gone through multiple coaching changes, each one accompanied by a promise of resurgence, only to fall short.
Notre Dame, for all its ups and downs, has had far greater stability in its leadership. Brian Kelly, who led the Fighting Irish from 2010 to 2021, provided a level of consistency and direction that Texas has been lacking. Even though Kelly’s tenure had its critiques, the fact remains that he led Notre Dame to consistent bowl games, College Football Playoff appearances, and high rankings. Meanwhile, Texas seemed to go through coaches like Charlie Strong, Tom Herman, and Steve Sarkisian, with none of them managing to restore the program to the heights it had enjoyed in the past.
This constant turnover has created a lack of identity for the Longhorns. While Notre Dame may not have won a national championship in the playoff era, it has consistently been in the conversation. Texas, on the other hand, has seen major setbacks under each of their recent coaching regimes. The criticism is clear: if a program with the resources and talent of Texas can’t find the right leader, it becomes difficult to justify the continued hype surrounding them.
The Overemphasis on Recruiting and Underperformance
Another point of contention for Notre Dame when critiquing Texas is the program’s tendency to rely heavily on its recruiting class rankings, only to underperform once the players arrive. There is no doubt that Texas has some of the best recruiting classes in the nation year in and year out. The talent on the roster is undeniable. Yet, when these players hit the field, the results don’t always match the hype.
Notre Dame’s perspective on recruiting is a bit different. The Fighting Irish have traditionally been more selective in their recruiting, often focusing on developing a cohesive team rather than just bringing in the most highly-ranked prospects. While the Fighting Irish may not always have the top-ranked recruiting classes, their focus on development, discipline, and culture often pays off in the long run.
For Texas, it seems that the program has spent far too much time focusing on the star power of individual recruits instead of fostering a unified team ethos. This has led to an environment where talented players may struggle to reach their full potential because of a lack of focus on team chemistry, scheme fit, and overall development. Despite having some of the best players in the country, Texas has not been able to translate that talent into sustained on-field success.
The Cultural and Psychological Disconnect
There’s also an interesting psychological element at play when it comes to Texas. There is a sense of entitlement that surrounds the program, something that has been ingrained in the Texas football culture for years. The Longhorns, with their massive fanbase and storied history, have long operated under the assumption that success is inevitable. This can lead to a complacency that Notre Dame, with its own high standards, finds problematic.
At Notre Dame, the culture is built on the understanding that success requires constant effort, discipline, and resilience. The Fighting Irish have had their share of challenges, but the expectation for the program is always to compete at the highest level, regardless of the circumstances. There is no room for entitlement or complacency. When a team like Texas fails to meet the expectations set by its own tradition, it becomes an issue of mindset.
For Notre Dame, this is where Texas seems to falter. The Longhorns have struggled to adapt to the evolving landscape of college football. The program has been too slow to embrace new coaching philosophies, player development strategies, and modern recruiting techniques. The result is a team that, despite its vast resources, struggles to keep up with more dynamic programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State. This lack of adaptability is what has led to Texas’s inability to reclaim its former glory.
