Originally Posted by
natetcu
1) ND has the second largest fan base in the nation (Texas resently passed them to be #1)
2) Recruiting is a good judge of where players perceive the best schools are. Past 10 years of recruiting (based off of Rivals ratings) 2002: 24th, 2003: 12th, 2004: top 50, 2005: 40th, 2006: 8th, 2007: 8th, 2008: 2nd, 2009: 21st, 2010: 14th, 2011: 10th, 2012: 20th, 2013: 13th
3) Preseason top 25 appearances since '02, this shows how they were perceived before the ball was ever snapped: 2002: 18 points, 2003: 18th, 2004: 25 points, 2005: 13 points, 2006: 3rd, 2007: 8th, 2008: 90 points, 2009: 23rd, 2010: 38 points, 2011: 18th... even when ND is bad they still get top 25 respect every year until they prove it is unwarranted.
To me, ND is the definition of a six star prestige school. Now to you they may have lost their luster, but they still command a lot of respect in the college football world.