Where Have All the Dynasties Gone?
UHND.com - Michael Wood
September 17, 2001
Saturday’s game-day headline in the September 8th edition of the South Bend Tribune said it all: "Waning Irish Tradition Needs A Win." Well, as evident in both the outcome and effort of all parties involved Saturday evening in Lincoln, the tradition has waned a bit further. The question is now whether or not the tradition that once was Irish football can ever return. In the 12 seasons since the last national championship, Notre Dame has seriously contended for a title only twice, most recently in 1993. Has the dynasty that was once Notre Dame Football vanished from the face of college football forever?
Throughout the history of organized team sports dynasties have evolved, flourished, become extinct, and sometimes, every so often, have returned with a vengeance to the glory of their past. Mention the names of teams like the Celtics, Canadiens, or Yankees, and right away vision of championship banners and year after year domination are what come to mind. But for each of these teams, generations of excellence were followed by periods of transition, mediocre seasons, and downright awful teams.
After being a mainstay in the World Series for decades (never going more than 3 years without an American League Pennant from 1921-1964), the Yankees suffered through 2 droughts. From 1965 through 1975, 11 seasons, no Yankee team played a post-season game, and some seasons ended with losing records. Pennants followed this in 4 of the next 6 years, winning 2 more World Series. Yankee fans endured then another long absence from the fall classic, 14 years. Their suffering was richly rewarded with titles in 4 of the last 5 season. Post season play is all but assured for the Bronx Bombers yet again in 2001.
Professional basketball teams were once measured in excellence by comparison to the Boston Celtics. National Hockey League teams could only hope to put together a championship tradition like that of the Montreal Canadiens. Yet both of these teams have fallen far from the glory that was once theirs.
The Boston Celtics dynasty lasted some 30 years before falling on hard times. Winners of 8 consecutive NBA titles from 1959-1966 and 16 overall from 1957-1986, the Celtics have failed to even make the playoffs in recent seasons. What once seemed like an annual trip to the NBA Finals, usually culminating in the famous Red Aurerbach "victory cigar" hasn’t been repeated in 15 seasons. Waiting lists for season tickets to Boston Garden for Celtics games included names of patient fans for decades. Now Boston fills the Fleet Center only when fans decide to see a popular opponent, like the hated Philadelphia 76ers or the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Stanley Cup once seemed destined never to leave Montreal. And when it did manage to find it’s way to another city, a swift return seemed all but guaranteed. The Canadiens raised the Cup 24 times from 1915 to 1993, more championships than any other North American sports franchise for years, until the New York Yankees won their 25th World Series in 2000. 9 other times Montreal teams advanced to the final round of the playoffs. But like the Boston Celtics before them, these are hard times for the NHL’s most famous team. Losing seasons, failure to qualify for the playoffs, and empty seats are now the norm for Montreal. To Canadiens fans the last Stanley Cup in 1993 seems like a lifetime ago.
But what of college footballs most frequent champions? The Golden Gophers of Minnesota won 6 national titles, 5 from 1934 to 1941. But the most recent title the one-time Big 10 powerhouse can boast of was in 1960. Oklahoma and The University of Southern California both own 7 national titles. In 17 years, from 1962 to 1978 USC claimed 6 of those titles. Oklahoma won 3 titles in the 50’s, 2 more in the 70’s, but only twice in the last 25 seasons. Perhaps the championship in 2000 signals the beginning of a new Sooner dynasty? In 54 years, 1925 to 1978 Alabama won 10 national titles, sharing the 1978 title with USC. But only once in the last 22 seasons, in 1992, has Alabama claimed the top spot.
Notre Dame’s current championship drought of 12 years (in all likelihood to be 13 by season’s end) isn’t even the longest dry spell the Irish have endured. Twice since winning their first championship Notre Dame has gone as long or longer without a title. 16 years, encompassing seasons from 1950 through 1965 remains the longest championship-less streak. Also from 1931 until 1942 the Irish failed to capture a national title, a span of 12 seasons.
Dynasties are hard to maintain in any setting. The 6-time champion Chicago Bulls seem light-years from the winning seasons of just a few years ago. But in college, the main source of your success constantly turns over. In the professional ranks, whether or not players stay is largely up to the team. In college, under the best of circumstances, the most you can get out of a player is 4 years. In many cases even fewer than 4 years. The stars of most professional dynasties played entire careers for those teams, often 15-20 years. Of course now many factors affect even professional teams and their ability to win year after year. Perhaps the likelihood is that dynasties even in the professional ranks are a thing of the past
Will Notre Dame be like the Canadiens, Celtics, or the more recent example of the Chicago Bulls, and be consigned to the history books under "Faded Glory?" Or will they be like the New York Yankees and return to a position of glamour and dominance? Of course you know only time, and plenty of Saturdays, will tell.
© Michael Wood 2001