(This article originally appeared in the 8/21 issue of Irish Today.)

When both the USA Today Coaches' Poll and the Associated Press Poll released its preseason rankings, it seemed to be a great cause for loyal Domers to dismay as the Irish ended up ranked No. 46 in both.

Let's put it into a perspective, which I feel, allows Notre Dame's 2002 edition of football to enter on a positive note.

First of all, those preseason picks and alignments are, at the very best, a calculated guess.  They are not objective in the least.  On the contrary, they are very subjective - based on a previous year's coach, record, scores, retuning lettermen and upcoming schedule.  None of these items holds a lot of weight as it is a speculative estimate of what coaches assume.

For comparison and analogy, consider recruiting.  Every year, universities are pegged with an outstanding recruiting year, a fair year or a poor year.  Experienced coaches and recruiters will tell you that year in and year out, if you recruit thirty players, only one-third will be starters during their careers.

One-third will help as backups or special teamers and one-third will be relegated to the prep team.  Those are the odds, give or take one or two, as proven over many years.

Keep in mind that every recruit offered a scholarship was "all this" and "all that" and ranked four or 400 in the nation, based on the media hype and coverage.  For every athlete ranked in those recruiting pools, eliminating the league and caliber of their play, there are at least a hundred players every bit as good, unannounced, undiscovered and un-hyped.

"Walk-ons" come out of the woodwork and often blossom into better players than some on scholarship.  Every major team and coach can attest to one or more on their own teams.

The point is this!  Recruits, prior to playing a down in college, are unproven.   This is also true of teams entering a new season no matter what the previous year held.

One thing athletes and coaches alike will agree on: "Players play!"

So let's take it from that point.  Does Notre Dame have players?  You bet they do, and some awfully good ones.  When we (Ara Parseghian and staff) came to Notre Dame, everyone told us the cupboard was bare.

What we discovered was that a nucleus of players on the squad could and would form into a formidable team.

Notre Dame gets talent!  Granted, you have to coach it; you have to have skills and align them where they are most effective.  Tyrone Willingham and his staff are not "Babes in the Woods."  They've faced Notre Dame before and are now Notre Dame's guiding lights.  I really can't remember a year since 1964 when anyone could say "the cupboard is bare. they have no speed, or no talent, or no skills."

As the old Colonel on "MASH" used to say, "Horse Pucky." 

When you play the Irish and you think they are only the 46th best team in the country, you're in deep "Pucky" my friend, and in for a cultural and physical shock.

In many ways, being ranked 46th in the preseason polls might be the best psychological advantage Ty Willingham and company could have gotten.

"New coach - lots of new learning."

"It'll take 'em a while to build!"

"They ain't what they used to be!"

"They don't get the tough kids out of the mines anymore - besides all the good ones are going to the warmer climates."

"They got no speed, size, talent. etc."

Do you actually believe all of this stuff? 

Well, my loyal Irish friends, don't despair.  The Irish have size. Overall, they have as much speed as any major team.  They possess people with all the skills to catch, pass, kick and run.  A year ago, they had 18 players who ran 4.4 40s or less.   Many of them return.

They return five fifth-year seniors on the offensive line.  A brilliant potential in Carlyle Holiday, a "bread and butter" set of backs and several tall and fast new receivers.

On defense, I believe they are even more solid.  Those gaps they must fill are not lesser players, they are just lesser known.

From time to time I glance at the schedule.  The Irish will open with Maryland.   I cannot believe Maryland, for all their success a year ago, can match the speed, size and talent present on the N.D. roster.

As I peruse that same schedule, I ask myself who on this schedule is going to out-muscle Notre Dame?  Who is going to dominate the Irish defense?  Who is going to stop the offense cold?

Granted, they play some tough, tough teams. But physically, Michigan, Michigan State, Southern California, Boston College and Florida State are not vastly superior in talent. if they are at all.

No, my friends, I see being ranked 46th on the elite list as a "blessing in disguise."  Highly-touted teams surprise no one.

I give Notre Dame an edge over Navy, Rutgers, Air Force and Pittsburgh.  We must always be weary of Purdue, but all the rest, Notre Dame is capable of beating.   Whether or not they do, is summarized in the unknowns - the bounce of the ball, the strategy, the conditioning and the morale.  Those are big, big items, but talent, players' skills. they have. 

They are not "little sisters of the poor."  They are still Notre Dame and though I hate predictions, I predict they'll be in every game with a chance to win it.   No - sure things!  Can anyone ask for more?