“Often those who criticise others reveal what they themselves lack.”- Shannon Adler. Notre Dame Athletics draws intense attention in college sports. For fans, the history and expectation of excellence fuel loyalty; for detractors, they provide frequent criticism. Words like 'irrelevant' and 'overrated' can leave wounds that last for decades. On December 7th 2025, the Notre Dame Football Team declined an invitation to presumably play the Brigham Young Cougars (BYU) in the Pop-