Notre Dame's season started with some predictions of a national championship, but it ended with some familiar problems.

Foremost among them, the Irish aren't fast enough and can't handle athletic teams. Speed kills, and speed killed Notre Dame.

Notre Dame turned in a 10-3 season and went to a BCS game for the second time in as many years under coach Charlie Weis. Quarterback Brady Quinn ended up winning the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player. He ended up with 38 school records. That was all good.

But the Irish were run off the field in their three biggest games -- against Michigan, USC and LSU (in the Sugar Bowl). Combined margin of defeat: 132-59.

Ouch.

After the Sugar Bowl, coach Charlie Weis offered this assessment, "That just won't cut it with how this ended."

Seasons have typically ended badly for the Irish, who have lost nine consecutive bowl games. This will be another tough offseason for Notre Dame, which loses Quinn and All-American receiver Jeff Samardzija and defensive end Victor Abiamiri and a whole host of seniors who made this such a promising season.

It ended up being merely a good season, not great.

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