NO other college in the States can match the roll call of coaching success that Notre Dame, who play Navy in Croke Park on Saturday, can muster: Knute Rockne in the 1920s. Frank Leahy in the 1940s. Ma Parseghian in the 1960s and Dan Devine in the 1970s. The only comparison on this side of the pond would be the dynastic legacies of Liverpool.

Lou Holtz would be the last to admit it, but he has already ensured himself a place along side, these Notre Dame legends.

Since he took over in 1985, Holtz has already recorded 95 wins (more than any of the above named in their first decade), captured the national championship in 1988, went on a 23 game winning streak (the school's longest), brought the Irish to nine consecutive post season bowl games and, in the last eight seasons, compiled a 79-17-2 record (a remarkable 80 per cent winning record).

And all of this success comes against the toughest opposition: the Notre Dame schedule is regularly among the top three or four most difficult in the nation. Until recently the school was an "independent", not affiliated to a conference (one of Rockne's legacies), which means the best teams queue up for a prestigious - and lucrative - crack at the Irish.

Holtz's teams also have an uncanny ability to topple the big names, particularly in the high profile (and, again, lucrative) New Year's Day bowl games. The Irish have won five of their last eight bowl games, three of them against unbeaten opponents vying for the national championship.

All of which makes Notre Dame's relatively poor start this season (4-2) that much harder to take. The first defeat, against number four ranked Ohio State, was not all that surprising, but the over time loss to Air Force was hard to swallow.

What's worse, Holtz can't explain it, can't understand why this year's crop of talented footballers haven't been able to get it together, even on the practice ground.

"It's just very very discouraging," he said on Tuesday. "At practice yesterday, you know, the guards'll have a mental error, the receivers will drop a pass. Just gaining some consistency and confidence. I have never experienced anything like this since I've been in coaching.

"All I do know is that, I concerned about the way playing at the present time.

"You can not make plays you have 11 people doing the thing at the right time. I felt that was easy. I have seen anything as difficult as it is the present time."

Still, whatever the result on Saturday, Holtz is clear about the benefits of this trip to Ireland: think the golf courses are tremendous. You go down to Lahinch Tralee ... Ballybunion." He resses the words. "Waterville."

"I played with some whose ancestors migrated to United States. We're standing I think it's the number 11 tee Ballybunion. I remember the vividly. You're up on the tee, and drops down and there's a meadow and the ocean there. You got a long carry, a long par four, Tom Watson's favourite hole. I mean it's just a beautiful setting and the weather was beautiful. And we're there, and the two Irish guys said to one another, I wonder why our parents left?"

"It's gonna be a great experience for our players. I mean, I have had nothing but positive experience when I have been in Ireland."