Belt regions, Virginia, the Carolinas
and Georgia are the areas where the
Fighting Irish are expected to enhance
their success the most in the coming
decades.
Big Ten states such as Iowa, Minne‑
sota and Wisconsin were more promi‑
nent in filling out Notre Dame's roster
in the past, but the future, if not the
present already, will be concentrated
more in ACC country.
Virginia and the Carolinas have
been growing as football hotbeds —
plus Georgia and Louisiana are two
other states the Irish staff would like
to tap into without greater success —
so the timing is right.
Virginia head coach Mike London is
on the hot seat this year, and Virginia
Tech has taken a bit of a dip the past
three years under future Hall of Fame
head coach Frank Beamer, who will
turn 69 this year.
Virginia has become more of a
player the past several decades on
Notre Dame's football radar, and with
the recent Irish‑ACC affiliation, it is
expected to become more visible. ✦
Notre Dame topped Virginia 36-13 in the 1989 Kickoff Classic one year after capturing the program's
most recent national championship.
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER M. BROADHURST
