Both the Chicago Tribune and AOL Fanhouse are reporting that Notre Dame is likely to turn down a bowl invitation this weekend. The team is expected to meet with athletic director Jack Swarbrick on Friday to make a final decision.

But the reasons against going to a bowl are overwhelming. For one, the Irish don't have a head coach. Even if a new coach is named by Monday, he would only have about three weeks to install his system and get ready for the Little Caesars Bowl, one of Notre Dame's possible destinations. There would be more time if the Irish were invited to the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl.

Neither possibility, however, offers much prestige or money. Proud Notre Dame fans would feel embarrassed to see their team playing in Detroit or Mobile, Ala., and each bowl game has a payout of $750,000. By the time you subtract expenses, the school would likely break even or lose money on the proposition.

While some players, especially the seniors, undoubtedly would like to put the gold helmets on one more time, do you really think Jimmy Clausen or Golden Tate want to risk injury and their NFL futures in the Little Caesars Bowl? And what does Notre Dame have to gain by beating a MAC team to finish 7-6? It has far more to lose by losing to a MAC team and finishing 6-7.

The program would be better served by having its new coaching staff focus solely on recruiting and preparing for the spring. If Notre Dame really wanted to go bowling this year, well, it should have won more games.