It's a march that usually gets you a pair of prison guards and a chaplain. Call it The Golden Mile -- Texas A&M, Nebraska, Purdue, at Michigan State, Stanford.

This stretch will make or break the Irish's season as well as Bob Davie's future as Notre Dame coach.

We asked our coaches how they think Notre Dame will handle this stretch and here's what they said:

Mike Gottfried I think the Fighting Irish will be 3-2 or 4-1 at the end of five games. There is no single game that's critical when you're trying to rebuild or reload, but a win in the opener vs. Texas A&M will get them one in the good column, which could quiet the critics who are always waiting to jump all over the Irish. Opening up with a loss could hurt the morale of young players like Arnez Battle, but I really believe they're going to win their first game. Nebraska is the only game (of the first five) they can't win, because the Huskers are a big, strong team with a lot of veterans who will win every matchup. But I feel this Notre Dame team is getting faster and has better athletes than they've had in the past. When Bob Davie took over, he didn't have a lot to work with, but they've recruited well, and I think they're on an upswing. Look for the Irish to win a bowl game.

John Mackovic Notre Dame could not be sitting in any better position for the opening half of the 2000 season. ND stadium is a tough place to play and an even tougher place to win, even when the Fighting Irish don't have all the horses they have had in the past. Four of the first five games are at home and that is almost a seven point advantage. Forget about Nebraska; it is the only game that is a no-brainer. Texas A&M, Michigan State and Stanford have just as many questions in the early stages of the season as Notre Dame. Bob Davie can do just as well as R.C. Slocum, new coach Bobby Williams or Tyrone Willingham in making the right decisions and getting his team ready to play. By the way, all three have new quarterbacks this year as well. The Purdue matchup will be emotional. Drew Brees remembers the heartbreak of two years ago in Notre Dame stadium, but the South Bend faithful remember that they have won eight of the last ten against Purdue. Look for Notre Dame to finish the first half of the season with at least a 3-2 record and a good spring in their step for the second half.

Bill Curry Touchdown Jesus...Rockne speeches...winning for the Gipper...the ND fight song...the Four Horsemen...the catalogue is endless, if one seeks to express the essence of college football tradition. How did Notre Dame get to this place in the most storied football mythology? Is this five game stretch at the start of the millennium the Armageddon that the media claims? I don't think so. I think it will be a 3-2 start, and that the Fighting Irish will be an improving team as they run the gauntlet. The pent-up emotion of the NCAA embarrassment, the incredible criticism the players and coaches have endured and the quality of Bob Davie's composure will make for inspired performances from this team. Notre Dame will beat Texas A&M, Purdue and Stanford; they will lose to Nebraska and Michigan State. When they head into the second half of the season, their record will read 3-2, and the future will look considerably brighter.