No one saw it coming.

But the sting of blowing a 13 point 4th quarter lead to 2-8 Syracuse on Saturday has not gone away for Irish football fans.

Notre Dame drops to 6-5 on the season, and have now lost 14 games in the last two years.

Fans are beginning to truly question where the program is headed. On Sunday, Charlie Weis was asked if he was concerned for his job.

"I think the team has a chance of being pretty darn good next year," Weis said at his day after the game press conference. "I can't worry about my job status right now. I'm the head football coach and that's what I intend to be."

Weis did not want to answer 'big picture questions' Saturday night immediately following a tough loss. He wanted time to reflect on where in fact he believes the program stands.

He did answer those questions on Sunday.

"You've gone from a crummy team to a decent team," Weis explained. "I wouldn't say we're anywhere near good, but we're decent."

"If you take a step from three wins to six or seven wins -- not including a bowl a game -- going into the next year, you should expect the progression to be at least as good if not better."

One of Notre Dame's biggest concerns this season has been their ability to put an opponent away. The Irish blew leads against UNC, Pitt and almost to Navy.

But nothing was as bad as what happened Saturday against Syracuse.

"I think we have a lot of young talented athletes that are gaining in valuable experience. I think that we all, whether media or coaches, can identify that one of the major issues that we're dealing with is finishing the game."

"You would say it and I would say the same thing. I think where I expect the biggest change or biggest uptick is in that quality, because experience is usually the one that puts you over the edge on that one. And I think that's what a bunch of these kids are now gaining. I move it in the right direction for that one alone."

But what about the rest of this year? The Irish will now play their toughest opponent, arch rival USC on the road. The Irish leaders will have a tough task this week of turning the team mentality around.

"I don't think there's one particular thing that you can that can wash it away from everybody," senior linebacker and captain Maurice Crum said Saturday after the game.

"I think the majority of the guys are hurting for the seniors and stuff. If we come back, the leaders, ready to work and ready to go, they'll respond to us."

USC is 9-1 on the season. The Irish have not defeated the Trojans in Los Angeles since 2000.