SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Brady Quinn doesn’t think being quarterback for the Fighting Irish is a glamour position, even if he is helping bring Notre Dame back into style.

High profile, yes. High pressure, yes. Glamorous?

“I don’t know if I look at it that way. It’s a big responsibility, I think, especially a big pair of shoes to fill when you look at past players that have played here,” he said. “You’re talking about (Joe) Montana and (Joe) Theismann.”

Not to mention Heisman Trophy winners Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Paul Hornung and John Huarte. It’s a storied position with some uninspiring chapters in recent years.

Since 2000, the Irish have had a run of quarterbacks. Arnaz Battle and Gary Godsey lasted two games each as starter. Matt LoVecchio lasted 10 games, and Carlyle Holiday started 24. LoVecchio and Holiday had some success, primarily because of strong Irish defenses.

Notre Dame didn’t have stability at quarterback until Quinn took over as a freshman in the fourth game of the 2003 season. Quinn had some individual success from the beginning — passing for 297 yards against Purdue in his first start and for 350 yards against Boston College in his fourth start.

But the Irish were an unspectacular 10-11 in Quinn’s first two years as starter, and the offense struggled mightily under coach Tyrone Willingham. During Quinn’s freshman season, Notre Dame averaged 179 yards a game passing and was rated 92nd in the nation. Last year, the Irish averaged 218 yards and were rated 54th.

Quinn concedes it was difficult.

“Sometimes you wished you could have been put in more favorable positions where you wouldn’t have to be thrust into a spot,” Quinn said. “But I think any time you get playing time early you’re able to see yourself grow up, progress.”