SOUTH BEND, Ind. - During a recent press conference, Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis was asked if, when he took the job, he knew how important recruiting is.

“First of all, I knew that I was going to like recruiting,” Weis said, “so that wasn’t going to be the issue.”

Back-to-back-to-back top-10 finishes in February’s version of the national polls certainly would back up Weis’ statement. Four years into his tenure in South Bend, he seems to have the same energy that he had when he first arrived, when he hit the road with a right hand full of Super Bowl rings and a promise of better things to come.

The Super Bowl rings aren’t as evident as they once were, but Weis continues to take promise on the road with him. He is considered one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country, mentioned in the same breath as USC’s Pete Carroll, Texas’ Mack Brown and Florida’s Urban Meyer.

What makes Weis’ task so challenging, however, is the distance he has to travel to get the job done. While Brown, Carroll and Meyer can do a bulk of their recruiting within driving distance of their respective campuses, Weis rarely has that luxury considering Indiana isn’t exactly a hotbed for football talent.

More often than not, Weis must jump in a plane to see a recruit. Exhibit A: his recent bye week flight to Hawaii to watch coveted linebacker prospect Monti Te’o. Whether the trip is fruitful won’t be known perhaps until signing day, but Weis did gain a good amount of local attention just by showing up.

The level of attention Weis has received, however, has been a bit of a surprise.

“What I didn’t realize is the magnitude of the Internet,” he said. “I mean, you can’t do anything without it being on the Internet, and recruiting is just one of the subjects. Recruiting happens to be the subject we’re talking about, but it’s no different than if I go to the movies, to the multi-cinema on Friday night.”

Most of that attention, though, through three full cycles, has been good. The first three full classes that Weis assembled ranked eighth (2006), eighth and second (the current freshmen) by Rivals.com. The group Weis is putting together right now is currently 12^th, and is expected to finish somewhere near the back end of the top 10.

Yes, there have been great recruiting successes, namely on offense where the skill players he has signed are beginning to show a firepower worthy of a national title contender. Terrific athletes are in place in the secondary and young raw talent is beginning to develop at linebacker, although more athletes are needed at the spot.

If there are areas that may stand in the way of ND developing into a title contender in the next few years, they would be in the trenches.

The offensive line talent was highly regarded, but the running game has yet to consistently develop, and the culprit seems to be the line.

And there just isn’t a lot of top-line talent along the defensive line. While the current group is serviceable, there doesn’t seem to be the game-changing force on the line that is abundant elsewhere. High-profile misses the last few years are beginning to hit harder now that those players are excelling at schools not named Notre Dame.

But overall, Weis has been a success in living rooms, enjoying more success on the recruiting trail than did his predecessor. And with that comes increased attention.

“As far as recruiting goes, no matter where you go, no matter what you do,” he said, “there’s multiple people that know about it.”

Also on NBCSports.com NFL: Compare NFL playoff teams, vote on winners College football: Pressure is on OU in BCS title game NBA: A toast to teams that are already toast College hoops: Cal already contending under Monty MLB: Free agent tracker, updates team needs, more NHL: Here's what to expect in second half of season

MORE FROM NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Notre Dame Central Section Front

Opinion: 'Wait 'til next year' is no comfort at ND Hansen: Texas showcase for Irish recruits Wieneke: Which freshmen could make an instant impact? Doctor says surgery on Weis' right knee successful Notre Dame ends its NCAA-record bowl skid Walters: Poetic justice for Weis, Irish Clausen, Weis get head start on 2009 N.D. assistant to become 6th black head coach Wieneke: QBs could top Weis' wish list for 2010 Florida's Meyer still says Notre Dame his ‘dream job’ Notre Dame Central Section Front   Add Notre Dame Central headlines to your news reader: