Known as "Old Faithful," this spouting burst of boiling water can be counted upon to put on a show approximately every 90 minutes or so.

Never does it fail to make its scheduled appearance or delight a fascinated public.

Well, you know what?

The Irish have their own versions of "Old Faithful."

Four players, three seniors and a junior, comprise this group of remarkably consistent performers.

Like that gusher in Wyoming, they never seem to let you down. Relentless in their effort, reliable in their results, they rarely if ever disappoint.

Though they have yet to be paid for their exploits on the field, they are classic money players. They're as close to a sure thing as you can get.

They're four "Old Faithfuls" disguised in Irish uniforms. ND fans have come to bank on them time and time again.

And each of them can do wondrous things with a football.

One can chuck it with precision and power. One can turn acrobatic while catching it. One is a threat whether running or receiving it. And one just has a nose for it.

They're a modern day "Fab Four" who simply find a way to get the job done. The fact that they're often spectacular in doing so is merely icing on the cake.

They're go-to guys who embrace being big-time performers and never shrink from a challenge.

And like "Old Faithful," they can be an amazing sight to behold.

The chucker, of course, is the dynamic Brady Quinn.

After a slight hiccup against Georgia Tech, Quinn again found his stride and took it out on Penn State.

Spreading the ball around masterfully, Quinn clicked for 25 completions, good for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was just another routine day at the office for the stellar senior quarterback.

Saturday marked the ninth time in his career that Quinn had tossed for 3 or more scores. It's getting to the point where Quinn is almost making the spectacular seem mundane.

He's become a touchdown making machine if there ever was one.

And just like a well maintained piece of machinery, he's incredibly efficient and someone you trust will never breakdown.

The acrobat, who seems to make stretching or leaping catches commonplace, is the recently sheared Jeff Samardzija. Unlike Samson, however, having had a significant amount of his hair chopped off hasn't affected Samardzija's prowess.

He remains like Velcro to Quinn's throws.

For the second week in a row and despite intense double-coverage, "Jiffy" Jeff gathered in six passes.

What's more, his 7-yard scoring grab brought his career total to 16, tying him for fourth on the all-time list with the revered Jim Seymour.

Because of his trustworthiness, Samardzija has become Quinn's security blanket. When in doubt, Brady immediately looks for the 6-5 standout who's been the one receiving constant over the last two seasons.

They don't come any more steadfast than Samardzija.

The dual threat whether running or catching is the amazingly steady Darius Walker. You talk about your tried-and-true athletes. Walker epitomizes that description.

Count on two things happening every Saturday during the football season. The sun will come up and Walker will most likely find his way into the end zone.

The compact, 5-10, 210-pound junior has become an expert at hitting paydirt.

While most of his scoring forays come on the ground, last week Walker displayed his versatility by taking a 15-yard pass to the "House."

Already a decided asset when it comes to toting the pigskin, Walker is rapidly developing into a formidable receiver. Having already established a team-high for receptions by a back in '05, Darius has continued to rack up the catches with 11 more so far this year.

Always capable of beating you with his legs, his hands can now do you in if you're not careful.

Walker is just flat out money in the bank. By the time the final

gun goes off, you can check the stat sheet with confidence

knowing  that his combined run-catch total will be well over 100 yards. It's a given. It's a mortal lock.

Very few in a Notre Dame uniform have ever validated themselves on such a continual basis as has Walker.

Finally, there's that feisty battler with the nose for the football. It seems as if everywhere you look, that's where he'll be.

Whether he's laying somebody out with a terrific hit, returning a punt in daring fashion or making a play that turns momentum in ND's favor, Tom Zbikowski is a difference-maker personified.

Last Saturday, it was Penn State's turn to feel the power of his impact. Quickly jumping on a loose ball, "Zibby" scooped it up with ease and proceeded to hightail it into the end zone for a 25-yard tally.

With that fumble recovery, Zbikowski's record had gone deuces wild.

He has now scored on two fumble returns, two interception returns and two punt returns in his memorable career.

With "Zibby" around you've got to keep your head on a swivel because he'll come at you from so many different angles. He'll beat you in so many different ways.

What's so uncanny about the Irish senior safety is the way he makes things happen with such regularity. He is the consummate playmaker. It seems just a matter of time before Zbikowski will leave his imprint on a game.

Reliability with a flair for the dramatic and the breathtaking.

That is the essence of "Zibby."

Indeed, the Irish do have four "Old Faithfuls" who know how to blow up when it matters most.