No one is arguing that you can not get a great education from another program. I live in Georgia, and I know many people who went to schools in the SEC and ACC. They received great educations that set them up for life, just like one from Notre Dame would. The "40 year decision" term I keep hearing, I have always taken as Notre Dame will make sure that you graduate in four years with a degree and network that will actually do you some good.
"If the players want them" refers to other schools who do put football first, will put you in a major that really does not mean anything as far as job prospects, and in some situations that I have read about the players go to school for 5 years without earning a degree. That won't happen to a player who goes to Notre Dame. That athlete will graduate. In that way, to me, it still does make Notre Dame special over some of the other schools out there.