ND & Michigan done after 2014

[Emcee77]

"While this move is a necessary precaution as we begin the process of meeting our new scheduling commitment to the ACC," Swarbrick wrote in his letter to Brandon, "please know that Notre Dame very much values its relationship with Michigan we look forward to working with you to ensure that our great football rivalry can continue."

from Matt Fortuna, ESPN's ND beat writer. Good news. I imagine we will get them back on the schedule in a few years.

 

[nlroma1o]

Even if Notre Dame wins the next two games (I fully expect ND to cruise next year), they'll only bring the series to 18-23-1. That really sucks.

Honestly I'd rather play Michigan than Stanford. I'd rather play Michigan than Michigan State or Purdue, certainly.
The series is 14-14-1 since 1978. Let's hope Notre Dame comes out on top the next two years!

100% agree with you Buster. I understand why they are doing it... but I dont like it....

Personally, the scUM game has been by far, the most important game for me every year for as long as I can remember.

Why wouldn't we want to be involved in an annual match which is, to many, the most 2 presigous college football programs in history?

 

[Cackalacky]

This is too bad, I look forward to watching ND-Michigan every year.....much more so than the Naval Academy. Nothing against Navy, and I do understand the history with Navy, I just prefer playing Michigan.

I agree. I love this game. USC and Michigan games get me reved up like no others. I am kind of conflicted. I understand the history of both, though I did not know all that about Yost (what a C%nt).

Now I get to hear it from the ACC guys. I work with a bunch of people who went to Clemson, FSU, Wake and Duke.

 

[irishff1014]

100% agree with you Buster. I understand why they are doing it... but I dont like it....

Personally, the scUM game has been by far, the most important game for me every year for as long as I can remember.

Why wouldn't we want to be involved in an annual match which is, to many, the most 2 presigous college football programs in history?

They still want to play 2 games in Cali where there is alot more talent to recruit.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Even if Notre Dame wins the next two games (I fully expect ND to cruise next year), they'll only bring the series to 18-23-1. That really sucks.

Honestly I'd rather play Michigan than Stanford. I'd rather play Michigan than Michigan State or Purdue, certainly.

The series is 14-14-1 since 1978. Let's hope Notre Dame comes out on top the next two years!

MSU and Purdue are more traditional rivals then Michigan. Stanford assures ND a trip to Cali once a year. I would rather keep those three over Michigan.

 

[woolybug25]

Brandon told the AP he was handed the letter on the field in South Bend, Ind., about an hour before Saturday night's game.

"I put the letter in my pocket and didn't bother to read it right away because I was focused on the game we were about to play," Brandon said. "I read it on the way home Sunday morning."

Savvy Jack is one cold hearted dude...

 

[Irish Houstonian]

He had to give notice before kickoff in order to preserve the termination right under the contract.

 

[ND NYC]

some were saying jack only cleared the "contractual obligation" for those yrs...but that we may still play them in the yrs that were "cancelled".

can anyone shed some light on this?

 

[Cackalacky]

Definitely keep Stanford and USC for California kids. Need to get into Texas/Oklahoma area more as well. I like that we play a national schedule. That is the ND brand.
I talk with so many people who think of ND football as just a mediocre team, but they do not realize what a "brand" it is. Its as much a brand as the Yankees, Cowboys, etc....

If we can get bright and athletically talented kids from all over the nation, you will never hear me complain.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Savvy Jack is one cold hearted dude...

 

[Irish Houstonian]

some were saying jack only cleared the "contractual obligation" for those yrs...but that we may still play them in the yrs that were "cancelled".

can anyone shed some light on this?

They could still agree to play in the future, they're just not obligated to do so under the old contract. Probably unlikely though.

 

[AllGoldEverything]

Gonna miss this game. ND-UM is a great rivalry and it sucks we can no longer look forward to kicking their *** every year.

 

[ND NYC]

Savvy Jack is one cold hearted dude...

in ND/scUM lore it will forever be known as the "Dear Jack" letter haha

(well its backwards but what the hell)

gotta love him...im sure he smiled that cheshire smile as he handed it to th eMich AD

 

[Wolverine1997]

Thanks for the memories. Michigan is going to win the rivalry in terms of the series record, but nobody wins here.

The rivalry has had a longer history of not playing than playing though, so it's fitting.

 

[Emcee77]

some were saying jack only cleared the "contractual obligation" for those yrs...but that we may still play them in the yrs that were "cancelled".

can anyone shed some light on this?

No one really can, because it has yet to be worked out.

It's true that all we've done is opt out of the contract requiring us to play Michigan every year till 2031 (except for the hiatus in 2018 and 2019). It doesn't mean that we can't or won't play Michigan in the 2015-2017 seasons, just that we no longer want to be contractually bound to play Michigan in those years because we want to be sure we can meet our obligations to the ACC.

However, Dave Brandon, Michigan's AD, said in the press that he doubts anything will be scheduled with ND before 2019. Not sure whether that's just an initial off-the-cuff guess or whether there's concrete reasoning behind it.

EDIT: After reading another article, it looks like we have not just opted out of the contract but cancelled the scheduled games in 2015-2017. Not sure whether they can be rescheduled but Brandon seems to think they won't be.

 

[Redbar]

in ND/scUM lore it will forever be known as the "Dear Jack" letter haha

(well its backwards but what the hell)

gotta love him...im sure he smiled that cheshire smile as he handed it to th eMich AD

Rolling!

I hate Michigan, but I respect the history of the program. I remember when FSU was getting beat by Tulane and you only watched football being played in Miami on Sundays. I do not respect those programs or the tactics they have used to carve out a national name. With that being said I understand how important it is for Notre Dame going forward to have skin in the game in that region of the country. Mr. Swarbrick did what was best for the University going forward in this era of college football. I am extremely impressed with his understanding of the big picture and how he wants to place us. Like some have said, with our obligations to the ACC, a bitter rival like Michigan, along with USC, Stanford, and Texas or Oklahoma would make it extremely difficult to ever win another National Championship.

 

[Bobias]

C'mon!! First the IU and Kentucky basketball series gets cancelled due to Calipari pissing himself looking at IU's lineup and now this! Get rid of Purdue or Michigan St. This is an incredible rivalry that is one of the most anticipated matchups every year (as evidenced by them being the most watched game in the nation on Saturday). This is just unacceptable losing 2 of the best rivalries in sports when it could have been easily avoidable.

 

[IrishLax]

Great move.

 

[Irishnuke]

Not in favor of this at all. I see why it has to be done but I don't like it. It may not be "traditional" rivalry like Purdue or Navy, but honestly, nobody gives a sh!t about Purdue or Navy except Purdue or Navy. People want to see ND vs. UM. Recruits want to see ND vs. UM. I'm curious what team will fill that spot. Wisconsin? Iowa? Ball State?

 

[Wolverine1997]

No one really can, because it has yet to be worked out.

It's true that all we've done is opt out of the contract requiring us to play Michigan every year till 2031 (except for the hiatus in 2018 and 2019). It doesn't mean that we can't or won't play Michigan in the 2015-2017 seasons, just that we no longer want to be contractually bound to play Michigan in those years because we want to be sure we can meet our obligations to the ACC.

However, Dave Brandon, Michigan's AD, said in the press that he doubts anything will be scheduled with ND before 2019. Not sure whether that's just an initial off-the-cuff guess or whether there's concrete reasoning behind it.

Dave Brandon does not want ND on the schedule anymore.

He sees them as a brick tied to our ankle. His goal is to bring teams like the LSU, Oklahoma etc in for a home and home. I don't think we'll see Michigan playing in any more neutral sites game other than conference title games and bowl games.

Looks like we are seeing the third long break in the rivalry. 1910-1941, 1944-1977 and now 2015 and beyond.

 

[irishff1014]

Not in favor of this at all. I see why it has to be done but I don't like it. It may not be "traditional" rivalry like Purdue or Navy, but honestly, nobody gives a sh!t about Purdue or Navy except Purdue or Navy. People want to see ND vs. UM. Recruits want to see ND vs. UM. I'm curious what team will fill that spot. Wisconsin? Iowa? Ball State?

Probably one of the required 5 ACC team.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Not in favor of this at all. I see why it has to be done but I don't like it. It may not be "traditional" rivalry like Purdue or Navy, but honestly, nobody gives a sh!t about Purdue or Navy except Purdue or Navy. People want to see ND vs. UM. Recruits want to see ND vs. UM. I'm curious what team will fill that spot. Wisconsin? Iowa? Ball State?

+1. Seriously, you can't have more tradition on one field than ND v. UM. Top 2 winningest programs in history. Not happy about this.

 

[RDU Irish]

I wouldn't play Jack in poker. Bet he would do well on the WSOP tour.

 

[irishfan]

At least we get the last home game.

 

[Emcee77]

Dave Brandon does not want ND on the schedule anymore.

He sees them as a brick tied to our ankle. His goal is to bring teams like the LSU, Oklahoma etc in for a home and home. I don't think we'll see Michigan playing in any more neutral sites game other than conference title games and bowl games.

Looks like we are seeing the third long break in the rivalry. 1910-1941, 1944-1977 and now 2015 and beyond.

Maybe true, but if so he seems at least annoyed that we broke up with him first. Or maybe he just doesn't want to be perceived as the one who broke the series:

"The decision to cancel games in 2015-17 was Notre Dame's and not ours," Brandon said in a release. "We value our annual rivalry with Notre Dame but will have to see what the future holds for any continuation of the series. This cancellation presents new scheduling opportunities for our program and provides a chance to create some new rivalries."

I certainly hope there's not a long break and that the series resumes in 2019. It's the game I most look forward to every year.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

No one regular season game is more important than stringing together a series of victories that can lead to the National Championship.

Michigan will be in the way. Swarbrick got them out.

 

[Irishnuke]

Of course I set myself up to be pissed by reading the comment section on the espn article but I thought I'd share this gem.

"Sfbucki
Smart move by Notre Dame....with the UM recruiting class Hoke has coming in. Kelly isn't recruiting at Hokes level quite yet and this is away that he won't have to deal that class. He'll play them as freshmen and then won't have to contend with them for the next 3 years. 
 
Hate or love it, it's kind a smart."
16 fans like this.
2 Hours Ago

So apparently BK can't recruit.

 

[irishff1014]

Of course I set myself up to be pissed by reading the comment section on the espn article but I thought I'd share this gem.

"Sfbucki
Smart move by Notre Dame....with the UM recruiting class Hoke has coming in. Kelly isn't recruiting at Hokes level quite yet and this is away that he won't have to deal that class. He'll play them as freshmen and then won't have to contend with them for the next 3 years.*
*
Hate or love it, it's kind a smart."
16 fans like this.
2 Hours Ago

So apparently BK can't recruit.

Thats the biggest load of Bull Sh!t i have ever read.

 

[Wolverine1997]

Of course I set myself up to be pissed by reading the comment section on the espn article but I thought I'd share this gem.

"Sfbucki
Smart move by Notre Dame....with the UM recruiting class Hoke has coming in. Kelly isn't recruiting at Hokes level quite yet and this is away that he won't have to deal that class. He'll play them as freshmen and then won't have to contend with them for the next 3 years.*
*
Hate or love it, it's kind a smart."
16 fans like this.
2 Hours Ago

So apparently BK can't recruit.

Seems like it's an ohio fan with the username "bucki"

I don't think he's saying kelly can't recruit, I think he's just saying that Brady Hoke recruits better. The only thing we can go by as of now is recruiting rankings and the freshmen that have played.

 

[pumpdog20]

This is crap. I love this game, but I'm glad I got the "bucket list" game done this year.