Who would you like to see on future schedules?

[Riddickulous]

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of games against Alabama and Ohio State, myself. Perhaps a revival of the annual Miami rivalry, as in playing them every year?

 

[vinnymac2402]

I would like florida state and florida to be added. i loved some of the old FSU games. and florida i would love to see them get their butts kick by the Irish

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I don't understand why anyone would want to see a revival of the ND-Miami series.

Why not keep on playing new teams from other conferences? Keep the Navy and Army thing going.

I'd even go as far as saying to end the USC thing. That was Rockne's gig.

 

[Riddickulous]

Why not keep on playing new teams from other conferences? Keep the Navy and Army thing going.

Nebraska? More Penn State? Oregon?

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Nebraska? More Penn State? Oregon?

Why not? But not all of those every friggen week back to back with no layoff just to please NBC. Add ONE new team every year. Creative scheduling...

 

[Riddickulous]

Why not? But not all of those every friggen week back to back with no layoff just to please NBC. Add ONE new team every year. Creative scheduling...

Right, right.

NBC will need time to throw in their other twenty-three hours of commercials a day.

 

[BGIF]

I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of games against Alabama and Ohio State, myself. Perhaps a revival of the annual Miami rivalry, as in playing them every year?

Notre Dame had a home and home under contract and when Alabama went on probation, their AD called ND an asked to be let out of the contract because Bama feared they wouldn't be competitive with ND with the loss of scholarships.

Schools that have divisions and a championship game aren't very interested. They don't want to play Navy.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Dream National Championship game: ND du Lac vs. Annapolis. ND kicks the poop out of lil cousin 49-0.

 

[IrishLax]

I hate that we are adding Oklahoma and Miami to the schedule. I might be in the minority on this, but as long as the BCS is around and not a playoff system I would much rather see us schedule the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Ball St., Central Michigan, Toledo, Miami of Ohio, etc.

Play some easy local teams with minimal travel. It is simple math that the odds of a team of going undefeated replacing two 50/50 games (i.e. a Miami or Oklahoma) with 95% guaranteed wins are going to be about 4 times as good. And that is being generous saying Oklahoma and Miami are 50/50 games. I will gladly take 4x as many undefeated seasons and shots at a national championship over a couple marquee regular season games.

 

[iamtrulyblessed]

I would love to see a Notre Dame and Florida State game

 

[mokpra37]

3 is enough

3 is enough

No more Big 11-14 teams. 3 is enough. I like a more national schedule.
I would like to see games against:
NC State or NC (helps recruiting in a state that has been good to the Irish lately and didn't like the taste in my mouth after the last game against both of them.)
Tennessee or Vandy - Again helps with recruiting. Enjoyed games against Tennessee.
Alternate Army, Air Force and lets say Duke -

A schedule with:
Michigan
MSU
Purdue
BC
Pitt
Stanford
USC
Miami/Oklahoma/Texas
Navy
Other BCS such as Arizona St/NC St./NC/Tennessee
and two lesser opponents such as Army, Air Force, Duke, other Big East/Vandy.

That is as tough as anyone's schedule . No need to go overboard. A schedule like this with one loss should get ND in to National Championship game ahead of all other 1 loss teams.

 

[Jerry]

I'd like to see Northwestern on the schedule again. I thought that was a decent series when NU started playing more competitively in the mid 90's.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I like keeping a lot of the Old Traditionals. [Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, Pitt, BC, and even USC [maybe] and Army.] I like Stanford, as a classy academic school, as long as they stay aggressive in their pursuit of USC. The remaining three or four games are "strategic" aren't they? What "variable" do we want to maximize? Wins? Recruiting presence regionally? Strength of schedule? TV attraction? My reading of Swarbrick's recent moves is that he is thinking regional recruiting presence [Texas and Miami]. I'm not sure that a winning ND program will need any boost in that. And I'd rather not dirty ourselves with too many "meathouse-production" scumbos. I find games like Utah interesting. Rutgers might give us several of the desirable variables in one opponent. A small regional opponent like Western Michigan would be appreciated by a weak conference which could use some help and we'd get a little bit of a break in our schedule. If we wanted a monster to add, which actually graduated its players, we could try for Nebraska. The behavior of programs like Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Florida State, Miami, and yes USC, are so egregious that I prefer not to "honor" them with my presence. More maybe than all this, we need to get Pitt and BC further back in the schedule if we're going to lead off with the three Big Ten/twelve traditional rivals.

 

[BGIF]

I hate that we are adding Oklahoma and Miami to the schedule. I might be in the minority on this, but as long as the BCS is around and not a playoff system I would much rather see us schedule the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Ball St., Central Michigan, Toledo, Miami of Ohio, etc.

Play some easy local teams with minimal travel. It is simple math that the odds of a team of going undefeated replacing two 50/50 games (i.e. a Miami or Oklahoma) with 95% guaranteed wins are going to be about 4 times as good. And that is being generous saying Oklahoma and Miami are 50/50 games. I will gladly take 4x as many undefeated seasons and shots at a national championship over a couple marquee regular season games.

You are in the minority but your point is valid. Contrary to ND fan myth ND has not always played the #1 schedule. Look at Rockne's schedules and you see teams that MAC teams don't schedule. Look at Parshegian's schedule. ND played a suicide schedule under Leahy in '43 and went 9-1.

During Leahy's Run in '46 - '49 Lost NONE, Tied ONE. 36-0-2 but in those 4 years they only played 10 ranked teams.

'46 a #17, #1, and #16 in the 4th, 6th, and 9th games of the season.
'47 a #9 and a #3 in the 6th and 9th games.
'48 a #8 in the 8th game. The tie was unranked Southern Cal.
'49 a #4, #10, NS #17 in the 4th, 6th, and 9th games.

Notice the big games are spaced out, not back to back. None before the 3rd week of the season.

Fans rave about the Parshegian Miracle in '64 going from 2-7 to 9-1. Devore's '63 squad faced 5 ranked teams a #6, #7, #4, #8, and another #4. The #6 was in an opener, a Lose, the #7 was a win over Southern Cal, the #4, #8, and # were played in 3 consecutive weeks. In '64 Ara played NO RANKED Teams. N.B. From '62 - '67 the AP only ranked 10 Teams.

Devine's NC season in '77 he faced 3 ranked teams, a #7 in the opener, #5 in game 6, and #15 in game 9.

Holtz schedules in '86 had 5 ranked teams, 4 in the Top 10. The '88 NC Undefeated season played a #9 the first week, #1 in week 6 and #2 in the 12 game. '89 had 6 Top 17 teams, 4 in the Top 9 and ND lost one game. Substitute a Top 30 - 50 team NOT a Div 1AA school for the last game of the season and ND wins back to back NCs.

Look at Oklahoma's school or Nebraska in the 70's they played each other and generally 9 almost automatic wins.

Look at Bama schedules under Bear Bryant and they rarely if ever played two big games in consecutive weeks.

Check Holtz schedule in '96. He only faced 3 ranked teams #6 Texas, #4 OSU, and #16 UW but did so in 3 consecutive weeks. ND faced those same 3 teams the year before as #13, #7, and #15 again in 3 straight weeks. Both years ND lost the middle game to OSU. Incidentally in '95 after that 3 week gauntlet ND eaked out a one point win over Army (Covington tackle I believe). In '96 after that same 3 week run, ND lost to Air Force in OT.

Also keep in mind back in those day there were no 85 scholarship limitations. Holtz was the first ND coach that had to deal with that. With 85 scholarships injuries become critical.
Remember Joe Montana being the #7 QB at ND? Teams were deep in those days.

N.B. I didn't factor in bowl games as they are not regular season scheduled games.

Beating 7 or 8 ranked teams in a season is exciting. Scheduling 7 or 8 ranked teams is bad scheduling, particularly with a BCS selection format.

 

[Irish4Life09]

I'd love to see us schedule like a 10 game series with Tennessee.
Theyve always given us a good series, and I think theyre on their way back up just like us.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

I liked when we played GT. would not mind UGA or FSU.

 

[Irish_Angst]

I would like florida state and florida to be added. i loved some of the old FSU games. and florida i would love to see them get their butts kick by the Irish

I'd love to have a home & home w/ Florida, but we'd have to play them in mid-August. You know they won't visit the Bend if there is even a *hint* of cold weather.

 

[BGIF]

FSU might happen. I don't expect UGA to. A couple years ago the AJC did a feature story on the buyout/creampuff OOC schedule UGA plays and how it was costing the program big bucks. Lots of no shows for those games. They still buy tickets but AJC presented the loss revenue for parking, concessions, hotel rooms, etc. thorough comparison of revenue for big game and "regular" games versus the Citadel, Western Carolina type opponents. It was substantial. Still the SEC wants guaranteed wins to boost the conference rating.

UGA fans specifically mentioned ND as a desireable opponent. The AD and Richt weren't thrilled with ND citing weather, travel, etc and the already tough SEC and OOC opponents.

In retrospect they should have jumped on ND after Holtz but didn't.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I would love to play State Penn again, but Paterno is too interested in playing teams like Youngstown St., Kent St., Eastern Illinois, Coastal Carolina, Toledo, and Akron.

 

[BGIF]

I'd love to have a home & home w/ Florida, but we'd have to play them in mid-August. You know they won't visit the Bend if there is even a *hint* of cold weather.

Hint of cold weather???

The Gators play in Florida 8 to 10 games a year. Check UF schedules they don't travel outside of The South. I think you'll find Lexington is far north as they go.

Since 1940 UF has played 8 scheduled games outside The South.

'91 Syracuse
'83 Southern Cal
'65 Northwestern
'58 UCLA
'51 Loyola Marymount, Pasadena
'47 Tulsa
'42 Villanova
'40 Villanova

I think they've only played one bowl game outside The South and that was in Tempe.

Gators don't travel.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I would love to play State Penn again, but Paterno is too interested in playing teams like Youngstown St., Kent St., Eastern Illinois, Coastal Carolina, Toledo, and Akron.

I forgot future heavyweights Ohio, Indiana St., and Eastern Michigan. What a joke.

 

[NDPhilly]

I forgot future heavyweights Ohio, Indiana St., and Eastern Michigan. What a joke.

that temple scheduleing may have backfired because there not that bad.

 

[Irish_Angst]

First, my biggest beef w/ scheduling is that we let U$C get away with coming to the Bend in October. If they are as bad-ass as they claim they are, they should be the final game *every* year.

Personally, I think it would be best to schedule decent, nearby opposition for the first 2 or 3 games. Something like Indiana, Purdue, upper echelon MAC school, etc... just to work out the kinks.

I like the idea of creating 3 slots on the schedule to play a series of short-term 2 year, home & home match-ups against big national teams (as long as they are stretched out).

For example (all the nat'l opponent slots can be teams ND doesn't play on a regular basis with the teams changing every 2 years):

- 3 warm up games (Upper MAC, Indiana, Purdue, etc)
- national opponent (Florida State)
- traditional opponent (Michigan)
- traditional opponent (Pitt)
- week off
- national opponent (Texas)
- traditional opponent (Navy)
- traditional opponent (BC)
- national opponent (Oregon)
- traditional opponent (Army)
- U$C

Just a thought.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

Gators don't travel. unless a agent pays for it!

 

[Irish_Angst]

Hint of cold weather???

The Gators play in Florida 8 to 10 games a year. Check UF schedules they don't travel outside of The South. I think you'll find Lexington is far north as they go.

Since 1940 UF has played 8 scheduled games outside The South.

'91 Syracuse
'83 Southern Cal
'65 Northwestern
'58 UCLA
'51 Loyola Marymount, Pasadena
'47 Tulsa
'42 Villanova
'40 Villanova

I think they've only played one bowl game outside The South and that was in Tempe.

Gators don't travel.

Exactly my point (and made much better than I did, btw). Florida does not leave the South unless chased by large, hungry dogs or rapidly rising sea levels. Pansies!

 

[irishfan]

Big 10: I would like Northwestern or Indiana as the first game of the year as more of a warmup to the Michigan/Mich St/Purdue. (ya i know Northwestern is pretty good now, but still think they don't have the talent level of the other 3)
Big East: Rutgers and Syracuse, maybe a 2 year series with West Virginia
Big 12: A&M, maybe 2 year withNebraska
ACC: 2 year with FSU would be nice, Duke
SEC: Vandy or Bama

Only non-BCS schools I want to see are Navy, Army, Air Force, BYU, maybe Temple or SMU if we get stuck and need a game, or an away game with Hawaii

 

[BGIF]

Exactly my point (and made much better than I did, btw). Florida does not leave the South unless chased by large, hungry dogs or rapidly rising sea levels. Pansies!

I've had this discussion with Gator fans before and they claimed the Southern Strategy started with Spurrier and that the Syracuse game had been scheduled before he was hired and he said, "Never again."

I never looked back to earlier decades.

 

[BGIF]

... or an away game with Hawaii

Another game not likely to happen. Great trip for the fans. Too great a trip for the athletes. ND almost lost two games there because of distractions. ND cancelled the last series.

 

[Riddickulous]

I hate that we are adding Oklahoma and Miami to the schedule. I might be in the minority on this, but as long as the BCS is around and not a playoff system I would much rather see us schedule the likes of Illinois, Indiana, Ball St., Central Michigan, Toledo, Miami of Ohio, etc.

Play some easy local teams with minimal travel. It is simple math that the odds of a team of going undefeated replacing two 50/50 games (i.e. a Miami or Oklahoma) with 95% guaranteed wins are going to be about 4 times as good. And that is being generous saying Oklahoma and Miami are 50/50 games. I will gladly take 4x as many undefeated seasons and shots at a national championship over a couple marquee regular season games.

I would rather play teams with skill than dominate a weak schedule and forever have the Irish criticized for it.

No more Big 11-14 teams. 3 is enough. I like a more national schedule.
I would like to see games against:
NC State or NC (helps recruiting in a state that has been good to the Irish lately and didn't like the taste in my mouth after the last game against both of them.)
Tennessee or Vandy - Again helps with recruiting. Enjoyed games against Tennessee.
Alternate Army, Air Force and lets say Duke -

A schedule with:
Michigan
MSU
Purdue
BC
Pitt
Stanford
USC
Miami/Oklahoma/Texas
Navy
Other BCS such as Arizona St/NC St./NC/Tennessee
and two lesser opponents such as Army, Air Force, Duke, other Big East/Vandy.

That is as tough as anyone's schedule . No need to go overboard. A schedule like this with one loss should get ND in to National Championship game ahead of all other 1 loss teams.

I like this schedule.

I'd love to see us schedule like a 10 game series with Tennessee.
Theyve always given us a good series, and I think theyre on their way back up just like us.

I hate Tennessee. They're program is just dirty.

that temple scheduleing may have backfired because there not that bad.

It's all about the coach, Al Golden. And unless Penn State promotes an assistant, he'll be there by 2012 when we first play them.



And Irish Angst, USC won't come here in November because they lost here in trhe 50's and vowed never to come here in November again.

 

[Legacy]

Oregon, Virginia, Houston, Georgia, Utah (more than once), resign with Stanford, West Virginia in NJ, NW, Vandy, occasionally Army and Air Force, Nebraska when we take a break from MSU.

Florida, Ohio St, Penn St, Wisconsin will duck us. TCU and Virginia Tech are booked.