Biggest Rival

[Domer95]

When considering whether USC or scUM is ND's biggest rival, consider their respective reactions in these early stages of ND's resurgence.

USC fans: "It's about time that you guys got your $hit together. Bring it on!"

scUM fans: "How can we discontinue the series with ND?"


Another good one: Big East basketball often looks like rugby, but Big East football looks more like Matt Leinart's class schedule....

(props to NDNation)

 

[jiggafini19]

SC is on a tremendous upswing right now. I compare it to that of Florida State in the ACC all those years.

Problem is, a couple of teams always catch up.

As for Michigan, they're starting to find that the Big Ten is getting a lot tougher than it used to be. Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State and MSU are all surging. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Northwestern can all hold their own. Purdue is having a down year, Indiana has shown improvement and Illinois is doing well with recruiting.

UM has got a lot to worry about. Getting ND off the schedule is only a small issue for them.

 

[Rip Rap]

USC is our primary rival, followed by the secondary status of MSU and Michigan.

Now, to clarify, I consider MSU as much of a rival as Michigan. scUM dodged us for a century. Meanwhile, the first-and genuine-Game of the Century was played against MSU in 1966. I would love for MSU to become a top-10 team every year and relive that intensity. MSU's biggest victories occured during some lean years for us; however, while I didn't see any of the games myself, Duffy Daugherty was a hell of a coach, and we only beat them 5 times in the span from 1950 to 1970.

I use the term 'traditional opponents' when referring to the Army, Navy, Purdue, and Pitt.

 

[Domer95]

USC is our primary rival, followed by the secondary status of MSU and Michigan.

Now, to clarify, I consider MSU as much of a rival as Michigan. scUM dodged us for a century. Meanwhile, the first-and genuine-Game of the Century was played against MSU in 1966. I would love for MSU to become a top-10 team every year and relive that intensity. MSU's biggest victories occured during some lean years for us; however, while I didn't see any of the games myself, Duffy Daugherty was a hell of a coach, and we only beat them 5 times in the span from 1950 to 1970.

I use the term 'traditional opponents' when referring to the Army, Navy, Purdue, and Pitt.

Good synopsis RR. However, where would you place Bahstad College (BC)? Given our history (albeit a short one vis a vis MSU, scUM, Navy, Purdue) Also, they are the only other Div-I Catholic University that plays football....and given the bad blood over the past 15yrs...

I'd have to put them up there w/ scUM and MSU

 

[jiggafini19]

Good synopsis RR. However, where would you place Bahstad College (BC)? Given our history (albeit a short one vis a vis MSU, scUM, Navy, Purdue) Also, they are the only other Div-I Catholic University that plays football....and given the bad blood over the past 15yrs...

I'd have to put them up there w/ scUM and MSU

Considering the ass kickings they have given ND in recent years, I'd say they would have to be right up there.

UM, SC, MSU, Purdue, BC, Navy, Stanford. Probably all the most frequent series, right?

 

[Rip Rap]

I believe our most frequent series would be loaded with about half the Big10 schools. I suspect our twelve most frequent opponents are something like: USC, Navy, Purdue, MSU, Pitt, Northwestern, Army, Iowa, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami, and Air Force.

We should beat BC through history the way we beat Purdue. If we did that, I wouldn't mind playing them.

 

[jiggafini19]

Indiana came back briefly under Holtz after having been off the schedule for decades.

I'd bring back NU and play the game at Soldier Field. Each school would do very well with Chicago as the site.

 

[Rip Rap]

Top 12, in the actual order:

Navy, USC, Purdue, MSU, Pitt, Northwestern, Army, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Air Force, Iowa.

 

[jiggafini19]

Top 12, in the actual order:

Navy, USC, Purdue, MSU, Pitt, Northwestern, Army, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Air Force, Iowa.

Nice Work Rip Rap.

You don't see IU, Iowa and NU much anymore. Army, Ga Tech and Air Force are all coming back in up coming years, correct?

I'd like to see a two year deal with Wisconsin.

I'm glad Penn State will be back,too.

 

[Batch]

Good synopsis RR. However, where would you place Bahstad College (BC)? Given our history (albeit a short one vis a vis MSU, scUM, Navy, Purdue) Also, they are the only other Div-I Catholic University that plays football....and given the bad blood over the past 15yrs...

I'd have to put them up there w/ scUM and MSU

I completely agree. That was the second team behind USC that came to my mind.

-Batch

 

[Irish Envy]

It's interesting on some of the teams we're adding to the schedule, too.

Look at 2006. We're adding ACC teams like Georgia Tech and UNC and adding another Pac 10 opponent in UCLA. Penn State also comes back.

 

[jiggafini19]

I believe a lot of this has to do with recruiting.

Raeshon McNeil is from North Carolina.

Think Weis doesn't want to tap into the Southern California market? Why not have SC and UCLA in there?

Pennsylvania....speaks for itself with their talent base. Same goes for Georgia. The Big Ten base remains. Great plan, if that is the case.

 

[Irish Envy]

I believe a lot of this has to do with recruiting.

Raeshon McNeil is from North Carolina.

Think Weis doesn't want to tap into the Southern California market? Why not have SC and UCLA in there?

Pennsylvania....speaks for itself with their talent base. Same goes for Georgia. The Big Ten base remains. Great plan, if that is the case.

Yep, I agree.

These are all considered pipeline states for recruiting and for Notre Dame in general. It makes perfect sense to get back into these areas and not only pull talent from there, but in a lot of these areas, there are huge alumni bases. It's like a semi-home game.

 

[Domer95]

Yep, I agree.

These are all considered pipeline states for recruiting and for Notre Dame in general. It makes perfect sense to get back into these areas and not only pull talent from there, but in a lot of these areas, there are huge alumni bases. It's like a semi-home game.

AGREED.

Don't forget Duke in 2007 as well.

We should also have a TX game back occassionally as well. Remember Lou beat SMU (Dallas), Rice (Houston) a few times. We actually do have a very solid alumni/fan base there as well. The Home&Homes with Texas and A&M were good too.

 

[jiggafini19]

AGREED.

Don't forget Duke in 2007 as well.

We should also have a TX game back occassionally as well. Remember Lou beat SMU (Dallas), Rice (Houston) a few times. We actually do have a very solid alumni/fan base there as well. The Home&Homes with Texas and A&M were good too.

Also an area rich in talent.

 

[Irish Envy]

The last pipeline state outside of Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, California, Illinois, Michigan and Penn is Ohio... do you forsee Ohio State coming back down the road?

 

[jiggafini19]

How many Ohio kids in this year's class? Wade, Parris, Ryan...

It could happen.

I like this idea a lot. I think getting going with Northwestern again would boost things back up in Chicago. Play the game at Solider Field at night. Big money.

ND is 11-0-1 against Illinois all time...they could play the game at the RCA Dome for both schools.

 

[Domer95]

The last pipeline state outside of Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, California, Illinois, Michigan and Penn is Ohio... do you forsee Ohio State coming back down the road?

As much as I'd love to see CDub's offense go against Senator Sweater's defense, don't think it will happen anytime soon, as remember the other big boy who blocked us from joining the Big 1? way back when, yes O$U. I'd rather see another school somewhere out in the country, other than ANOTHER Big 1? school.

Will probably never happen, but would love to see a home/home (at least) with Miami again.....or Bama or UGA

 

[jiggafini19]

Will probably never happen, but would love to see a home/home (at least) with Miami again.....or Bama or UGA

Larry Coker has been trying to make this happen, Domer95.

I think an ND-Miami game could end up a lot like Saturday's game if they played.

 

[Domer95]

Larry Coker has been trying to make this happen, Domer95.

I think an ND-Miami game could end up a lot like Saturday's game if they played.

I'd drop scUM in a second to get that matchup back on the schedule. That would be so sweet, although it's tough to HATE Coker like one could with JJohnson/Erickson....HOWEVER, it's STILL "Da U", so it's hatred comes back in a second. I guess we probably wouldn't see it until like 2010 or so...fine w/ me.

"We now have our $HIT TOGETHER. Bring THEM on!"

HUM...might have to increase the alum fund contribution this year...

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

I could see us playing in the Gator Bowl this year against Miami.....would be an awesome game. Catholics Vs. Convicts baby

also from ndnation regarding BC (a rivalry I personally enjoy)

Fredo is the mentally challenged brother in The Godfather who betrays the family out of his own stupidity. He ends up at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. It's used in the Big East to describe the way BC betrayed the conference.

Boston College: "It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"

The Big East: "Fredo, you're nothing to me now. You're not a brother, you're not a friend. I don't want to know you or what you do. I don't want to see you at the hotels, I don't want you near my house. When you see our mother, I want to know a day in advance, so I won't be there. You understand?"

Editors note: BC will always be a school that defines itself by the lowest possible standard: upsets of real teams rather than by any excellence achieved on its own. The greatest moments in BC lore are not national championships or Heisman trophies. BC actually revels in the fact that it can stub the toe of a great team rather than aspiring to greatness on its own. As such, it will always be viewed as the pathetic stupid brother mired in the world of mediocrity, who only touches greatness when it can upset it. BC's great years are bad years for real football schools. Of course, as a dumping ground for those who couldn't get into Notre Dame, BC fans wouldn't know the difference between excellence and mediocrity.

 

[jiggafini19]

I'd drop scUM in a second to get that matchup back on the schedule. That would be so sweet, although it's tough to HATE Coker like one could with JJohnson/Erickson....HOWEVER, it's STILL "Da U"...

Butch Davis did a great job of cleaning that program up....some. I think Coker has class.

Denny Blue Plate Special Erickson is the biggest scumbag this side of Jackie Sherrill. Everywhere he went, he put nothing but convicts on the field. Fiesta Bowl.....Oregon State....it was bad enough getting beat, put getting beat by a bunch of hooting, yapping, dancing criminals just plain sucked.

This man is everything wrong with college football.

Miami runs a cleaner ship these days. I think it would be great for college football to see ND and Miami play.

 

[Domer95]

Butch Davis did a great job of cleaning that program up....some. I think Coker has class.

Denny Blue Plate Special Erickson is the biggest scumbag this side of Jackie Sherrill. Everywhere he went, he put nothing but convicts on the field. Fiesta Bowl.....Oregon State....it was bad enough getting beat, put getting beat by a bunch of hooting, yapping, dancing criminals just plain sucked.

This man is everything wrong with college football.

Miami runs a cleaner ship these days. I think it would be great for college football to see ND and Miami play.

I tried to tell the same thing to a "Beaver" at work yesterday, but he kept defending OSU and telling me that he was happy to say "no thanks" to ND Law School (instead went to UDrub.....sorry, formerly known as "UDub", but after a few years of He-That-Shall-Remain-Nameless, they'll be drubbed so often, that they'll change the name.

 

[weisfaninmass]

Good synopsis RR. However, where would you place Bahstad College (BC)? Given our history (albeit a short one vis a vis MSU, scUM, Navy, Purdue) Also, they are the only other Div-I Catholic University that plays football....and given the bad blood over the past 15yrs...

I'd have to put them up there w/ scUM and MSU

Great question about Backup College. They have kicked our ass. It is hard to put this in the USC and Michigan class --- and even MSU and Purdue --- as this has been on again off again.

That being said - when these teams collide, one team plays it at a rivalry and the other team comes in soft. Outcome determined. This will change under C-Dub in a few year.

 

[jiggafini19]

Great question about Backup College. They have kicked our ass. It is hard to put this in the USC and Michigan class --- and even MSU and Purdue --- as this has been on again off again.

That being said - when these teams collide, one team plays it at a rivalry and the other team comes in soft. Outcome determined. This will change under C-Dub in a few year.

I can tell you this: all those years in New England, you think he didn't hear what those people were saying about ND? BC has flat out OWNED ND over the past few years. Makes me want to vommit on myself.

Make no mistake about it fellow Domers, Boston College is putting together a solid program over there. And in the ACC, they're not playing slouches. They get a tough 60 minutes each week.

They're back on the schedule come October 13, 2007 in South Bend. 724 days and counting, my friends.