Notre Dame and Alabama Negotiating a Home-and-Home Series

[ACamp1900]

ND is already a part of the most storied matchup in CFB... I wouldn't hate this if the rest of the schedule was sane, but it's not, so I do...

 

[ND88]

When the money stops, ND football will get realistic... maybe?

 

[Bluto]

When the money stops, ND football will get realistic... maybe?

Miami clearly showed ND is still not ready for prime time last year. With that in mind why in the world would you consider scheduling Bama? Anyhow, there are signs that flogging the horse or in this case the four horsemen is wearing thin. One would think getting back to beating Stanford of the regular (arguably ND's biggest rival in terms of how it impacts recruiting and program building) and making Navy more than a toss up would be the priority. You know walk before you run....

 

[Henges24]

ND will/be forced to join a conference within 10 years. This game is highly unlikely to happen, IMO.

 

[Henges24]

With that said - PJ Fleck coming into his 4th year - ND 42 - Bama 34

 

[GowerND11]

The problem here is Bama will want this to be in August or September. If I'm Jack, I tell them come up after Halloween.

 

[Henges24]

The problem here is Bama will want this to be in August or September. If I'm Jack, I tell them come up after Halloween.

You know that won't happen

 

[GowerND11]

You know that won't happen

Oh I know, we all do. But man, if it did...

 

[koonja]

The timing of the schedule will be what I want to see. Is ND smart enough to have this after a BYE week, or at least not before/after Navy? Will we have "smart" games before, like Vanderbilt, or are we going to be dumb enough to go FSU then Bama?

Then on the flip side, where does this factor into Bama's schedule? I'd imagine in the beginning between 2 cupcakes.

Regardless, I have no doubt ND will pinch it in between 2 head scratchers.

 

[dublinirish]

Bama has negotiated home and home's before but then when it comes closer to game they will switch the game to neutral site

 

[stlnd01]

The timing of the schedule will be what I want to see. Is ND smart enough to have this after a BYE week, or at least not before/after Navy? Will we have "smart" games before, like Vanderbilt, or are we going to be dumb enough to go FSU then Bama?

Then on the flip side, where does this factor into Bama's schedule? I'd imagine in the beginning between 2 cupcakes.

Regardless, I have no doubt ND will pinch it in between 2 head scratchers.

As others have said, it’ll almost certainly be an early-season game. Probably an opener or second week after a warmup. That’s when these games happen.

Would love to see ND demand they come north in the weekend reserved for the pre-Iron Bowl directional patsie. But Bama would never go for it.

 

[stlnd01]

Bama has negotiated home and home's before but then when it comes closer to game they will switch the game to neutral site

They do seem to love those openers in Atlanta and Dallas.

Actually, I could see this being a stupid Shamrock game in ATL.

 

[Wingman Ray]

They do seem to love those openers in Atlanta and Dallas.

Actually, I could see this being a stupid Shamrock game in ATL.

Which is a home game for Bama. STUPID call if the case ND.

The whole idea is stupid. ND cannot compete with Bama at this time and very doubtful in the future. ND just looking for more losses on their plate? Isnt like they need more money.

At some point, you need to pick your battles smart.

 

[dublinirish]

Which is a home game for Bama. STUPID call if the case ND.

The whole idea is stupid. ND cannot compete with Bama at this time and very doubtful in the future. ND just looking for more losses on their plate? Isnt like they need more money.

At some point, you need to pick your battles smart.

flip side of that is that games like this means ND is still relevant. the days when teams like Bama don't want to play you is the day you are in trouble.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I didn't realize Bama schedules its cupcake opponents this far out.

If this comment was meant to be a jab at ND, you get all the reps. Lol.

 

[greyhammer90]

Is ND smart enough to have this after a BYE week, or at least not before/after Navy? Will we have "smart" games before, like Vanderbilt, or are we going to be dumb enough to go FSU then Bama?

 

[koonja]

flip side of that is that games like this means ND is still relevant. the days when teams like Bama don't want to play you is the day you are in trouble.

Agree with you, but to play devil's advocate:

If the best way to show you're relevant is to schedule a 99% guaranteed ass-whooping in order to bolster your relevance, are you really still relevant?

 

[greyhammer90]

I will say the guarantees that Bama will kill us is a bit ridiculous considering how far away this game is. Bama has been on an unprecedented tear recently, but historically its just as likely that they are back to being their early 2000's selves. A retired Saban and a bad head coach fit is all it takes for even the best of programs to tumble down to mediocrity. See: Texas, Florida, USC, all the other top tier teams. Bama is no different. The difference is Saban.

 

[stlnd01]

I will say the guarantees that Bama will kill us is a bit ridiculous considering how far away this game is. Bama has been on an unprecedented tear recently, but historically its just as likely that they are back to being their early 2000's selves. A retired Saban and a bad head coach fit is all it takes for even the best of programs to tumble down to mediocrity. See: Texas, Florida, USC, all the other top tier teams. Bama is no different. The difference is Saban.

Yep.
Also, what the hell, people? Sack up a little. We went toe to toe with Florida State in 2014, Clemson in 2015, Georgia last year. Notre Dame is not the Little Sisters of the Poor. Who knows, we might even win.

 

[IrishLion]

The timing of the schedule will be what I want to see. Is ND smart enough to have this after a BYE week, or at least not before/after Navy? Will we have "smart" games before, like Vanderbilt, or are we going to be dumb enough to go FSU then Bama?

Then on the flip side, where does this factor into Bama's schedule? I'd imagine in the beginning between 2 cupcakes.

Regardless, I have no doubt ND will pinch it in between 2 head scratchers.

The timing doesn't matter. Even if we schedule it after a bye, or after a cupcake, the universe will almost guarantee that we have three starters arrested during the bye, or that the "cupcake" will have a generational up-and-coming coach at the helm that has them sitting undefeated and in the top-25 and playing better than most power-5 teams.

Bama has negotiated home and home's before but then when it comes closer to game they will switch the game to neutral site

I don't think they'll be able to dupe ND like that unless Bama's home game in the series hasn't happened yet, in which case I could see it going neutral/neutral like ND/Wiscy.

Another funny thing about that idea is that if you look at the initial tweet about the series, there are a bunch of BYU fans saying "make sure Bama gets ND at home first, or else they'll back out on the return trip."

They mad.

 

[RDU Irish]

I hate this on so many levels...

 

[dublinirish]

I hate this on so many levels...

would have thought a venture capitalist like yourself would be seeing dollar signs all over the shop, salivating at the thought of the secondary ticket sales market?

 

[beryirish]

...ehhh I'm for it.

 

[RDU Irish]

would have thought a venture capitalist like yourself would be seeing dollar signs all over the shop, salivating at the thought of the secondary ticket sales market?

Amazed it took you five minutes to come at me bro. You losing a step?

I happen to think the better move for the ND brand is to win and only take on a soulless team like Alabama in the CFP. Creating six "super bowls" per year when everyone else has one or two is suicidal.

 

[T Town Tommy]

All three Catholics in Alabama would love to see this thing happen. Get 'er done.

I would love to see home and homes with ND and Texas but it is so far out on the schedule, it's a bit hard to get excited just yet.

 

[snoopdog]

maybe....just maybe....they are negotiating with the NCAA to play back to back National champions Finals.

Need to work the referees in...but man that would be huge.....

Probably should wake up now..

 

[ulukinatme]

Every time I see people liking this matchup...

It's like flashbacks to everyone saying "I want Bama!" back in 2012.

We don't match up well here. We struggle with smash mouth teams, and they have the better athletes. Don't give me some BS about shrinking from an opponent or whatever. It would take a miracle to pull off such an upset, and most likely we get embarrassed again. I don't see what we stand to gain from this series.

Savy Jack? More like Stupid Jack.

 

[dshans]

I really struggle with the "scale back on the schedule proponents."

What is the value in sliding into a championship by backing down from a challenge?

The Tide has created for themselves an easy row to hoe, but they have also shown that they have been a very good football team.

Whether they come by it legitimately or not is another issue.

The bottom line is that true champions answer the call at all times, against any and all competition.

 

[snoopdog]

I really struggle with the "scale back on the schedule proponents."

What is the value in sliding into a championship by backing down from a challenge?

The Tide has created for themselves an easy row to hoe, but they have also shown that they have been a very good football team.

Whether they come by it legitimately or not is another issue.

The bottom line is that true champions answer the call at all times, against any and all competition.

Yeah....not even close.....and when I say not close....I mean light years from reality

 

[Wingman Ray]

And the arguement that Saban will retire....

So do you really think Bama wont bring in Sabans hand picked successor or a serious player in the coaching game? You can bet the mortgage it wouldnt be someone like Brian flippin Kelly. University of Alabama has exactly one thing that makes it relevant as a university, its football program. Take that away and it all goes to crap. No way they will let it shrink back to middle of the SEC pack.

Which means they will kick the living crap out of ND any day of the week. ND will never recruit like them and never do the things that Bama does to win.

This is a no win situation.