Rumor: Ending Series With Michigan

[IrishLax]

It's circulating on the internet right now, no real details. To be quite honest, I had heard something about this months ago from a lowly SID... but it wasn't anything serious. He just said something to the effect of now that it's apparent we won't be joining the Big Ten, it's become an even bigger pain in the *** scheduling Big Ten teams, and we might see some rivalries go away and be replaced with other teams.

Also, Michigan is ducking us for lax right now because they are pansies and know we will beat the living hell out of them with our 3rd string.

 

[GreatGolson]

this will not happen. there are 3 games that ND will always play. UM, USC, and Navy

 

[Rack Em]

This is one rivalry I don't want to see end, along with USC. Purdue, State, Stanford can all jump off a bridge.

I'm gonna venture to bet it's the skunkbears that don't want to continue because they want to play a bunch of bitch teams for out of conference games instead of playing legitimate teams.

 

[magogian]

Cowards. I guess I don't blame them though. They won't be beating OSU for the next decade so they want to soften their schedule.

 

[IrishLax]

this will not happen. there are 3 games that ND will always play. UM, USC, and Navy

We've taken breaks with both Navy and UM for big periods of time.

 

[BeauBenken]

We've gone on break from each other before, no?

I still can't see why anyone would want this though. Wayyyy too much history you'd be throwing away. Besides, we have to beat them 4 times in a row now that they've beaten us 3 times in a row.

 

[anarin]

When is the series scheduled to end currently?

 

[notredomer23]

We've taken breaks with both Navy and UM for big periods of time.

Navy? No.
Michigan? Yes. We didnt start playing them again on a yearly basis until the late 80s IIRC

 

[GreatGolson]

We've taken breaks with both Navy and UM for big periods of time.

no we haven't, in fact we have been playing them annually since 1927. From Wikipedia:The Notre Dame-Navy series has been played annually since 1927, making it the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football.[13]

While it is true that UM removed us after we first beat them in 1909, we have been playing annually since 1978

 

[IrishLax]

When is the series scheduled to end currently?

That's the interesting thing, no one knows the exact parameters of the contract extension that may or may not have gone through.

Michigan, Notre Dame agree to 20-year contract extension - College Football - ESPN

Would have extended the current contract that ended in 2011.

Michigan, Notre Dame never signed contract to extend rivalry series

Says it was never actually signed. I know for a fact that the absolutely horse-dung officiating of the game in '09 by Big Ten officials ticked off some decision makers on our side. That's why, for the first time ever, you saw non-Big Ten officials ref a game in the Big House this past year.

I also have heard quotes from Michigan higher ups about wanting to play 8 home games every year and how the ND game makes that "difficult" to do.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Minor correction, I know we did not play them in 1996 or their National Title year in 1997. We picked them back up in '98.

But I get your drift.

 

[IrishLax]

no we haven't, in fact we have been playing them annually since 1927. From Wikipedia:The Notre Dame-Navy series has been played annually since 1927, making it the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football.[13]

While it is true that UM removed us after we first beat them in 1909, we have been playing annually since 1978

Sorrrrrrrrry you're right I'm going 100 miles an hour right now and wasn't thinking. Of course we play Navy every year. Was thinking of Army who is sporadic. Woupsies.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

no we haven't, in fact we have been playing them annually since 1927. From Wikipedia:The Notre Dame-Navy series has been played annually since 1927, making it the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football.[13]

While it is true that UM removed us after we first beat them in 1909, we have been playing annually since 1978

That's not correct: Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Riddickulous]

We've had two huge breaks in the series. A 33 year gap from 1909-1942, and a 35 year gap from 1943-1978.

These two gaps followed Michigan's first and second losses to Notre Dame. Simply put, they're babies.

 

[die4irish]

Minor correction, I know we did not play them in 1996 or their National Title year in 1997. We picked them back up in '98.

But I get your drift.

michigan vs notre dame in 1997 - Yahoo! Video Search

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_–_Notre_Dame_rivalry

 

[phork]

This has been talked about forever. The basic gist is that the Big10 wants to schedule 9 in conference games. Dave Brandon (UM AD) has stated his thoughts on playing ND less and bringing in other teams. Read: Drop ND and add extra cupcake for a yearly home game.

 

[TerryTate]

Meh, it's on them if they puss out

 

[IrishAlum1997]

michigan vs notre dame in 1997 - Yahoo! Video Search

Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oops!!!! Foiled again! It was actually 95 and 96. My last 2 years there

 

[stlnd01]

Michigan wants to play eight home games? That's going to make it pretty much impossible for them to play any decent nonconference opponent. And are they really going to pack "The Big House" for the likes of Akron and Temple three or four times a year? I do realize that other big-time programs schedule this way, but Michigan's always carried itself a little differently. Disappointing.
Also, I'd have thought this year's game - which was by all accounts a huge success for them, and on the short list for game of the year - would have inspired some momentum in our series. Hopefully we work something out. Would much rather we dump Purdue.

 

[IrishBoy]

See link below. I am not sure if this is the reason why Michigan wants to end series with Notre Dame. I think it's silly to end series with Notre Dame if Michigan wants to play 8 home games every year to earn big revenue as article states. I hate to see them stop playing each other.

Unless at Notre Dame, Michigan AD wants no non-conference road games

 

[BobD]

They're just getting scared, they see what Coach Kelly is building here and don't want any of this for the next decade or so.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

They're just getting scared, they see what Coach Kelly is building here and don't want any of this for the next decade or so.

The skunkbears are 2-0 against Kelly, and they've won 5 of the last 6.

If the series ends abruptly, the "UM pussed out" defense isn't going to hold much sting for them.

 

[johnnykillz]

^
Yup.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

^what he said.

 

[bliv711]

Sounds to me like the contempt many Michigan insiders have toward ND is possiibly getting the best of them. It smells slightly of an attempt by those insiders to force NDs hand on joining a conference...you know...the line goes something like this: "It's going to get tougher for ND to schedule quality, big name opponents if they don't jump on the conference bandwagon".

 

[irish1958]

Michigan just wants to do what most SEC teams do. Why take a chance of losing your shot at the NC when you don't have to? As B Bryant said "Light schedule makes fine team."

 

[BobD]

The skunkbears are 2-0 against Kelly, and they've won 5 of the last 6.

If the series ends abruptly, the "UM pussed out" defense isn't going to hold much sting for them.

^
Yup.

^what he said.

Geez look what happens when someone tries to put a positive spin on things around here! Past losses have absolutely nothing to do with future games, they see whats coming. Thanks for the optimistic support guys!:smilewink

 

[phork]

The skunkbears are 2-0 against Kelly, and they've won 5 of the last 6.

If the series ends abruptly, the "UM pussed out" defense isn't going to hold much sting for them.

^
Yup.

^what he said.

Geez look what happens when someone tries to put a positive spin on things around here! Past losses have absolutely nothing to do with future games, they see whats coming. Thanks for the optimistic support guys!:smilewink

Errr wth is going on here. This is my territory. STAY OFF THE GRASS.

Perhaps it is we who should be thankful considering what Hoke is building there.

 

[IrishLax]

The skunkbears are 2-0 against Kelly, and they've won 5 of the last 6.

If the series ends abruptly, the "UM pussed out" defense isn't going to hold much sting for them.

They are 100% pussing out, but you're right.... it's not because they're "scared." They just want to play 8 home games and a light schedule to have their BCS chances be as high as possible. It's called the Virginia Tech method and it works like a charm. ND should do the same.

 

[irishpat183]

Sounds to me like the contempt many Michigan insiders have toward ND is possiibly getting the best of them. It smells slightly of an attempt by those insiders to force NDs hand on joining a conference...you know...the line goes something like this: "It's going to get tougher for ND to schedule quality, big name opponents if they don't jump on the conference bandwagon".

Funny, I was talking with my Step Father the other day and he mentioned that ND was bascially told by the BCS to "join or die" after next year......

I love our independence...but if I absolutely had to pick...it would be the Big10