Scheduling Notre Dame

[Legacy]

For those of you who enjoy scheduling issues.

Scheduling Notre Dame, Part 2: Factors In Scheduling the Irish | One Foot Down

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

Notre Dame doesn't need 8 rivals! Cheese and Rice! To me, ND's biggest rivals are scUM and (F)USC. I hope scUM remains on ND's schedule, but at the same time scUM plays some pretty worthless teams, so they probably should have to prove they are capable of beating not only ranked Big 10 opponents but that they can beat other schools besides the Decatur, GA school of nail art. If this means we have to take a hiatus from our rivalry that's ok, because it gives us time to play better teams and pound them when they come to town.

My "dream" schedule

Michigan
LSU
GA Tech
USC
Navy
Northwestern
Purdue
BCU
Stanford
and I don't know what other 3 teams should fill the spots. But this would be my ideal schedule, and it's only my opinion. Maybe take a shot at the Illini?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Western Michigan University
Purdue
Michigan
Northwestern
Michigan State
Pittsburgh
bye
Navy [neutral field in Tampa]
Army
USC
Boston College
Texas
Stanford

SEC team in the bowl game [preferably in Florida or Texas]

Reasons: dominate the homeland; exposure in the recruiting hot-spots; not every game a butt-crusher; maintenance of traditions; start the season a little softer to work kinks out; week off to adjust to Navy's peculiarities.

 

[IrishMoore1]

BCU?

My dream schedule is pretty much the 2012 schedule

09/01 vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland)
09/08 Purdue
09/15 at Michigan State
09/22 Michigan
10/06 vs. Miami (Soldier Field)
10/13 Stanford
10/20 BYU
10/27 at Oklahoma
11/03 Pittsburgh
11/10 at Boston College
11/17 Wake Forest
11/24 at USC

it's just sick nasty. can't wait

 

[Veer option]

Absolutely brutal 2012 schedule.

 

[IrishLax]

BCU?

My dream schedule is pretty much the 2012 schedule

09/01 vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland)
09/08 Purdue
09/15 at Michigan State
09/22 Michigan
10/06 vs. Miami (Soldier Field)
10/13 Stanford
10/20 BYU
10/27 at Oklahoma
11/03 Pittsburgh
11/10 at Boston College
11/17 Wake Forest
11/24 at USC

it's just sick nasty. can't wait

This is a great schedule... if somehow we finish over .500 lol

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

BCU = Boston College U

 

[ACamp1900]

My dream Schedule...

Carnegie Mellon
Drake
Wabash College
Princeton
Mount Union
Lombard College
Olivet
Ohio Northern
Saint Bonaventure
Saint Viator
Charleston
Carlisle Indian School




All home games.

 

[Rhode Irish]

BCU = Boston College U

There is no "U". It is just Boston College.

Not that it matters. Just trying to help out.

 

[GainesvilleIrish]

Just as long as we keep playing USC, Michigan, MSU & Navy, I'll be happy.

I do like a "soft" November. I also like playing a big team (like Texas or Oklahoma) every year. I'm happy with the 2012 schedule even if it is horribly difficult.

 

[ACamp1900]

There is no "U". It is just Boston College.

Not that it matters. Just trying to help out.

"Fredo" works even better... there is no confusing that for British Columbia or Black Crowes.....

 

[Riddickulous]

This is a great schedule... if somehow we finish over .500 lol

My obscenely premature prediction is 8-4. Our secondary could be trouble, losing both corners and our star safety.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

I thought it was formally referred to as Boston College Universtiy, but it doesn't really matter. Does anyone even still consider them a rival anymore? I only left them on my schedule because I'm not as brave as some of you!

 

[OchoShayneO]

"Fredo" works even better... there is no confusing that for British Columbia or Black Crowes.....

blue cheese

 

[Rhode Irish]

I would much rather play BC than Michigan State. I know people like the MSU game for some reason. I think they are incredibly boring, and we have a better rivalry with another Michigan team. I grew up in BC's market, and I grew up loving ND and hating BC. The Boston market is flooded with Catholics, especially Irish Catholics that love ND. Not playing BC anymore would be poor marketing. ND should value a presence in the New England area more than playing a second Michigan team every year, especially when that second Michigan program is incredibly boring and does not bring any real cache to the "rivalry".

MSU is a second-rate school with a second-rate football program in a second-rate conference in a second-rate part of the country where we already play every other year. That game does not move the needle for me at all. The only thing the MSU game gives us is an additional opportunity each season to lose to a mediocre team.

 

[Riddickulous]

I would much rather play BC than Michigan State. I know people like the MSU game for some reason. I think they are incredibly boring, and we have a better rivalry with another Michigan team. I grew up in BC's market, and I grew up loving ND and hating BC. The Boston market is flooded with Catholics, especially Irish Catholics that love ND. Not playing BC anymore would be poor marketing. ND should value a presence in the New England area more than playing a second Michigan team every year, especially when that second Michigan program is incredibly boring and does not bring any real cache to the "rivalry".

MSU is a second-rate school with a second-rate football program in a second-rate conference in a second-rate part of the country where we already play every other year. That game does not move the needle for me at all. The only thing the MSU game gives us is an additional opportunity each season to lose to a mediocre team.

Oh, Sparty. They finally beat Michigan during their worst ever three year stretch and now they think they're gonna dominate the rivalry.

 

[Rocket89]

I would much rather play BC than Michigan State. I know people like the MSU game for some reason. I think they are incredibly boring, and we have a better rivalry with another Michigan team. I grew up in BC's market, and I grew up loving ND and hating BC. The Boston market is flooded with Catholics, especially Irish Catholics that love ND. Not playing BC anymore would be poor marketing. ND should value a presence in the New England area more than playing a second Michigan team every year, especially when that second Michigan program is incredibly boring and does not bring any real cache to the "rivalry".

MSU is a second-rate school with a second-rate football program in a second-rate conference in a second-rate part of the country where we already play every other year. That game does not move the needle for me at all. The only thing the MSU game gives us is an additional opportunity each season to lose to a mediocre team.

BUT THEY PLANTED THE FLAG ON OUR FIELD!

Seriously though, I hear what you're saying and I agree for the most part.

Still, we've played Michigan State 68 times in our history (36 more games than we've played Michigan) and we've had several important/classic/legendary games with them in the past, most notably the 1966 "Game of the Century."

In contrast, we've played BC a mere 20 times (15th most) and aside from the 1993 game, has there even been one game that was memorable in the least bit??

I guess I'm playing devil's advocate a little bit here, but honestly the BC rivalry has to be the most boring rivalry we have. Even when we went there in 2007 and they were ranked #4 in the country that game was boring as hell and they barely beat us.

I'm not saying drop either one, if I had to choose it would be pretty difficult...but the history/excitement/tradition and all of that favors keeping MSU. Just look at last year's games....thrilling finish with MSU (which seems to happen almost every other year) and a snooze fest at BC.

 

[Riddickulous]

BUT THEY PLANTED THE FLAG ON OUR FIELD!

Seriously though, I hear what you're saying and I agree for the most part.

Still, we've played Michigan State 68 times in our history (36 more games than we've played Michigan) and we've had several important/classic/legendary games with them in the past, most notably the 1966 "Game of the Century."

In contrast, we've played BC a mere 20 times (15th most) and aside from the 1993 game, has there even been one game that was memorable in the least bit??
I guess I'm playing devil's advocate a little bit here, but honestly the BC rivalry has to be the most boring rivalry we have. Even when we went there in 2007 and they were ranked #4 in the country that game was boring as hell and they barely beat us.

I'm not saying drop either one, if I had to choose it would be pretty difficult...but the history/excitement/tradition and all of that favors keeping MSU. Just look at last year's games....thrilling finish with MSU (which seems to happen almost every other year) and a snooze fest at BC.

Deke Cooper's fourth down hit in '98 comes to mind.

 

[Rocket89]

^ Any others?

I mean I love the Catholic connection with BC and that New England is a huge base for Irish fans, but the MSU rivalry is much better isn't it?

 

[Rhode Irish]

Well, as pointed out earlier, ND has played so many more games against MSU than BC, so it seems to follow that there would be more memorable ND/MSU games than ND/BC games. Part of the reason why I hate BC is that they are so boring (that and Gene DeFilippo is a bad human being), but I think MSU is just as boring. Add to it that Michigan State isn't in an area we otherwise wouldn't be in, it doesn't have the Catholic connection, etc. It isn't like MSU is on the same level as a program as Michigan or USC, and it isn't interesting in the same way Navy is.

Obviously it is just my opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs. Ultimately, only Jack Swarbrick's opinion really matters, but I just don't understand what MSU has ever done to warrant being one of our legit rivals in the same category as USC, Michigan and Navy.

(I guess one possible answer to that question may be that they played us when Michigan was trying to blackball us, and maybe we feel some loyalty based on that situation. All things being equal, though, it doesn't seem like MSU deserves an annual game.)

 

[aubeirish]

"Fredo" works even better... there is no confusing that for British Columbia or Black Crowes.....

Britsh Columbia is call UBC

 

[Riddickulous]

Well, as pointed out earlier, ND has played so many more games against MSU than BC, so it seems to follow that there would be more memorable ND/MSU games than ND/BC games. Part of the reason why I hate BC is that they are so boring (that and Gene DeFilippo is a bad human being), but I think MSU is just as boring, it isn't an area we otherwise wouldn't be in, it doesn't have that same Catholic connection, etc. It isn't like MSU is on the same level as a program as Michigan or USC, and it isn't interesting in the same way Navy is.

Obviously it is just my opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs. Ultimately, only Jack Swarbrick's opinion really matters, but I just don't understand what MSU has ever done to warrant being one of our legit rivals in the same category as USC, Michigan and Navy.

(I guess one possible answer to that question may be that they played us when Michigan was trying to blackball us, and maybe we feel some loyalty based on that situation. All things being equal, though, it doesn't seem like MSU deserves an annual game.)

We've played MSU for a loooooooong time, since they were known as Michigan Agricultural College.

 

[Rhode Irish]

We've played MSU for a loooooooong time, since they were known as Michigan Agricultural College.

Totally understand that we have been playing them forever. And if that is good enough a reason for most people to continue playing them every year, I can live with it. But isn't part of the reason why we've been playing them forever because Michigan wouldn't play us? I just feel like MSU is not an elite football program like ND, Michigan and USC, and there is nothing very unique about it, like there is with Navy.

 

[Rocket89]

Well, as pointed out earlier, ND has played so many more games against MSU than BC, so it seems to follow that there would be more memorable ND/MSU games than ND/BC games. Part of the reason why I hate BC is that they are so boring (that and Gene DeFilippo is a bad human being), but I think MSU is just as boring. Add to it that Michigan State isn't in an area we otherwise wouldn't be in, it doesn't have the Catholic connection, etc. It isn't like MSU is on the same level as a program as Michigan or USC, and it isn't interesting in the same way Navy is.

Obviously it is just my opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs. Ultimately, only Jack Swarbrick's opinion really matters, but I just don't understand what MSU has ever done to warrant being one of our legit rivals in the same category as USC, Michigan and Navy.

(I guess one possible answer to that question may be that they played us when Michigan was trying to blackball us, and maybe we feel some loyalty based on that situation. All things being equal, though, it doesn't seem like MSU deserves an annual game.)

True we've played more games against MSU, but even in recent years over the past 10 to 15 years, the MSU games have been far more entertaining and thrilling.

Sure, MSU isn't on the same level as UM or USC, but neither is BC. And we tend to recruit a lot more kids out of Michigan than New England and playing MSU guarantees a game in Michigan every year when we play UM in South Bend.

Certainly we have a lot of reasons to play BC mainly because they are "like us" as a small Catholic school, but the history and past with MSU is just too powerful in comparison.

On another note, are you looking forward to the BC game this year? It's pretty meh for me as far as I'm concerned. And I know tons of people can't wait to exact revenge against MSU this year.

Of course losing to Sparty plays a part in that excitement, but it's just always a more hyped game than BC. I think before we won the last two games against BC people wanted to play and beat them just to stop the losing and embarrassment, not necessarily because they are great games.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Totally understand that we have been playing them forever. And if that is good enough a reason for most people to continue playing them every year, I can live with it. But isn't part of the reason why we've been playing them forever because Michigan wouldn't play us? I just feel like MSU is not an elite football program like ND, Michigan and USC, and there is nothing very unique about it, like there is with Navy.

So my guess about our relationship with MSU vis a vis our relationship with Michigan has some merit:

We’ve played USC, Navy and Purdue continuously for from periods ranging from 55 to over 80 years. Michigan State has had only one two game hiatus since 1948. Both Purdue and Michigan State stood by us when Michigan attempted to blackball us from playing Western Conference/Big Ten competition in the 1920-40s.

At least that makes some sense. And rocket, you're right. The BC games do tend to be boring. I can't argue that. But being from New England I like the idea of ND coming to Boston every other year. I think a lot of other NE-based fans feel the same way.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I like the nickname of the Holy War; it is a moment when Catholicism gets a little pub in the sports world and in the wider picture I believe it does good.

Michigan State Old-timers actually have some affection for Notre Dame, as they understand that without us sticking with them through their growing pains, they would have never been considered for the Big Ten.

I like the "natural" rivalries and would like to maintain as many as possible.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

With me being from Michigan, I'd have to agree about keeping MSU on the schedule...because...I'm not catholic, and honestly, if it wasn't thrown into my face that ND is a catholic university everyti me haters get a hair up their butt, I wouldn't even really associate catholic with ND. (you have to live here to understand that) The BC rivalry to me seems irrelevant.

MSU, however, is mediocre and second rate, but it's a bandwagon team. Anyone who is a scUM fan automatically jumps ship to become a sparty ONLY for the purpose of the ND game. They all jump on board with the green and white as long as they beat ND, that way they can feel like champions when Michigan goes 7-5 and they can say "But at least ND can't beat a team from Michigan!" Even though they lose to no name schools like Appalachian State, and Jose's School for the color blind.

Gah, I hate MICHIGAN!!!!

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

But being from New England I like the idea of ND coming to Boston every other year. I think a lot of other NE-based fans feel the same way.

Yes. And Yes....Went to the BC and Navy games this year. Lots of Irish fans in the New England area. When ABC/ESPN tried to job the nation from watching the USC/ND game (because Oklahoma/Ok St was supposed to be a bigger national match up....), along with every other metro area on the east coast; Boston, Worcester, Providence, Manchester, and Portland all switched back to the ND game...

It may not be by any means a recruiting hotbed...but a game every other year at least stokes the fire for the fanbase here.

 

[calvegas04]

Play more west coast teams for us out west please

 

[IrishInColumbus]

What would happen if, gasp, Notre Dame joined the Big Ten? You'd likely get four open spots for the non-Big Ten teams. Who do you keep? USC and Navy? I have no objection to seeing Notre Dame join the Big Ten, but as it stands I don't see it happening within the next five years.

I think when make long-term scheduling priorities you need to consider who you want to play every year and who you can afford to rotate in and out. I only care about playing Michigan, Navy, and Southern Cal annually. Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Purdue are probably on the next level of importance. I could not possibly care less about playing Stanford or Boston College.


cupcake U
Purdue
Michigan
Michigan State
new team
(@Florida team/@West Coast team rotated)
Pittsburgh
(cupcake rotated around the country)
Navy
rotated rival
new team
USC