The 2019 schedule is insane

[stlnd01]

I tend to think Swarbrick knows what he's doing. And that is putting Notre Dame in front of as many eyeballs as possible by scheduling name-brand opponents all over the country. Big games sell tickets and draw eyeballs and generate buzz. Even mid-level opponents like BC and Syracuse and Pitt have large fan bases that care about playing Notre Dame. No one cares when we play Miami of Ohio (unless we lose, of course).

And we have to get people to care, and tune in, to justify the NBC contract (unlike most P5 schools that ride along their conference coattails but get, in some cases, even more TV money). Being "relevant" is more urgent for us than most schools that have mainly local fan bases and the security of a conference. That's the cost of being national and independent.

I agree I wish there was a way to organize the schedule better to minimize travel and the grind of playing some of those tough opponents later in the season. But it's a logical strategy if your job is to elevate the brand of Notre Dame football.

 

[ND87]

If BC is considered a tossup (as opposed to our usual WTF) game, then we suck again

 

[ND87]

Selfishly, I’d love to see alternating home n homes with Utah and BYU. So I could actually, you know, get to a game.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I tend to think Swarbrick knows what he's doing. And that is putting Notre Dame in front of as many eyeballs as possible by scheduling name-brand opponents all over the country. Big games sell tickets and draw eyeballs and generate buzz. Even mid-level opponents like BC and Syracuse and Pitt have large fan bases that care about playing Notre Dame. No one cares when we play Miami of Ohio (unless we lose, of course).

And we have to get people to care, and tune in, to justify the NBC contract (unlike most P5 schools that ride along their conference coattails but get, in some cases, even more TV money). Being "relevant" is more urgent for us than most schools that have mainly local fan bases and the security of a conference. That's the cost of being national and independent.

I agree I wish there was a way to organize the schedule better to minimize travel and the grind of playing some of those tough opponents later in the season. But it's a logical strategy if your job is to elevate the brand of Notre Dame football.

You know what the best way to be relevant'? ND winning 10 games or more every year.

 

[stlnd01]

You know what the best way to be relevant'? ND winning 10 games or more every year.

Depends who you play. Wisconsin wins ten games a year. Does anyone outside the Big Ten care? Does Auburn have any actual fans beyond the borders of Alabama? Have you ever met a TCU fan who didn't go there?

 

[condoms SUCk]

if they just get ride of the Shamrock Series games that take away a HOME game then I think that will help a lot. maybe replace a mid tier team with a cupcake team too.

 

[snoopdog]

I do think BK did draw a wee line in the sand this summer, diplomatically stating that the late season travel was some he would prefer to avoid.

 

[stlnd01]

if they just get ride of the Shamrock Series games that take away a HOME game then I think that will help a lot. maybe replace a mid tier team with a cupcake team too.

There have been a few good ones (Miami in Chicago in 2012, for instance). But most of the Shamrock games seem pretty pointless and not worth sacrificing a true home game for.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Depends who you play. Wisconsin wins ten games a year. Does anyone outside the Big Ten care? Does Auburn have any actual fans beyond the borders of Alabama? Have you ever met a TCU fan who didn't go there?

Well, I said if ND wins 10 or more a year. Wisconsin isn't ND. It's like comparing the Buccaneers to the Cowboys.

 

[Irish YJ]

Well, I said if ND wins 10 or more a year. Wisconsin isn't ND. It's like comparing the Buccaneers to the Cowboys.

Tampa has actually won a SB in the last 20 years though

 

[stlnd01]

Well, I said if ND wins 10 or more a year. Wisconsin isn't ND. It's like comparing the Buccaneers to the Cowboys.

But the reason Notre Dame is the Cowboys is because of the schedule we have always played.
People give us shit for playing Navy. You think they won't if we run up our record against MAC schools?

 

[NDRock]

But the reason Notre Dame is the Cowboys is because of the schedule we have always played.
People give us shit for playing Navy. You think they won't if we run up our record against MAC schools?

As long as you’re winning a majority of your “big” games, nobody will care.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Depends who you play. Wisconsin wins ten games a year. Does anyone outside the Big Ten care? Does Auburn have any actual fans beyond the borders of Alabama? Have you ever met a TCU fan who didn't go there?

There's truth to this, but ND is not really a regional school that nobody outside your neck of the woods cares much about. Unless Auburn, Wisconsin or TCU go 12-0 or make it to the playoffs, nobody outside their fan base gives a hoot. Bama & ND (and to a slightly lesser extent Texas, USC, Oklahoma and USC) get all the national attention they want. ND at 12-0 or even 11-1 against a tough but reasonable schedule, is big news from coast to coast. You can't fill up on MAC teams, but trade one of those murderer's row opponents for an easy opponent, schedule a bye down the stretch, or dial back some of the November west coast trips, and the extra win will more than offset the lesser opponent. Playing a tough schedule is one thing. Trying to commit scheduling suicide is quite another.

 

[csirl]

A press call has gone out in Ireland for a press conference later this month about a future NCAA game in Dublin. Speculation that a ND game is being moved to Dublin. Any truth in this?

 

[NDRock]

A press call has gone out in Ireland for a press conference later this month about a future NCAA game in Dublin. Speculation that a ND game is being moved to Dublin. Any truth in this?

We open with Navy in 2020, could see us doing a repeat of 2012 where we played them in Ireland

 

[deise mike]

A press call has gone out in Ireland for a press conference later this month about a future NCAA game in Dublin. Speculation that a ND game is being moved to Dublin. Any truth in this?

Please, please, please, please.

Adored the whole day. The match (hammering Navy). The band in the city centre. The craic. Have seen the other college games in Dublin but nothing compared to that day.

I have promised myself a retirement present of a trip to South Bend in a couple of years but would love another Dublin date.

 

[stlnd01]

We open with Navy in 2020, could see us doing a repeat of 2012 where we played them in Ireland

That would be fun and make sense. But probably it'll be a game against BC or Pitt in late November, coming off Navy and right before USC.

 

[Irish#1]

That would be fun and make sense. But probably it'll be a game against BC or Pitt in late November, coming off Navy and right before USC.

Better have a bye after that game if it's played that late in the season.

 

[Free Manera]

That would be fun and make sense. But probably it'll be a game against BC or Pitt in late November, coming off Navy and right before USC.

That would be a huge mistake. Play against option offense --> INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL against a quasi rival --> biggest rival. Coach Kelly may kick Swarbrick in the balls if he does that.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Hey I could actually go to that one in 2020 if I'm still alive

 

[csirl]

Is there a reason for chosing Aviva Stadium (44,000) over Croke Park (80,000)? Both are modern stadia. Both have hosted NCAA games in recent years.

The demand for tickets last time was unbelievable.

 

[snoopdog]

That would be fun and make sense. But probably it'll be a game against BC or Pitt in late November, coming off Navy and right before USC.

Will the USC game be played Thursday night?

 

[calvegas04]

Id be down with that

 

[stlnd01]

That would be a huge mistake. Play against option offense --> INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL against a quasi rival --> biggest rival. Coach Kelly may kick Swarbrick in the balls if he does that.

He’d have to line up behind half this board.
I was kidding, btw. No way Jack would be that un-savvy.

 

[deise mike]

Is there a reason for chosing Aviva Stadium (44,000) over Croke Park (80,000)? Both are modern stadia. Both have hosted NCAA games in recent years.

The demand for tickets last time was unbelievable.

I'd say it would be down to local availability at this stage.

In 2012 it was the first college game here with the rebuilt stadia and I don't reckon they realised the demand. The other games in the following years did generate the crowds but Penn State only had 53,000 in Croke Park which as you say holds 80,000 and BC had 40,000 in the Aviva. The Aviva is more intimate because a rugby pitch is much smaller than a hurling pitch, so less space between the stands and the pitch. Maybe if ND comes back then the bigger stadium might be appropriate.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Kelly said after the Ireland game that he really disliked the cross-ocean travel wearing on the team (the following practice week) and would like not to have to do that again.

 

[Irish YJ]

Kelly said after the Ireland game that he really disliked the cross-ocean travel wearing on the team (the following practice week) and would like not to have to do that again.

If they could do it week zero, I think it would be OK....
But if not, screw the overseas stuff.

 

[IrishGlory]

Any suggestions as to where I could find reasonably affordable tickets for the Nov 2 game vs. VT? Just looking for two tickets for my son and I.

 

[BobbyMac]

Any suggestions as to where I could find reasonably affordable tickets for the Nov 2 game vs. VT? Just looking for two tickets for my son and I.

I find the best deal is always in the parking lot, haven't struck out since '93. The safest deal for those afraid to travel from far away without ticket in hand is to go to a local ND CLub game watch early in the season and ask around. I've never paid over face from a club member. I've even won tickets a few times in the weekly raffles. I bet the game watch parties in the DMV are well attended.

 

[ulukinatme]

Looking at the schedule now, in hindsight, it doesn't look that bad. Georgia will obviously be very good and will be favored, no bones about that. I don't see Michigan being improved, and even though they'll be at home they also have to play Penn State the week before our game while we have an extra week to prepare /w a Bye...so I like our chances. That leaves USC and Stanford. We get USC at home in October after playing Bowling Green, that's not bad. I think we play them better than we did this year, we take that win. Stanford is the last game, and that's the only other game that gives me pause. Given our history in November games, the fact this is on the west coast in their house, and Stanford will probably be improved after a down year, they may have a good chance in that one.

So, baring an upset I think we could very likely go 10-2 at worst next season with 11-1 being very possible. I don't see us running the table again, only because the law of averages says we drop a game somewhere or likely lose to Georgia since teams just don't go undefeated in back to back years when you're playing tough teams. I would take 10-2 though, especially if we at least win against Clemson this season.