Who is Notre Dame's biggest Rival?

[IRISHFOOTBALL919]

Biggest-USC
Least Favorite-Michagan

 

[punishment]

I think the answer to this question always depends on which of our opponents is doing the best at the time. Right now we feel USC is the biggest rival because they have won like 7 national championships in the last 3 years.

But if roles were reversed between USC and Michigan, and Michigan was having all the success, we would all probably say that Michigan is the biggest rival (and throw in the fact that we go head to head with them on all the top midwest recruits.)

When this question was asked in the 80s and 90s, the answer was not USC. It was always "the florida schools."

 

[joresendez]

biggest=USC
least fav.= USC

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

the first game notre dame played was against michigan and lost 8-0
and notre dame also lost (i think their first 7-8) games against michigan
rockne's first loss was against michigan state 7-13
boston college shouldn't even be a factor except to boston college fans.

but USC has to be the one of the biggest rivalries in college football.They have played every year since 1926 except 3 years during world war II.
also one of the biggest reasons is the national championships that have been on the line several times when these 2 have met up in southern cal.

honorable mention could go to navy.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

What this question highlights, for many people, is the time period they are sensitive to.

Weis once said he did not consider Michigan a rival since ND did not play them when he was a student (or for decades before that).

Some snips from Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_football)
" Notre Dame continued its success during this time and achieved their first victory over Michigan in 1909 by the score of 11-3 after which Michigan refused to play Notre Dame again for 33 years"

"Outside of two wartime games, Michigan did not play Notre Dame again until 1979. Since then, the series has been more or less continuous, often an early season game featured on national television. Through the 2005 season, Michigan leads the overall series 18-14-1."

Now...tell me how two teams which played twice in 70 years (1910-1979) are rivals?

That being said, I do see them like a rival...but historically, they are no where near a rival for ND.

USC, MSU, Purdue, and Navy all have a rich history with the Irish. Navy, of course, the richest of all...they have nothing but our respect...so they will never be a hated rival.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

honorable mention could go to navy.

...very honorable...

I love the Navy game because its a throwback to a better era. An era when teams had respect for one another. Those boys play their hardest, despite being massively over-matched. They are true men and competitors...they show respect and play disciplined.

The Navy game would be my vote for the best series/most-respected-opponent.

 

[scooper]

Good post, Love. UM is nowhere near the rival that USC is. That doesn't mean the game isn't intense and the fans don't give it as much hype. But the USC series has way more history. Has been non-stop and has involved more national champions and heisman winners than any rivalry in college football.

 

[punishment]

What this question highlights, for many people, is the time period they are sensitive to.

Weis once said he did not consider Michigan a rival since ND did not play them when he was a student (or for decades before that).

Some snips from Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_football)
" Notre Dame continued its success during this time and achieved their first victory over Michigan in 1909 by the score of 11-3 after which Michigan refused to play Notre Dame again for 33 years"

"Outside of two wartime games, Michigan did not play Notre Dame again until 1979. Since then, the series has been more or less continuous, often an early season game featured on national television. Through the 2005 season, Michigan leads the overall series 18-14-1."

Now...tell me how two teams which played twice in 70 years (1910-1979) are rivals?

That being said, I do see them like a rival...but historically, they are no where near a rival for ND.

USC, MSU, Purdue, and Navy all have a rich history with the Irish. Navy, of course, the richest of all...they have nothing but our respect...so they will never be a hated rival.

This is what I was trying to get at in my previous post. But you said it much better.

I guess growing up watching college football in the late 80s and 90s, I never really considered USC as much of a hated rival. But we did play Michigan and Miami a lot during the late 80s and early 90s, which is why I developed a bigger hatred for Michigan than USC. That and the fact that USC could not beat us during that stretch, so the USC game lost a lot of its punch for me. It is only now that USC is on top, that I have grown to despise USC. But, prior to 2002, I can't say I hated USC, and actually rooted for them to do well (not NC well, but well) based on the fact that I have a Pac-10 bias being from the west coast.

I believe historically, it is USC. But USC's biggest rival is UCLA. Just ask them.

That's why I mentioned in my previous post that "ND's biggest rival" depends on the era. Those in the 40s would say it was Army, in the late 80s it was Miami and Michigan. If USC were to start having sub-500 seasons, then our perceptions might change.

It would be interesting to dig up an identical poll such as this one which had been done in the lates 80s. Somebody should have kept a time capsule hidden somewhere.

 

[scooper]

I've seen the USC's biggest rival poll done on USC boards. Just like we are doing now. Most USC fans consider us their biggest football rival. UCLA is in other sports. But it is also similar to us in that they dislike UCLA more. But when it comes to football, we are their biggest rival-not the Bruins.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

It would be interesting to dig up an identical poll such as this one which had been done in the lates 80s. Somebody should have kept a time capsule hidden somewhere.

Yeah, it would defnitely be interesting to see that.

Also, I am on a board with some "old-timers". And once we had a discussion about Jersies. Well...new guys like me love the Dark Blue. But for many of them, they know light blue or green. It's funny how the team can change but we are so influenced by the period we are most familiar with...or the period we started watching them most.

I started watching the Irish in 1995, when I started at ND's MBA program. So, my memories are VERY recent. But I have researched a bit to get the history and tradition. It has really helped me to appreciate them that much more...

Make no mistake though, I am no expert...just a big fan.

Side Note: I did read Talking Irish...and that was a great book...I have also read a bunch on the web, etc. I also have Mike Steele's book "Simply Devine" but have not gotten to reading it yet. (my wife works with Mike Steele here in Oregon so I got the limited edition signed to me!!!)

 

[lattedatte]

Biggest rival - USC & Michigan -i could argue both sides
Least favorite - by far its Mich St. They are bunch of thugs. Does everybody forget them planting their flag square in ND stadium last year? I hate this team with a passion, CW better run up the score on these guys this year and every year thereafter!!!

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Biggest rival - USC & Michigan -i could argue both sides
Least favorite - by far its Mich St. They are bunch of thugs. Does everybody forget them planting their flag square in ND stadium last year? I hate this team with a passion, CW better run up the score on these guys this year and every year thereafter!!!

I hope Weis buries them by 40 points.

I normally have NO respect for burying lesser opponents...but these guys have it coming.

 

[scooper]

In case anybody still thinks Michigan is our biggest rival-or doubts USC in any way, I'd suggest reading this post on NDN.

http://www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=football;pid=139693;d=this

 

[CharlotteND]

Yeah I thought that was a great piece from ndnation. I was impressed by the number of positive USC comments on it as well.

 

[sblxdoc]

in south bend, michigan is definitely our biggest rival due to the proximity. outside of the bend, usc.