Follow up: Michigan-ND Rekindling Series? Harbaugh weighs in.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/09/jim_harbaugh_would_be…
MLIVE is reporting that both Harbaugh and Kelly are open to the idea of opening the series back up. Things are 'trending up' according to Kelly. Are we fans of this possibility?
Harbaugh:
On Tuesday, speaking on the Big Ten teleconference, Harbaugh was asked if he'd be in favor of having a Michigan-Notre Dame series re-started at some point down the road.
"I'd probably have a conversation with coach Kelly about that before (I had one with) anyone else, that'd be the best course of action," Harbaugh said. "But I would be open to it, yes."
Edit: sorry, missed the original comments from earlier this week, changed title
September 15th, 2015 at 5:51 PM ^
The new playoff format and the ensuing change in behavior with OOC scheduling as well as the contraction of the OOC schedule to three games starting next year make an infrequent "whenever we can fit it in" game with ND an intriguing proposition, in my opinion. I don't know that I'd really want them every year because I just can't bring myself to care about ND at the end of the day, but I wouldn't object to the odd game, whenever they can spare a moment from their series with Wake Forest.
I could live just as easily if it didn't happen, of course.
September 15th, 2015 at 5:58 PM ^
I might be in the minority here but I would really like for this to get talked up and then UM come back publicly with a definitive NO.
The way the series ended (them bailing after the home game, them saying they wanted a tougher schedule, etc) really makes we want to stick it to them.
September 16th, 2015 at 2:04 AM ^
Like others have been saying though. A Texas, Florida, Georgia, UCLA or LSU are all games I'd rather see after watching Michigan Football for 20 years. Don't ever give the Irish the exposure of playing UM on their terms. Give em the horn for messing with the bull. There's only one bull for those of you who don't get that. Might I add, just watch when the little sister claims UM was scared to get back into the series. I can already see it. I'm hearing that white wedding David Bowie song right now. This is how them lowlifes roll. I think little sister is a new appropriate name. Anyone second that? I mean in all truthfullness. They really are a little sister. To me anyway. All Hail Michigan!! I've had too many.
September 16th, 2015 at 7:33 AM ^
LIttle Sister = Put the P*ssy on the chainwax.
September 15th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
and the fact that we'll be back by then will make it all the better.
September 15th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
If this happens anytime in the next decade+ our SOS would be greatly increased but so would our likelihood of suffering a loss (providing that the teams we've scheduled remain relevant). As fans, do we want a two or three loss team against great opponents or a one loss team against weaker opponents?
I don't know how I feel about this (OSU and MSU both have weak schedules but could end up in the playoff). I don't know how the committee really feels about SOS yet.
Having said all that. I would love two see a four year play cycle that has us play Notre Dame: Home, Away, Off, Off and repeat
September 15th, 2015 at 8:04 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 6:18 PM ^
More gratifying to send them to hell.... No?
September 15th, 2015 at 6:31 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 6:36 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
I'd rather play the Tennessee's, LSU's, Texas', USC's of the world in the nonconference which we were never able to do with ND. Maybe an on and off series.
September 15th, 2015 at 6:41 PM ^
Harbaugh brought back helmet stickers and the white road unis from his playing days. You and I both know how he feels about Notre Dame. It'll be on the schedule again soon.
September 15th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^
Of course we will play them. Who else will join the B1G when we grow a spine and kick Rutgers out? /s
September 15th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 7:05 PM ^
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September 15th, 2015 at 7:16 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 7:25 PM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 7:40 PM ^
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September 15th, 2015 at 8:09 PM ^
OU is already scheduled for 2025-2026. Would this be for additional games?
September 15th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
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September 15th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^
Fuck Notre Dame
September 15th, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^
I don't think B. Kelly would feel the need to want Michigan back on the schedule if not for the recent attention/relevancy UM has reacquried. A part of why they decided to drop UM had to do with the shape the program was in at the time, and they simply thought there were better opportunities to promote their brand.
I don't think it's a coincidence that UM is back on people's minds, and all of a sudden, ND "remembers" how important a rivalry it is.
I used to be as pumped for the Mich/ND game as damn near any in college football, but with the way ND handled that entire situation (remember the letter on the field), I honestly wouldn't be mad if we never played them again.
September 15th, 2015 at 8:22 PM ^
Last year we performed a more complete beat down of app state than osu. So until we put points on the board In a meaningful, contested battle, I'm just happy it's talked about.
I love um vs nd and hope it returns but we are a long way off
September 15th, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^
When I'm talking about the brand being once again at the forefront of CFB, I'm obviously not talking about on-field play. We're obviously a couple years away from being where we want in that regard....
but there was a certain coaching hire that made UM about as talked-about & relevant of a program as there is, and it just feels convenient that now ND realizes the importance of the rivalry, when just a couple years ago, it apparently wasn't a "historic, traditional rivalry" at all (according to Kelly).
September 15th, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^
This is not why ND dropped the series. With the ACC agreement in place, ND found itself with fewer avaiable schedule slots. Swarbrick, with I assume input from Kelly, said It would be more valuable to play in Austin than in Ann Arbor (ND quickly added Texas after dropping Michigan).
I wish Michigan would adopt a similar stance but the fans are apparently obssessed with ND.
September 15th, 2015 at 9:03 PM ^
That is what I said.
"they simply thought there were better opportunities to promote their brand."
=
"Swarbrick, with I assume input from Kelly, said It would be more valuable to play in Austin than in Ann Arbor"
Now that Michigan's brand is holding substantial weight again, all of sudden, ND wants to re-evaluate. Trust me, there is a correlation there.
September 15th, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^
Let's do this.
September 15th, 2015 at 7:24 PM ^
Of course they're going to put the game back. It's only gone because he was a dumb person.
That's the trend now, because realignment has caused many schools to either uproot themselves or find themselves surrounded by new schools, you can't count on your conference slate always selling your stadiums out like you could in different eras (hello Rutgers and Maryland!). So Michigan could really use a yearly OOC game that 1) gets eyeballs (because duh, that's the point of everything) and 2) is guaranteed to sell their stadium out no questions asked.
And Notre Dame, despite their new 5 game agreement with the ACC, can always use games to help fill that 12 game schedule.
And for both teams, it's very difficult to find a yearly OOC partner that 1) has top traditions guaranteeing an audience 2) is good on the field 3) is less inclined to take, shall we say, shortcuts? to get the tippy top players. You can only play Stanford once a year
September 15th, 2015 at 7:51 PM ^
Few rivalries have the cachet of ND - UM. Even Christopher Moltasanti knows to keep his schedule open that weekend.
September 15th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^
But I hope we somehow manage to draw those guys in a bowl game this year. I should probably let it go, but whoever it was that snuck in that cheap shot on Gardner at the end of the game last year, he essentially got a freebie and didn't have to fear any retribution. It's bothered me ever since last year. Would love to draw them in a bowl game just to watch us return the favor.
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September 15th, 2015 at 8:11 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
September 15th, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^
the series ended, Brandon-related or something else? i mean can we blame him for all the recent scheduling snafus, like getting MSU twice on the road, though I realize historically that Michigan has had its share of multiple home games against Sparty.
I never bought the public explanation for the Irish ending the series with Michigan, although a hiatus is altogether fitting given the way scheduling has gone between the schools over time.
September 16th, 2015 at 7:05 AM ^
Martin built a relationship with ND and made a loose agreement on the 25 year series. Brandon came in and obviously acted very differently and never took the rivalry seriously or considered ND wouldn't follow through. He also thought the rivalry was much less important than MSU, which ticket prices, hotel bookings, fan feedback to the AD, and tv ratings told a much different story. Michigan and ND fans overwhelmingly love the series, and travel to and from South Bend more than Lansing or Columbus. It's impossible to say if ND would have purposely backed out the way they did if Brandon was not our AD, but all signs point to him being an issue---whether naive or just a jerk.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:41 AM ^
I really don't think Brandon had anything to do with the cancellation. Swarbrick and Kelly cancelled it for recruiting purposes plain and simple. Fans may like traveling to and from South Bend, but for the football program it is more strategic to play in Austin and in Athens than it is in Ann Arbor.
Brandon could have been the nicest guy in the world to deal with but I don't see how that changes anything. ND was left with four open slots after its ACC agreement and Stanford, USC, and Navy were deemed non-negotiable rivalries. One of those slots was going to be used for a paycheck game, so really it was three slots. If ND wanted to play other marquee programs from the SEC, Big 12, or Pac 12, then Michigan had to go.
September 15th, 2015 at 11:32 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:02 AM ^
2 big OOC games each year. One at home, one on the road. That would make room for ND.
September 16th, 2015 at 3:22 AM ^
Fuck Notre Dame! Don't care about them anal beads.
September 16th, 2015 at 3:35 AM ^
The idea that playing two good OOC games is somehow a competitive disadvantage for Michigan isn't true until Purdue, Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, and Indiana stop being garbage glorified G5 teams Michigan is stuck in a conference with.
Adding Notre Dame + a rotating Utah-ish level team is actually the prudent decision to overcome that handicap of having useless ass Maryland/Rutgers/Indiana every year.
September 16th, 2015 at 7:49 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 7:08 AM ^
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September 16th, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 1:17 PM ^
ND needs the BIG? Thats laughable at best.
September 16th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
We're not your "rival" (and never were according to you), and we don't play against each other anymore. I see no reason for you to continue posting on this blog.
September 16th, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^
I am a football guy. I enjoy reading most of the contributors on here. Oh right, and you are talking about my team. So there is that.
September 17th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^
What's laughable is the thought that replacing MSU and Michigan on their schedule with Wake Forest and Virginia is helping their cause for making the playoff. It's going to be very satisfying on those odd seasons where you roll into the final weekend of the season with one or two losses and on the cusp of the Top 4, only to see yourself get the TCU treatment after the conference championship games get played and get you pushed firmly out of the running.
September 17th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
You don't get out much do you? You haven't really noticed that a lot of the SEC seems to play 1 or 2 Div1AA teams every year without detriment. Besides we still play MSU and added OSU to fill your vacated spot, so thats an upgrade in my opinion.
September 16th, 2015 at 7:54 AM ^
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