Notre Dame in the rearview mirror
Hold your heads high - Yes Michigan got embarrassed on national television but remember this, Notre Dame IS chickening out and EVERYONE who follows this rivalry knows it. NBC put up a graphic during the game showing how Michigan was Notre Dame’s eighth most frequently played opponent suggesting it is NOT that big a deal that the series is ending but if you dig into the statistics more closely you discover the following: of the teams that Notre Dame has “rivalries” with they have winning records against ALL of them, except Michigan (see below).
Notre Dame vs. USC 45-34-5 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Navy 71-12-1 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Purdue 56-26-2 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. MSU 46-32-1 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh 47-21-1 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Army 38-8-4 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Northwestern 37-8-2 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Michigan24-16-1 (edge Michigan)
Notre Dame vs. Stanford 18-9 (edge ND)
Notre Dame vs. Boston College 13-9 (edge ND)
Notre Dame is accepting defeat in cancelling the series. They lose far too often (3 of the last 5, 5 of the last 8) to Michigan for it to suit their liking and they have had enough. I think it is pragmatic of them to accept that they can’t catch up and have no issue with it, one less team to hate with all my being. The real question is why are we as a collective upset about this? Playing at Notre Dame has led to more than enough inexplicable/frustrating/murderous rage inducing calls/moments/results for my lifetime and I was born in the 80s. There is no other stadium that has this affect on our team/season. Younger fans may think playing at MSU, OSU, or PSU is relatively the same but historically it is not. Getting future visits to Notre Dame Stadium off the schedule is a blessing.
Everett Golson’s performance was spectacular. He was making throws that only pros make and often on the run or while pressured. Even his incompletions looked to be his receivers fault rather than his own. Sometimes your team comes up against a guy like that, a guy totally in the zone, and you lose. I’m not sure we could have done much more than what we did considering our roster options. Tip your hat to the kid; he looks like he could have a very bright future. Yes, yes, our most experienced cornerback went out early and Peppers was unavailable (apparently), and Hollowell is not the answer, but I’m not sure it would have mattered all that much. Brian Kelly is a QB guru and he has a really, really, good college (maybe more) QB in Golson; I do not think we see another QB as good as him the rest of the year (Connor Cook is the only guy who comes close in my mind and he is a step down from what I have seen).
Michigan is not as bad as it looked on Saturday. Sure the scoreline reflects something else but I think most of us, now that we have calmed down/sobered up can realize what we saw versus what we are capable of was not displayed on Saturday. Our offensive line, while still a weak point, is not as bad as it has been made out to be. Gardner was mostly sharp in the first half and despite his tendency to revert to the Joel Stave “yips” he still gives us our best chance to win (those who think it is Shane have not been watching enough football). One game does not make a season (see: Michigan State 2013 edition). Yes we got “blown out” but aside from Golson (see comments above) and the solid offensive line play in front of him, we were fairly evenly matched. Much (some?) has been made of us outgaining Notre Dame and that should be considered, even if only lightly. I still think, based on Golson alone, that we would have lost this game had it been played at home but I think we would have lost close and therefore in heartbreaking fashion. Maybe for some that is better, I am not so sure.
The Big Ten is down. This is bad for public image sure, but at the end of the season if we are Big Ten champs, have played in the Big Ten Championship game, or have won 10 games I don’t think anyone is going to be too upset with the season as a whole. All of those goals are still within reach. Yes, we are not ready for the Florida States, Alabamas, or Oregons of the world, but apparently no one else in our conference is either (in other words we are not as far behind as we think we are). Our biggest rivals also took a tumble and in the case of OSU, it could be argued that their performance was worse (we don’t actually need to argue but their offensive line looked worse than ours, they were playing at home, and they got a gift fumble recovery touchdown to make the game appear closer than it was) than our own.
We don’t need to debate if Hoke is the right man for the job because doing so does not change what is happening this season. Hoke is not going anywhere. Anyone who thinks otherwise does not follow Michigan athletics closely at all. Calls for his head are premature as this season could turn out to be a very good one, or at least a solid piece of the foundation for seasons to come.
To be clear, I am not happy with what we all witnessed on Saturday but after the dust settles, this is still our team. We can not get divided on this and fracture our support because that is how seasons, and even legacies, are destroyed. Notre Dame has come and gone but I for one will not miss them. To hell with Notre Dame. We beat them 38-0 a few years back and it does not define them. We will not let this loss define us.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
I agree; not only does it seem unlikely that Hoke will be fired (barring, that is, an even worse season than 2013), but what are the actual prospects for head coaching in 2015? Turning this into a coaching carosel will do nothing for our long term prospects.
It sucked losing like we did. But, 3 weeks before the season started, most of us were expecting a 8-4, 9-3 type season. Post loss that expectation sucks, but this is the team we have.
September 8th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
sideline during the ND game. I asked what were his impression and this is what he said; "Shocking! ND was much faster and played with more enthusiasm. After the second touchdown, the Michigan players gave up and the coaching staff wasn't doing anything to reignite their will to win. When the came out after half time what he saw was resignation that they were beaten. He then said," in all my years on the sideline with visiting teams (he works for ND) never has he seen kids so unmotivated and capitulate so easily to accepting defeat."
His final words to me; "What happened to this once proud program?" A question we are all asking. I guess we need to only schedule cupcakes.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^
We are still rebuilding, whether we like the word or not, and we have yet to determine when we will be rebuilt or if we will be rebuilt and whether our current coaching staff can rebuild us,. That is evident from the game, and now we have to see how the rest of the season pans out before we can say these kids are unmotivated and accept defeat so easily.
September 9th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
Sorry, but speed comment is crap.
September 9th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
A few quick comments:
First, I suppose I commend you for attempting to find the positive in an embarrassing loss, but I must say I've never seen the phrase "fairly evenly matched" in the analysis of a football game that ended 31-0 before. I'd love to give you the benefit of the doubt, but it's really just kind of laughable.
Secondly, do you genuienly believe that the general consensus on why this rivarly is ending is because Notre Dame is "chickening out?" If "EVERYONE" you know who follows this rivarly feels that way, then I encourage you to expand your network outside of the state of Michigan. The majority of national publications have sung a MUCH different tune; the most widely accepted theory is that your program is becoming increasingly regionalized and largely insignificant in the evolving landscape of college football. This may or may not be how Notre Dame actually feels, but they have scheduled UGA, Texas and tOSU since dropping Michigan. Does it really seem plausible to you that ND is afraid to play MIchigan, but has since scheduled three perennial powers including your most hated rival? Say what you will about Notre Dame, but reality is that Michigan needed this high profile, early season game ALOT more than Notre Dame needed to keep Michigan on their schedule. All things considered, it's hard to see how the jokes not on you.
Finally, I encourage you to brush up on your history. UM is quick to chastise ND for terminating this rivarly, with shameless ignorance towards why these schools have already twice gone over 3 decades without playing each other. It is widely documented that Crisler, like Yost before him, not only overtly refused to play Notre Dame, but also blackballed them out of conference affiliation. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Thanks for the chance the weigh in.
September 9th, 2014 at 5:57 PM ^
"The majority of national publications have sung a MUCH different tune; the most widely accepted theory is that your program is becoming increasingly regionalized and largely insignificant in the evolving landscape of college football. "
If UM is becoming a regionalized than so is ND. Who has ND beaten that is worth a damn nationally? OU a few years ago and who?
ND was annihiliated by Bama on the national stage. Michigan and MSU know the feeling. ND hasn't won a major bowl since...uh, er, um. Your "genius" coach has three four loss seasons in his four years. It might be four in five this season.
Frankly, I'm glad UM is rid of ND. Beating ND means little on the national stage(for that matter so is a victory over UM). This was a regional rivalry that once meant something until both schools stopped playing top tier football. Now both are decrepit programs that are husks of what they used to be. That's a painful reality both fan bases need to face up to.
Gone are the days of Paraseghian and Bo, Montana and Leach, Rice and Harbaugh. Now it's crappy offensive lines, terrible secondaries, and incompetent QB play on the road.
September 9th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
So your assumption is already off base. I was not suggesting that the teams played to a stalemate, I was stating that almost all of these players, on both teams, are highly rated and comparable in terms of talent. Aside from comparing Golson vs. Gardner and Notre Dame's O-line vs. Michigan's (which was without a doubt a win for Notre Dame on both accounts) Notre Dame was not clearly better in any particular area. Wide receivers, running backs, linebackers, D-line etc on both sides were basically a wash.
And yes I do believe Notre Dame is chickening out. See the stats I posted above. If you think it is something otherwise you are delusional; I assume you made this post in an attempt to repair your bruised ego (nice job making an account today just to troll). Adding other power teams to Notre Dame's schedule does not disprove what I am saying. Having a two game series against Texas does not change anyones perception of one team versus the other but when Notre Dame cancels a longstanding series with little warning, against a team they have trouble beating, when they are both competing for the same recruits, advertising dollars, and media coverage, it is clear they have a sinister (chickenshit) motive.
If you think Michigan has trouble scheduling big name teams to play against, or believe for one second that Michigan is sliding into mediocrity while Notre Dame is not, you are even more delusional. Not having Notre Dame on the schedule allows Michigan the same luxuries that Notre Dame now has except Michigan is not hiding behind the desire to play more (hardly impressive) ACC schools (that was the stated rationale was it not?).
Keep your thanks. Go away. Doesn't Notre Dame have a message board you can enjoy while leaving ours to us?
September 9th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
I was admittedly so thrown off by “fairly evenly matched” that I did, in fact, immediately create an account and comment. However, a “troll” usually implies baseless opinions or otherwise senseless drivel. I have provided neither. As a blogger, you should be far more tolerant of contradictory opinions.
Regarding your rebuttal to the “fairly evenly matched” comment: They were fairly evenly matched if it wasn’t for quarterback and OL play. Those are two major components, wouldn’t you say? I really can’t concede that statement making ANY more sense than it did before you attempted to clarify further. Why do I have to justify this; the final score was 31-0???? 31-0? If you can’t see the absurdity here, this is a lost cause. The talent gap in terms of recruit rankings, etc, is absolutely comparable as you cite, but that is irrelevant to what happened between the hashes on Saturday. The teams SHOULD HAVE been “evenly matched”, but it goes no further. This was a blow-out loss. Just own it.
Since “delusional” seems to be your favorite buzzword, here are a few things to chew on:
First, you have conveniently ignored my plea to consider the history of these two teams. Had you taken the time to do that, you would be a little more reluctant to use language like “chickening out” and cancelling on “short notice”. Can I assume this was ignored because your knowledge of Michigan football doesn’t predate Lloyd Carr? Allow me to assume so as I remind you (or tell you for the first time, which seems more likely) that Fielding Yost once cancelled this series 24 HOURS before kickoff and didn’t play ND for the next 33 years. Now that’s “short notice”…you really just lobbed me a softball on that one. Before you chime in with how long ago that was, let me also remind you that the ONLY difference in the 24-16-1 record you cite in your blog was the 8 games UM won prior to 1909. I will also note that while your camp saw the termination of the series as distasteful and ill-timed, ND’s camp can just as easily point the finger at Brandon who allegedly ignored Swarbrick’s attempts to inform him of the cancellation prior to handing him the infamous letter. Michigan also cancelled the 2018-2019 games before Notre Dame cancelled indefinitely. Was that a “chicken-shit” move? Seems rather hypocritical to me.
Secondly, I almost fell out my chair when you implied that Notre Dame battles Michigan for media/advertising attention. Have you seen a list of the highest rated television games in the last 3 seasons? Does Michigan have a national television contract? Did Michigan just ink the largest team-apparel contract ever signed? Is Michigan playing 6 games in prime time this season? Do you know the only school to average more Bookstore sales on a home football Saturday than Michigan? I will be the first person to tell you that Notre Dame’s football program is currently in the same state as Michigan’s (you only assumed I thought otherwise), but like it or not, Notre Dame’s brand recognition/marketability is rivaled by no one. This is not blind arrogance, as I’m sure you’ll be quick to accuse me of…..win or lose, Notre Dame is ALWAYS in the limelight. Where do you think the majority of national resentment towards ND comes from?
Thirdly, freeing this game from the schedule absolutely does NOT afford Michigan the same opportunity as it does Notre Dame. You can’t honestly believe that. With the B-10 trending down and a new playoff system that will rely heavily on SOS, a high profile game before the start of the conference schedule was invaluable for Michigan. With the move to more conference games per year, how is Michigan realistically going to replace such a high profile game? Do you really think Notre Dame faces the sames challenges, being an independent? Like I said, you don’t have to agree with it, but fact is that Notre Dame plays high profile, highly viewed games every other week. All you have to do is look up television ratings. Furthermore, the fact that they’ve already scheduled UGA, Texas and tOSU is absolutely not irrelevant to the debate at hand; I refuse to accept that you even genuinely think it is. ND is afraid to play Michigan, but they turn around and schedule a team that blasts Michigan every year?
Lastly, ACC opponents may be “less than desirable”, but it takes some stones for a B-10 guy to be saying anything at all about another power conference, now-a-days. Where’d the national title come out of last season? UM, tOSU and Michigan State all looked great this week, out of conference.
I'll give you the courtesy of the last word, if you'd like....since this is your home turf. “Troll” out. Good luck the rest of the way.
September 9th, 2014 at 5:46 PM ^
and Washington. Now pair that to MSU, OSU, and PSU and UM has plenty of "high profile games".Both OSU and PSU are located in talent-rich talents and both appear to have outstanding coaches. To think that they are going anywhere is a mistake on your part.
Your third point is appallingly uninformed.
September 9th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^
I'm happy to settle these things for you.
(1) Notre Dame is not backing out because they're chickens. It makes a fun meme (I don't really know what that is, but it seems to fit), but realistically, not their decision-making process. Pointing out that Michigan has canceled in the past is also terrible logic to explain that canceling is not chickenshit, though. It could just mean Michigan was chickenshit in the past, though that would also be wrong because if you knew the history of Yost you'd know he had well-known reasons for disliking ND. Maybe not logical ones, at least by today's standards, but that's still unrelated. But ND fan is also right that scheduling the teams they have proves they did not do this because they're afraid of losing.
(2) They also did not back out because Michigan is regionalized, or whatever. ND went on the record as saying it was the ACC games that limited their flexibility (which undermines the 'we're focused on the strongest SOS possible'), and ultimately felt that they were better served passing the love around by scheduling home-and-homes. I accept that.
(3) Notre Dame fan is right that the two schools don't compete for advertising dollars. Michigan brings in substantially more. Sure, ND has their very own TV contract. It generates $15 million/year for ND. Congrats. Michigan's share of the BTN is expected to be $31 million this year growing to $50 million in 2017. Michigan also generates more total football revenue each year by about $15 million more than ND (and is still WAY short of revenue for Texas, who decided that instead of sharing conference revenue like B1G does with BTN, where Michigan, OSU and PSU get less revenue than they could get with their own contract; Texas decided to exploit that advantage and screw the Big 12). By all attempts to tally, Michigan also has more fans than ND.
(4) ND fan's argument about the removal of the rivalry creating a better opportunity for ND scheduling than Michigan makes no sense. Each team only just gained 1 free game per year. Unless canceling Michigan somehow freed up more than 1 game on ND's schedule? You are free to argue that being independent gives ND more scheduling flexibility than being in a conference. ND is committed to 5 ACC games/year. Michigan is committed to 8 B1G games a year. But that's a different argument than 'canceling this game gives ND more flexibility than it gives Michigan'. Both teams free up exactly 1 game.
(5) ND fan wrong that ND has better TV ratings. Even in shitty seasons, Michigan significantly outdraws ND. Go back to #3 above. Michigan has more fans. And more revenue. Here are the 2013 data: Michigan averaged 5.3 million viewers/game (#3 in the country). Notre Dame averages 3.9 million viewers/game (#9 in the country).
September 9th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
In the same blog entry. My knowledge goes far beyond Lloyd Carr, that is why your assertion that OSU "blasts" Michigan every year is off base, much as you insist my argument is. Michigan was having its way with OSU long before the situation was reversed. Who is ignorant to the past now? I do not feel the need to address anything that Fritz Crisler or Fielding Yost did because there is no relevance. Equating modern football with that era is a waste of time. Notre Dame has been attempting to land itself back in the spotlight for decades yet to no avail. The 2012 team was a fluke. Nothing else since the late 80s/early 90s comes close. I don't have the patience to pick apart all your points but Notre Dame's apparel contact is the largest only until Michigan resigns with Adidas; language to that effect is it is written into Michigan's contract.
I addressed Golsons fantastic play and if you take him out of the equation and put in another guy, say Tommy Rees, the tables look much like they did last year...maybe you forgot the pounding your team took in 2013. No matter how much you try to argue it, this game and the 38-0 drubbing Notre Dame suffered in 2007 are not the same. That Notre Dame team was garbage, this Michigan team is not and if you are here to argue otherwise than you have no life. I am not a blogger, I am a fan who created a diary on this blog for cathartic reasons. You have come to rain on my parade and I can not figure out why. I have no interest in visiting a Notre Dame specific site because franky I don't give a fuck about Notre Dame, why the hell would I? We are done playing you and your team. We are done giving a shit about your tacky gold helmets and off colored pants. We are done visiting the dump that is South Bend and your inferior stadium. We are done with all things Notre Dame, and it feels great.
If you really think Michigan is not a name draw you need serious help, like serious help. Any team looking to beef up their schedule is not going to pick Notre Dame over Michigan just because you think so, at this moment, they are one and the same.
September 9th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^
I really did have every intention of relinquishing the last word, but I’m having a hard time with the absurdity of some of this so I’m going to let my stubbornness prevail. First, good catch on the “blasts Michigan every year” contradiction. It is absolutely a contradiction without the word “recently”. I assure you I am very abreast to UM’s and tOSU’s football history. Alarmingly so. I will say, however, that this contradiction had little bearing on my actual point. You surely understood what I meant, as it was stated clear as day.
I will also say that I understand your frustration over an opposing fan commenting on your blog. It would bother me if the tides were turned. Probably not to the level it seems to have bothered you, but I really do get it. Truthfully, “trolling”, as you call it, is not something I make a habit of. In this particular instance, there really was just one particular notion I just couldn’t seem to let go uncommented on. I’ve interacted with dozens of different alumni/fan bases, as I’m sure you have. Each group has their own personality. Golden Domers, for example, are overly pretentious and have trouble letting go of the past. I embrace that. In my experience (and I genuinely don’t just say this to ruffle your feathers), the most defining characteristic of a Michigan Man is a shameless tendency to make excuses. It’s never the opposition who wins, it’s ALWAYS Michigan who lost.
Just read the things you’re saying, man:
Replace Everett Golson with Tommy Rees and Michigan would have won by 2 scores.
We blew you out in ’07, you blew us out in ’14….but it’s not the same.
Notre Dame’s 2012 season was a fluke.
It is definitely your prerogative to believe those things, but you HAVE to see how it makes you come across as whiney to an outsider.
Think about it. Why wouldn’t that list of excuses annoy an opposing fan base? It’s tiresome. I’ve endured it for 20+ years from Michigan fans. It’s always the grass, officials, game circumstances, ANYTHING to save face. Of course, every fanbase has some of that in them, but it’s just overbearing with you guys. You’ve unfortunately done nothing to defy that stereotype; it’s all over everything from your initial blog to both retorts. I was in the stadium for 38-0; I put my tail between my legs and went home. It wasn’t because the ball didn’t bounce our way. Circumstanes don't account for a 5+ TD deficit. The ONLY reason I started poisoning your comment section with this shit is because losing gracefully is such a lost art on you guys.
When did I say Michigan wasn’t a “name draw”? Again, you’re assuming. Michigan is absolutely a “name draw” and I never said anything to the contrary. My point was only that ND being afraid to play Michigan is ridiculous considering they have obviously not taken steps to soften the schedule since then, not that ND is seeking superior opponents to Michigan. There is a big difference. I know we can agree I’ve said MORE than enough words, so no sense is adding more into my mouth.
One more thing before I attempt, once again, to let this go. I state an argument coupled with five pieces of “evidence”. You respond to one of the five and chalk the rest up to “not having the patience”. HAHAAHAHA. Really? You seemed to at least have the patience to construct a three paragraph response. In this case, your lack of patience is quite obviously just a lack of answers.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
September 9th, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^
Notre Dame was not chickening out by dropping the scheduled games with Michigan. If you want proof, look no further than the fact that they have kept B1G heavywieght and perennial power Purdue on their schedule. Now I ask you, does that sound like the behavior of a chicken?
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