go16blue

May 13th, 2013 at 3:16 PM ^

Didn't we cancel '17 & '18 before they canceled '15 & '16? And we are the ones who just added a new high profile opponent to the years where we were supposed to come off hiatus, essentially closing that door. Not saying ND doesn't hold some of the blame here, but it doesn't seem to me that they are "chickening out."

Joined: 04/28/2010

MGoPoints: 6755

Fresh Meat

May 13th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

This was at a luncheon I was at in downtown GR.  He did indeed call them chickens, and seemed confused as to why that illicited so much laughter.

He also said, "I don't know why they won't play us . . . well actually I do."

My cool story bro is that as he left the podium, I snuck out of the room and grabbed him in a back hallway and he kindly paused for a picture even though he was running late to a coaches clinic.  I don't know how to post a pitcture or I would do it.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 1758

WolvinLA2

May 13th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^

I know you know that's totally different, but if I lived in a world where eating vagina wasn't the norm, I knew that many people hated heteros and discriminated against them and I felt it was said in a derogatory manner, then yeah I'd probably be offended. Especially considered I had spent my entire life up until recently hiding this fact about myself from the world. Making fun of people for being gay is ignorant.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

lbpeley

May 13th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^

That homosexuality isn't normal? I coulda swore we had a bajillion post thread congratulating Collins and how great it was. You either celebrate it or you don't. Stop nailing yourself to every cross you see. It was a mildly off color joke that doesn't warrant all this fist biting and hand wringing.

Joined: 01/29/2009

MGoPoints: 19651

WolvinLA2

May 13th, 2013 at 6:14 PM ^

I didn't say it's not normal, I said it's not the norm. It does to against social norms, whether or not that's right or wrong. And no one freaked out about, all I said was "that's not cool man." It wasn't until another poster furthered the debate that I did as well. I just think his board is above gay jokes is all. If you disagree, that's your prerogative.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

Real Tackles Wear 77

May 13th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^

He's right. Irish know their only shot at relevance is to go undefeated against the easiest possible schedule. MSU and Purdue don't pose as much of a challenge to that as we do, so they don't want to play us. Chicken.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 9685

bluebyyou

May 13th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^

Dropping the Michigan game only makes sense if you are afraid of losing.  It is a huge game with "game of the week" coverage, more so now that it has become a night game.  "Chicken" is the correct word.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18555

SamirCM

May 13th, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^

Honestly, $@#$ ND, aside from last year they have been a joke and they will likely go back to being a joke. I hope that we can get a better team on our schedule. We don't need ND to make our schedule look good, nor do we need it for our attention. At the very least we can stop having games that are announced by the shitty NBC announcers. 

Joined: 04/08/2011

MGoPoints: 618

CRex

May 13th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^

I'm just kind of sad that Nebraska is going away to the West.  They would have been an excellent replacement and in conference for even extra hatred.  As long as I'm getting games like VT though, I'm fine.  To hell with Notre Dame (or half assed ACC ties work as well).

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 9010

MichiganStephen

May 13th, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^

And bring someone to the Big House.  I don't know how easy that is (probably not so easy), but a quick look at FBSchedules.com shows that Texas Tech and Louisville both have open dates on 9/6/14.

Joined: 10/30/2010

MGoPoints: 3422

thisisme08

May 14th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^

We raised 70k in 30 days...I'm pretty sure we can fund the buyout ourselves.  Also, we need to make F'cking sure we get said amount in pennies and drive a few dumptrucks over to that 1/2 scale replica of Michigan stadium and fill 'er up.  To hell with Notre Dame.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 3116

JayMo4

May 13th, 2013 at 4:06 PM ^

They'll be talking about this quote in September, calling it bulletin board material and suggesting it gives ND extra motivation.  If we really wanna make it sting, we've got to beat them.  Really rub it in.  If we can do it this year and next in their house, I'm actually happier that we don't get the return trip.  Let that be their lasting memory of this rivalrly, losing the final matchup in front of a home crowd.

Joined: 04/19/2013

MGoPoints: 12070

MGlobules

May 13th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^

 

losses they can risk incurring going forward if they don't want to just become an afterthought in the national conversation. MSU gives them slightly better odds. 

:)

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47542

Perkis-Size Me

May 13th, 2013 at 4:20 PM ^

Hoke never struck me as a very outspoken guy, at least not to the media. Really seems like a man of Fort Schembechler. But he's calling it like he sees it, and I happen to agree with him on this 100%. The fact that Notre Dame scrapped their rivalry with us but chose to keep Purdon't and little brother around is like a direct slap in the face to Michigan. The only reasoning I could see behind their decision is that those other two series have been around longer, and they have, but neither of those schools move the national appeal needle even remotely close to the way that playing Michigan does. Nobody gives a shit when Notre Dame plays Purdue. Why? Because Purdue fucking sucks. MSU as a whole might not suck, at least not now, but they need Notre Dame. They need the national exposure. Notre Dame doesn't need them.

Today's football landscape is about what will make good ratings and a shitload of money. Neither Purdue or MSU offer that like Michigan can. I know Notre Dame doesn't need the exposure, but everyone always needs more money. Notre Dame included. I'd understand cutting Michigan from the schedule only if they cut MSU and Purdue as well. It'd suck, but I could live with that, because it'd show Notre Dame is truly trying to get out of its Midwest roots and make a fully national schedule.

I'm with Hoke. Notre Dame bitched out to play two lesser Big Ten programs, and a bunch of ACC scrubs, minus VaTech, Clemson and FSU. I hope the game at home this year is drama-free: send them out with an ass-kicking they'll remember for a long, long time.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105485

grumbler

May 13th, 2013 at 8:19 PM ^

The reason seems pretty simple to me:  since Stanford became good, ND had to cut one difficult opponent from their schedule, or go every year with a (potentially) beast schedule.  They can't cut USC or Stanford, because they need that one game a year on the West Coast for recruiting purposes.  They can't cut an ACC opponent.  That leaves dropping either Michigan or their one-and-one with a national -power-to-be-determined.  They don't want to drop the latter because that game gives them scheduling flexibility.  That left the Michigan game (which was vulnerable because they already play two midwest teams for Midwest recruiting viz).

I hate to say it, but, in their shoes, I'd have dropped the Michigan game as well.  It's the logical choice.

If Stanford drops from being an elite team, this will bite them a bit, but that won't happen soon, I don't think.

I don't disagree with Hoke often, but I do this time.

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 14099