Future Schedule - ND
I know we are scheduled to play ND for about the next 30 years. My question - is there any way to get out of this commitment to liven things up a bit? Yes ND is our traditional rival, but do we have to play them every year? I am just not pumped to play them anymore.
A more sensible rotation would be every three years. How exciting would it be to have WVU come into the Big House in 2011? How about Georgia? Cal? Texas? What teams would you like to see us play?
December 21st, 2009 at 3:11 AM ^
...as much as Brian, other rational analysts, and, you know, facts in evidence suggest, then I don't see why we can't schedule one of the big boys and ND. Of course, the answer is we can claim ND is a big boy and get away with a watered-down schedule. But that's just why we *don't* schedule one of the big boys and ND. We could possibly schedule a big boy to go with ND, but the time to do it is now while ND is down.
December 21st, 2009 at 3:19 AM ^
Good point. I don't think they're down enough to play another strong team. Even with a new coach I still consider them a "major" non-conference opponent. It would be better in my opinion however to play them every three years, with a home/home in between.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:22 AM ^
that the reason we can't schedule ND and another big boy is because if we scheduled another big boy we would have to give them a home and home. If we're already doing home and homes with ND, we don't want to lose the revenue of the other 3 home games in any year, because two home games against scrubs is a lot more money then one against a powerhouse.
Moral of the story, its all about the benjamins.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
If I read your post correctly then I agree, we are trying to get the most money out of a season as we possibly can. Look at the DSU game, thats when all the parents bring their kids so that they are hooked on to the program for life. If that makes anysense
December 21st, 2009 at 4:35 AM ^
How bout we split a home and home with them and another team say WVU
2010 vs ND
2011 @ ND
2012 vs WVU
2013 @ WVU
and so on...
December 21st, 2009 at 9:14 AM ^
WVU sucks..why do alot of people on here have an obsession with WV? They have been good all of what 4 yrs...woohoo that means they are a big time program? How about we schedule a real team like Georgia, or Tennesse or Oklahoma..some one like that.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:14 AM ^
I'm not saying I support scheduling WVU, but do you even remember how WVU did against two of those "real" teams you suggested?
December 21st, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
Well stated sir.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:16 PM ^
I remember it was RichRod's teams that did that, not Bill Stewart's. No WVU.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
and that's exactly why I'd rather not see WVU on the schedule. It's unlikely they'll get back to their RR days soon (and the fans knew this when he left; it's part of why they were so upset).
The biggest point people miss when they argue against scheduling ND is the money factor. ND/Mich draws a national crowd; both teams have fans AND people that want nothing more than to see them lose across the nation, and some even beyond that. They're both teams that (for the most part) people either love or hate and that's why the contract will stand through to its conclusion in 2040 or whenever (and likely be extended thereafter). There are few other teams on the map (Texas and USC are among them) that will bring in that sort of market, and even fewer of those (particularly in the foreseeable future) will be games that we stand a chance in.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:41 PM ^
I'm not against the Mich/ND game actually it's become tradion that me and a few friends grab a few brews hit the links and watch the Mich/ND game on a portable tv...there's nothing better than that in my mind (well unless there were naked cheerleaders running around the course but that's just a dream...right?) I don't want to see the game changed but rather not plat puppy cake's (ie...delaware state) anymore that's pathetic
December 21st, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
I'm not saying WVU is the only option or even the best but since that's the match up everyone on this board seems to be talking about I went with that, but to say WVU isn't a good team you are lying to yourself man.
December 21st, 2009 at 5:17 AM ^
Really think UM is going to schedule a road game with West Virginia--at least as long as RR is the coach? REALLY?
Now, I know this board is full of ass-kickers who would make Chuck Norris look like Chuck Nelson Reilly, but that would be a rough venue to attend, and I wouldn't put Rodriguez in that position.
That's just fan talk. And dumb-dumb talk. That would be ugly, and might make Ohio State's Urine Bombers look civil.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:39 AM ^
Really? Because I look forward to beating them every year. I'm confident there's a way to get out of the deal, but I'd assume it would prove to be too pricey.
I wonder what it would be like to play ND toward the middle or end of the season, with both teams having BCS hopes (after having proven themselves a bit.)
December 21st, 2009 at 9:03 AM ^
because they are "mediocre", because let's face it UM isn't even that good right now. No, I am in favor of dropping ND because I am of the opinion that Brian Kelly will get ND back to being...well, ND.
Now, I do not think that Kelly will get ND back to the level of Holtz, but I expect ND to win 9+ games consistently and appear in BCS bowls frequently...which is more than I can say for what I think will be taking place at UM for the forseeable future.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:32 PM ^
For sure. I don't see them being mediocre either. Simply when you play a team so much without a break the game loses some luster.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^
So MSU and OSU should be rotated out of the schedule too?
December 21st, 2009 at 10:53 PM ^
Irish - that's not what I'm getting at.
Personally I think Kelly will do a hell of a job and bring you to 10 wins in a hurry. For me the reason the ND game was so special is that it didn't happen every year. Two on two off keeps the fires stoked just right.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:35 AM ^
In the first place, it's probably academic, because Michigan has a contract with the Irish for years to come, and there is no sign that the schools intend to change it.
I don't mind Michigan playing the Notre Dame every year, as long as one of the other non-conference games is a significant opponent (non-MAC, non-FCS). We've got that next year (UConn), but in general, Michigan has not scheduled that way since about the mid-1990s. I do not like going many years in a row where ND is the only serious non-conference opponent.
The athletic department has said that it is holding off on making any new long-term schedule commitments, pending a decision by the Big Ten to potentially schedule a 9th conference game. Michigan and Ohio State are apparently in favor of this, but it seems a majority of the conference is not, as middle-tier teams need to bulk up against weak opponents to get to six wins and bowl eligibility. I am not in favor of a 9th conference game, so I hope this does not happen.
If Notre Dame were amenable to changing its agreement with Michigan, I'd be in favor of playing the Irish two years out of every four, which would free up the other two years for a different major opponent. Every three years is probably not going to be acceptable to Notre Dame, and it doesn't make competitive sense. If Michigan beats them in Ann Arbor, the Irish don't want to have to wait three years for the revenge game in their house; the same, I might add, would be true in the reverse, when Michigan loses. Home-and-home series should generally be in consecutive years.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
ND is one of our top three rivalries. Michigan is the only NCAA school to hold a winning record against ND, ND is second to Michigan in all time wins as well as win %. The ND road game allows you a weekend in Chicago and/or is close enough to make the game round trip. I understand if the Michigan/ND game does not simulate well for you on EA/NCAA 2010 but here in the real world this is a great game.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
all time wins:
#1 Michigan 877
#2 Texas 845
#3 Notre Dame 837
winning %age:
#1 Michigan .737
#2 Notre Dame .733
#3 Texas .721
December 21st, 2009 at 11:59 AM ^
Good luck getting Georgia to cross the Mason-Dixon line.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
...when it's not so super hot and steamy like it is down there?