Long list of postings. On the analysis there were great points made on both sides. Frankly, it's too early to assess much other than, this Notre Dame team is not last year's team. This Michigan team is not last year's team. The game on Saturday is going to be like when both teams were relavant, just like the Miami / FSU game last night.
Speaking of the Cocaines and the Criminoles, Notre Dame alums and fans of my era never hated Michigan. As competitive as both schools have always been, we respected our honorable opponent. Playing Michigan was like playing a brother. You wanted to win to see how good you really were. We saved the hate for the real cheaters, FSU, MIAMI, or any other 3rd world educational institution. And I say as an ND 3rd gen alum with family ties to the Rockne and Leahy era's, Michigan is an honorable program. So "enenmies" no, not to those who understand what both schools represent. Yes, I lived in Detroit and unfortunately there are fans who love UofM because the Lions suck and tracter pulls don't come around often enough. But those who know Michigan, the University, know it's like ND, DUKE, Northwestern, Stanford. These schools require intellect and do police themselves.
I'm just looking for a good game. I want ND to win because I'm a fan. And now that UofM has shown it has teeth, a win would have meaning.
UofM fans, aren't you glad ND looks good so far? And unlike games against the team in East Lansing, I'll wager there won't be any couch burnings after the game.
Folks, I am an Irish fan and ND alum. I think it's time for schools like Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Northwestern, Stanford, and other academically minded D-1 schools to circle the wagons. I attended Notre Dame in the 1980s. We never hated Michigan. In fact we liked the football rivalry because it was like playing your brother. Players at Notre Dame and Michigan played ball, but still had to attend class, mixed with the student body as one of us, and all of us were trying to achieve. At ND we hated schools that cheated like Miami. We had no respect for schools that had football for non-students, or worse, reformatory dropouts. Pitt was an example of this for about 10 years.
But things for D-1 football have gotten out of hand. The assumed link between the better player and money for the school has put too much pressure on the system. Arguments once were made that we owe it to the underpriviledged to bring them to campus, if only on athleic merits, so they may get degreee. The problem is, in many cases, they are not prepared to sit in a college classrom. Moreover, the promise of at least giving them a chance at huge sums of money via the NFL is a hollow promise. The majority of NFL players go bankrupt by the time they are 40.
And the NCAA has also shown clear indications of corruption and serving it's own greed. Why are some investigations pursued with vigor, while others are quitely delayed? Why do we give scholarships to these underprivilidged, only to threaten sanctions if someone buys a poor player a meal, ( No stipend for pocket change allowed )?
I suggest that loyal alums and fans of what universities like Michigan and Notre Dame represent would watch in great numbers even true limits were put on the programs. Some would say, " NO way, we couldn't compete!" I say form a new division that honors top athletes who also can attend college legitamately. Put true limits on what a program is allowed to do, such as practice time. Get enough teams, especially the traditional schools, and the fan fervor will be as high, maybe higher. Let those who think college football is merley to have a team to root for, go find a pro team. Let the schools who don't truly care about world class education fall away. Some of us want 1st rate Universities and a 1st world nation. That means for ALL students.
One blogger said he didn't want Michigan to go the way of Notre Dame. I think true Michigan alums, folks who are Michigan people, not Detroit Lions fans looking for a winner; those folks DO want Michigan to STAY like Notre Dame. Notice I didn't say go the way of Notre Dame. Michigan has always been an honorable school. It might seem strage, but this immediate problem exposes not Michigan, but the NCAA. Again I say, let's join the Michigan's, Notre Dame's, Stanford's, Northwestern's, Penn State's, Vanderbilt's, Ivy Leagues, and any others who want exciting football, played by clean honrable programs. We can afford to lose the NCAA much more than they can afford to lose us.
Go Blue and Go Irish!
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