Goodbye, Irish
Upchurch
AP reporter Larry Lage is, uh, reporting that ND is taking the money and running:
#NotreDame has notified#Michigan it is exercising a 3-year out in their contract, meaning their last scheduled game will be in 2014.
This is good news for insane people who hate easy road trips and competitive games with glitz disproportionate to the teams participating recently. For me, it is sad. Maybe they'll patch it up at some point in the future.
Michigan now has to scramble for a legit opponent in 2015 and 2016, but at least they can go into that looking for someone who wants a home game in odd-numbered years to help offset the Nebraska/OSU games.
All of this is the Longhorn Network's fault, of course.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
September 25th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
Amen.
For me, the most annoying thing (of the long list) about Notre Dame fans is they think their tradition is unparalleled or better than anyone else's.
An example is after the game, my step dad (an ND alum) wanted me to wait with him in the stadium until their alma mater song was played and the players sang with the students. Then he and the rest of my fam kept on about how cool and unique this tradition was.
For this, i'd like to send them on their merry way, with their tails between their short, stubby legs.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
September 25th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
I think its cute when they talk about their hallowed traditions and then ask them how many years they've been fielding football teams.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
I'd rather have home and homes with other BCS conference opponents.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
I would be exciting to see us play some people we never have before and visit their campus.
How about Clemson, Duke, Georgia, South Carolina?
September 25th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
Michigan has played Duke 6 times, South Carolina twice, Georgia twice. It's been awhile, but I remember Duke and S.C. coming to Ann Arbor. George Rogers!!
September 26th, 2012 at 2:41 AM ^
September 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
Why do they get to play an extra home game?
September 25th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
If Brandon agrees to this. The series resumed in South Bend, so it has to end in Ann Arbor. Even if it means it's after next year.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
Thanks, I will check out the other thread. If a contract was never signed, let's op out right now or after next year. F the Irish, so sick of them.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^
My recollection is that when Canham agreed with ND to resume the series in the late 70's, he agreed to an extra game in South Bend provided that the home team got to keep the majority (maybe all?) of the gate revenue. It was due to the disparity in Stadium size as Michigan Stadium was 100,000+ and ND Stadium was around 60,000. I do not believe that the current arrangement treats the gate revenue this way but my guess is that once you got through the original contract, the next series started in Ann Arbor so it should end in South Bend.
But I don't have a link or anything so as my intro said, I could be wrong.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^
That might be true. Spath said on twitter that if ND gets their way, they will ahve an extra home game. Balas on twitter said that a contract was never signed. If they want out, let's not even wait, let them out now and never ever reschedule them again. Wipe them clean off our map.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
But even it's the case they had a 20 year extension on the table, and it was never signed, so they're basically working under a gentleman's agreement.
And so far it looks like the AD is going along with it, so maybe the contract was constructed that way originally-
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092512aaa.html
Sept. 25, 2012 ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Athletic Department announced today (Tuesday, Sept. 25) that the football series with Notre Dame has been cancelled for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Irish informed Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon prior to kickoff of the match-up Saturday (Sept. 22) in South Bend, Ind. "The decision to cancel games in 2015-17 was Notre Dame's and not ours," said Brandon, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "We value our annual rivalry with Notre Dame but will have to see what the future holds for any continuation of the series. This cancellation presents new scheduling opportunities for our program and provides a chance to create some new rivalries." The Wolverines and Irish have met on the gridiron 40 times, the most for Michigan against any non-conference opponent. Michigan holds a 23-16-1 all-time record against Notre Dame, one of the U-M's three main rivals along with Michigan State and Ohio State. The final two games in the rivalry will take place on Sept. 7, 2013, at Michigan Stadium, and the following year on Sept. 6, 2014, at Notre Dame Stadium. Both schools agreed to a break in the series during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The future of games scheduled to be played in 2020 and beyond has yet to be determined.
September 25th, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^
I think they want that so that they have a better chance of a win when the series goes on hiatus for however long it does.
Also, I find it interesting that they're opting out with us and not MSU or Purdue, after seeing how our very young defense shut them down, they see how good we're going to be and they don't want to deal with that.
MSU and Purdue are up and down and can't be counted on to be an annually strong program, hence they opt out with us, very transparent to me.
We had 6 TO's and they were still lucky to beat us, actually, we beat ourselves. I say good riddance and now we can schedule some other top program hopefully and get a home game during even numbered years.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
As long as we resume the series in 2018, I'm okay with this, but if this turns into a permanent hiatus I'll be disappointed. We have had breaks in the series before (1983-84, 1995-96, 2000-01), so one more wouldn't necessarily kill the rivalry, but I hope it resumes again. It's a natural rivalry - two of the most successful, storied programs, located not far from each other, and we were even their first-ever opponent.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
The next time we play ND in a non-bowl, my son will be almost 11 years old. He is 2 now.
September 25th, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
Its definitely interesting when you put it that way. I've grown up always knowing the Michigan-ND rivalry. And it would have probably been nice for my kids to have known it too since it holds a lot of memories for me (Rocket Ismail, Desmond, etc. etc.). But, on the flip side, things are so different now. Michigan's bowl streak was broken, head coach controversy, spread offense, and more. So maybe it would be cool to set up an on-going matchup with another university of higher learning that would be more fresh and interesting than the now-stale ND matchup.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
I think you are also forgetting 1910-1942 and 1947-1978. On average, the norm is for us not to play ND as opposed to an annual rivalry.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
Don't let the door hit ya...
September 25th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
To Hell with Notre Dame.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
I scrolled down this list of comments, waiting to find that one. Bo was a wise man.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
"We don't need Notre Dame... They need us more than we need them."
September 25th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
Thank god. Playing them is getting old. It's always some ridiculous turnoverfest where neither team plays up to its ability. Removing them from the schedule will allow for some cupcakery when needed and more interesting OOC opponents when needed.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
I don't understand this argument. Playing a big-name opponent, which frequently results in an exciting game that goes down to the wire, is getting old? And playing EMU/CMU/WMU all the time isn't?
September 25th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
I'm happy about losing them as a game. I'd much rather play an SEC, ACC, or Big 12 opponent as a home-and-home instead of this game every year. I'm just so sick of ND's arrogance in the college football world, so it's time they are put in their place.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
IF they waited till 2017, we'd get the last home game.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
September 25th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
I think I prefer up.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
The field at Michigan Stadium is well below ground level.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
I want to play the best teams in January when you can lay it all on the line, injuries be damned, and win a national championship for your effort, not in September just for the heck of it. Its all risk, no reward then. Early games are for exposure, and practice. I actually like NDs idea of PAC12/ACC markets. Lets schedule a few more left and right coast programs or Texas schools to start the season. Georgia Tech, Cal, TCU, Boston College, Stanford, Vandy, Miami, A&M. NDs strength of schedule would be our cupcakes.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
I get it. ND doesn't want an early season loss so NBC can still love their inflated record longer. The rest of the national media will get on their knees too for ND b/c it's ND. When's the last time they were good?
September 25th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Around 19 years ago, in 1993.
September 25th, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^
Boston College stabbed them in the heart in 1993 and they have not recovered since.
I remember that game. We had just crushed Ohio State, who thought they were haeded to the Rose Bowl, 28-0. There were wilted roese all over Michigan Stadium in the Ohio State section.
After the game, I went to Dooleys (Skeeps) to watch the Notre Dame - Boston College game. Nobody thought BC had a chance, but they were able to drive down for a chance at a game winning field goal. When it when up and through, the whole bar went nuts and started singing the Victors as if Michigan had won. That was a great day.
Notre Dame has not Returned To Glory since.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
Which is more interesting? Games against ND or games against Baby Seal University? Hmmm. Not a difficult question!
So if this is more than a mini-hiatus in the series this is a shame.
I'd like to see us play two decent non-conference games a year with Western/Central/Eastern etc rotating through the schedule as a local warm-up.
How likely is that? Not very, I guess and especially not if we move to a nine-game conference schedule.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
It sounds like you're automatically assuming that the replacements for the ND games will be filled by Baby Seal University....may or may not be the case. Considering the hype the Bama game got, seems like some mid to upper-tier teams could be tweeting Dave Brandon pretty soon.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
September 25th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
...said the Black Knight to King Arthur.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Tis' but a flesh wound.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^
And make no mistake - they are running from us. Purdue/MSU are much easier midwest foes, and I'm sure that's what they feel they'll need with the new scheduling.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
Is a great opportunity for us to play for the national championship, based on our Big Ten home opponents and our last two recruiting classes (2012, 2013). I hope for that year at least we get a big fat cupcake.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
I have a lot of great memories of UM / ND games. But, if UM is able to replace this with a rotating cast of legit home and homes I would consider it a positive. Can't get weak though, have to go for it.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
I'm sad too. I'd like to continue with ND. They are the only major team in our footprint, and we have a long history with them. It is easy to say, "don't let the door hit you . . . " but the reality is that the loss of this series will hurt. Even if we end up with a competitive home and home vs. teams in the SEC, Pac 10, ACC, or Big 12, it won't quite replace Notre Dame.
As I walked around their campus before the game Saturday, it struck me that Michigan has more in common with ND than, say, Alabama, or Florida State, or Florida, or Georgia or Oregon or Boise State. Beyond that, I know that I won't go to a game in Tuscaloosa or Talahassee or Austin or Eugene or Boise. I hope that things change somehow in the next 10 years so that this series can resume.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
"Beyond that, I know that I won't go to a game in Tuscaloosa or Talahassee or Austin or Eugene or Boise."
Why? I don't know all those towns but Austin for example would be amazing, and I would think all of those towns are far more interesting than South Bend (well not sure about Talahassee).
September 25th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^
Because a drive to South Bend can be a day trip from Michigan. A trip to Boise or Tuscaloosa, or Austin would take up a whole weekend, and cost at least a grand each time for one person. ND was a regular rivalry, too, as opposed to a random home and home series.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
I wouldn't go, because my life doesn't revolve around college football. Going to one of those five cities would involve taking vacation time to drive (one way: 12 hours, 17 hours, 19 hours, 25 hours, 35 hours,) or expensive flights ($200 - $600,) hotel lodging, buying overpriced food instead of tailgating, renting vehicles, all before the cost of a ticket, being away from home with kids in school, (crabby wife, and missing kid's soccer and football games,) and missing critical work days.
To go to the ND game, it cost me $83, total. Well, if you count the chili and sandwiches and snacks and fruit I brought from home for a couple of us, maybe another $10. And I missed my son's football game, and I rescheduled a meeting. But it more or less all worked. Total elapsed time for me was 10 1/2 hours (4 hours for travel, and 6 1/2 hours in South Bend.) I'm more than willing to do that. I have been willing to pay to go to the Rose Bowl a couple times. But to go to one of those cities on a weekend in the Fall? It just isn't in the cards for me.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
They must have decided it would be best to end the series as quickly as possible. Wonder if they would have pulled the plug if last Saturday had been another loss?
September 25th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
"The Irish informed Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon prior to kickoff of the match-up Saturday (Sept. 22) in South Bend"
September 25th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
i read this and thought "meh." i'd like to play ND every few years b/c it's a good rivalry, but don't need it every year. also, they needed to break the contract b/c they need to soften their schedule.
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