Who should replace ND in a long-term series?

Submitted by dahblue on

Interesting poll on AnnArbor.com today asking who should replace Notre Dame (those weasely fellows) in a long-term series.  Will that ever happen?  Who knows, but certainly would be interesting.

Here's the link:
http://www.annarbor.com/mi/wolverines/2013/05/poll_who_should_michigan_repla/

Choices include:
Florida
FSU
LSU
Oregon
Stanford
Texas
UCLA
etc.

I'd vote LSU.  What say you?

MGlobules

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:13 PM ^

We had some epic games with Bobby Bowden's teams in the 90s when I was hanging out with an FSU alumna, and now I live in Tallhassee. It would help elevate one of ND's new rivals in the ACC, and help elevate our own stature on the national stage. Two schools back on the rise.

DemetriusBrown

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:38 PM ^

86 and 91. Was at the game in 91. Michigan got worked. Bad. Terrell Buckley picked Elvis on his first throw for a 40 yard TD. Amp Lee was one of the fastest players I've ever seen at Michigan stadium and if it weren't for a few spectacular plays by Desmond it would have been brutal to watch. 31-51.

Generic MGoBlogger

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:21 PM ^

Stanford and Florida seem like sexy options not only with the current, thriving states of their football programs but from a recruiting standpoint as well.  Both would be fun games that would bring in big revenue each year as well.

wigeon

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:34 PM ^

Big stadium, not too far (closest SEC school that isn't Kentucky), travels nearly as well as we do, contentious past (Manning/Woodson), big school who despite their current condition should "return to glory" (at some point).

 

Jehu the Damaja

May 23rd, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^

I vote Texas. Only because my selfishness overcomes everything in this vote, and I actually want to be able to watch the Maize and Blue play real live football fergodsakes. I don't care for UT, but Tejas would be a nice place to steal a few recruits from.

gwkrlghl

May 23rd, 2013 at 7:18 PM ^

USC / UCLA / Stanford

Texas / Texas A&M

LSU / Auburn / Alabama

Florida / Florida State / Miami / Georgia

Even Virginia or Virginia Tech would be good (just remembered we are playing Virginia Tech. Wise move Dave Brandon)

TESOE

May 23rd, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^

Tennessee...this works on many levels.  After that...

North Carolina

Georgia

Virginia

Stanford

Cal

UCLA

Vanderbilt

These in no particular order... but I would like Virginia and/or Vanderbilt.

maizeonblueaction

May 23rd, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^

to be a Southern school, basically, in order to boost recruiting. UGA or Florida or UT would be my choices. West Coast could end up in a rematch in the Rose Bowl, and besides USC, there isn't a school that is really consistently good (Stanford has moments, UCLA was bad for a while, and who knows about Oregon?)

philgoblue

May 23rd, 2013 at 7:46 PM ^

with a solid football program that we can beat regularly and recruit in their territory that would also be interesting to visit.

Cal (the two best public schools)

Virginia (a team that could join the B1G)

North Carolina (another team that could join the B1G)

 

then Stanford or Georgia.

snowcrash

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:07 PM ^

Of that group, I'd say Texas. Best area to recruit from.

Of course, we should just be playing ND. Local rivalry with loads of history. Unfortunately ND is pretending that they actually have a rivalry with Stanford, and that their series with Purdue and MSU are more important than their series with us.

 

phork

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^

Purdue and MSU will be dropped, don't worry about that.  But that is due more to the fact you guys are going 9 game conf schedule.

Stanford is a west coast recruiting trip alternating years with our chief rival, USC.

inthebluelot

May 23rd, 2013 at 8:59 PM ^

on home and homes and mandate them to be night games. I would
Love to see these venues and think A2 would be crazy with these matchups as well. Not that UConn and UMass aren't super fun. Also, OSU did this with USC, Texas and Cal... And I hate them for it

Tater

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^

I say schedule exactly like ND does: play a team that can almost beat you, but not quite, and hope they win enough other games to make your victory look good on the computers.  

USF is perfect.  It would be great for recruiting.  Most of all, though, USF should win a few games for the computers, but really shouldn't ever beat Michigan.

My take: they should play a team from one of the "second five" conferences, and the team should be from Texas or Florida.  

Wolfman

May 23rd, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^

Among top ten wins all-time, but not at level of Bama and LSU. Two largest stadiums in the country. Manning vs. Woodson. Plus they'll beat us 3 or 4 out of ten times, keeping the rivalry close but in UM's favor. 

UMMAN83

May 23rd, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^

With ND. Who would route for those chickens? Maybe they should join the Pac whatever ... that makes sense. Even though LSU is my backup team, since I spent so much time in NO the land of dreams, I'd play them alls. Until they play us ...

Bluestreak

May 24th, 2013 at 2:09 AM ^

Common advantages:

1) Both schools have good football history

2) Both states are rich recruiting grounds

3) Academically, they are stronger than SEC schools

Texas: Public school

USC: Rose Bowl country

 

 

Ray

May 24th, 2013 at 3:24 AM ^

Both quality institutions that compare very favorably against ND academically, and they bring an extra dimension in that they already loathe each other.  I think it would be great to have a home-and-away series where we play one of the two each year.

Blue Durham

May 24th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^

That is why Notre Dame worked so well, and why Texas-Oklahoma, Michigan-Ohio State, California-Stanford, UCLA-USC, etc work as well.

For Michigan, there is no natural replacement for Notre Dame, so I wouldn't lock in another school.

However, there is another way to go. Private, excellent D-1 schools like Duke, Northwestern, Stanford, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Rice tend to schedule each other as they are facing the similar challenges and are essentially playing each other on an equal footing.

I would propose that Michigan do the same with excellent public schools and rotate among schools of Virginia, North Carolina, California, UCLA, and perhaps Texas.

maizeonblueaction

May 24th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^

the more I like UCLA. We probably get enough exposure in SEC country anyway, and there is probably more willingness on the part of West Coast kids to consider other schools than there would be anywhere else. USC and Stanford wouldn't do it because of the ND series, and there is enough similarity between us and UCLA that it could really get going as a thing.

RealJabrill

May 24th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^

Lets replace the old gold standard with the new gold standard.

1.  This is Michigan fergodsakes.  We take on the best.  While the pereception of the B1G is down, we can show the world the Michigan difference.  We are the best program in football.

2.  Potential motivating factor for Alabama recruits to flip to A2.  Also, could be advantageous for elite recruits who want to play for a top-5 program (Not in the SEC).

3.  Nick Saban needs to eat humble pie.  Urban Mayer too.  The opportunity to beat Saban, Meyer, and Dantonio in the same season is delicious.

jabberwock

May 24th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^

would be that we DON'T lock into a long term deal but rotate many.  That being said if I had to choose; I'd say we need that western connection bolstered so UCLA, Cal, or Texas would be just fine.

cutter

May 24th, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^

There are a number of schools that might be on any list, but are unrealistic choices unless they change their own scheduling practices and/or conference scale back to eight conference games (not likely).

Programs that already have major non-conference opponent on an annual basis include:

USC and Stanford ( with Notre Dame)

Florida and Florida State

Georgia and Georgia Tech

South Carolina and Clemson

The Pac 12 and Big XII have nine conference games and the Big Ten will adopt that practice in 2016.  The SEC is considering it and the ACC has gone back and forth on implementing that practice.  So who's left?

1.  Texas - UT has a four-game series with Notre Dame and has played Ohio State in a home-and-home series, so the Longhorns are a good possibility.  Since the Big XII doesn't have a conference championship game, it makes sense for Texas to enhance their non-conference schedule in any possible.  Having Michigan on the schedule would help accomplish that goal.

2.  Oklahoma - Pretty much the same situation as Texas IRT their situation within the Big XII and the four-team playoff.  OU probably doesn't have quite the same profile as UT, but they'd be on the list.

3.  Miami - The U has occasional games with Florida, but UF isn't regularly on their schedule.  For now, the ACC has an eight game conference schedule, so Miami does have more open dates to fill than other schools.  ND has a series of games with them, so playing Michigan could also fit.

4.  LSU - This is a program that Michigan has never played, so it would be unique to start up a long term series.  Would it happen?  Perhaps not with Les Miles as head coach, but some other HC and/or athletic director might be interested.  If the SEC goes to a nine-game conference schedule, this isn't a likely scenario.

5.  Tennessee - Two schools with large stadiums and large traditions.  But like LSU, if the SEC goes to a nine-game conference schedule, a long-term relationship isn't likely.  A home-and home might work out (same with LSU).

6.  Texas A&M - Another SEC team that is expanding its stadium, plays in front of a passionate fan base and is located in a main recruiting area.  They only other SEC team on the list would be Alabama, but it looks llike the Crimson Tide isn't more likely to have a neutral site game.  

I"m not real excited about any of the Pac 12 teams outside of USC and Stanford.  Washington could be a possibility along with UCLA.  But given Michigan's history of not playing well on West Coast and the fact UM has actually played a number of P12 teams in the regular season in recent history.  I'd like to see Michigan go in another direction (such as the home-and-home with Arkansas).

There aren't any ACC teams that are realistic possibilities outside of Miami.  UM does have the home-and-home with Virginia Tech coming up.  But none of the others that are realistic don't move the needle.

RealJabrill

May 24th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^

This topic makes me wonder why we are waiting so long to play Va Tech (Its far enough into the future that there is no way to know if any of our personnel will be around for the game).

Is this how far in advance scheduling out of conference games will take?  If we wanted to schedule a game with USC would we be able to play it in 2015?