M ranked among ND's rivalries, superlatives
A local South Bend news outlet recently released a poll where Notre Dame fans and alumni across the country voted on superlatives regarding the Irish's rivalries. I know, I know, who cares what Notre Dame fans think, right? But it is interesting to see where Michigan fits into all this.
LINK (The link I have apparently doesn't work, so I'll just transcribe the results):
Most Hated - Michigan
Most Anticipated - Michigan
Most Thrilling - Michigan
Most Frustrating - Michigan/USC (tie)
Most Heartbreaking - Michigan
Most Critical to the Season - Michigan
Most Enjoyed - Purdue/Navy (tie)
Most Prestigious - Michigan/Stanford (tie)
Most Irrelevant - Boston College
Most Satisfying Win - Michigan/USC (tie)Rank the Rivalries in terms of Importance:
1. USC
2. Michigan
3. Navy
4. Michigan State
5. Stanford
6. Boston College
7. Purdue
Interesting to see that Michigan takes so many categories (hated, anticipated, thrilling) but is No. 2. Based on these results, you'd think Michigan would be No. 1 outright.
Yes, to hell with Notre Dame.
September 5th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
I forgot the /s tag... No, I think the whole thing is rediculous. I'm not sure if it's an issue of issue of Notre Dame seeing a trend they don't like in terms of the rivalry (i.e. this is no longer the marquee game in the sense that if we beat Notre Dame it catapults us in the polls and we know we're going to have a good season) or if they just don't want to risk too many more games decided in the final minute figuring Lou Holtz probably can't take it, and he's the only ally they have in national media other than NBC.
Given the poll results I just don't understand the decision. Other than the obvious explaination of Notre Dame chickening out.
September 5th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
I should have noticed the implied /s tag....I'm so ashamed. EDIT: I think what threw me off was your use of the word "actually."
September 5th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
but for my generation they'll never be a rival.
Rivairies are established over more than a decade let alone half of one. Yeah state is having a good run and there is no reason to believe (given the structural changes they've introduced into their program) that they won't continue to field a quality team, but as Michigan rights itself it will again dominate football in the state. It's unlikely that state will become a game that Michigan fans take for granted as we did for four decades, but, long term, I doubt it will be more than a tough game Michigan has to win on its way to "The Game".
ND is a rivalry. It was a rivalry when it wasn't being played. When I was growing up one of the perennial questions at the natioanl level was "Why aren't ND and Michigan playing?". It was asked every single year. The feel of anticipation when the series was announced was palpable. The build up to the first game of the renewed series was huge. The season before that game was played it was mentioned every time either team appeared on television. You could make a case that across all of college football the renewal of the series was the most anticipated football game in modern history. The TV market was very different then, but that game was watched nation wide.
Yeah we're fans and in many cases alumns but what drives the rivalry is a lot bigger than just us and our opposite numbers at/from ND. The rivalry is part of the mythos of college football and it will remain so even if the teams don't meet for another 35 years.
That said beat the crap out of them tomorrow and give them a loss to remember for the duration.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
35–24–2 since 1950. That's not exactly domination.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
I'm not sure what your generation is, but my fandom began in 1969. This seems a narrow definition of rivalry. It is competitive enough, has great/memorable/disputed moments, and the proximity and obnoxiousness of the fans on both sides fuels the rivalry. While I don't think it consistently reaches the level of The Game it is getting close this year. The coaches and the players certainly think it is a rivalry, the media does, recruits do, and most fans do as well.
It doesn't always take toss-up games and long-term .500ish records to make a rivalry. Everything else about it fits well regardless of 1970 - 2007.
September 5th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
should be insulted. "most enjoyed" means "easiest to beat".
September 5th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
Duh. They only schedule Navy because they think it's a gimme.
September 5th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
Which it basically is...
September 5th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
Most Hated - Ohio St.
Most Anticipated - Ohio St.
Most Thrilling - Notre Dame
Most Frustrating - MSU/Ohio St. (tie)*
Most Heartbreaking - Ohio St.
Most Critical to the Season - Ohio St.
Most Enjoyed - Notre Dame**
Most Prestigious - Ohio St.
Most Irrelevant - Minnesota
Most Satisfying Win - Ohio St.***
*at least recently
**because all the winning. Ohio St. wins are more enjoyable but few and far between recently.
***although MSU is making a case to move into a tie.
Everyone agree? What do you guys think?
September 5th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
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September 5th, 2014 at 6:46 PM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
September 5th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
nailed it.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
who is glad we're never playing these guys again? Let me put it this way, I hate ohio more than any other team, but if they got title IX or something and had to shut down the football program, I would say that is messed up. But if nd had to shut down their football program, I would say good riddance. I don't like playing them, I don't take any pleasure in beating them because they are always vastly overrated and it doesn't predict anything good for our team when we beat them, I don't like seeing holtz' stupid face, i don't like stupid fans who don't know anything about college football defaulting to them. I don't hate them enough either though to really enjoy beating them -- I'm really glad we're never playing them again, and I would be very happy if their team got title IXed out of existence.
September 5th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
I'd guess you and the guy who upvoted you are the only happy ones.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
38-0.
Let's leave them with a familiar ass-beating.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
You know, I read this and I understand their stated reasons for ending this rivalry even less than I did before, but I do like that their fanbase - at least in this poll - basically confirmed what I believe we already assumed anyway. That is to say, we are indeed one of their rivals in their eyes and that they rather enjoy having the game on the schedule. No matter, of course, because now Jack Swarbrick is free to schedule Wake Forest as often as he pleases, as I am sure that was his ultimate goal.
Thanks for sharing this, OP. Very interesting indeed.
September 5th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Hmm Notre Dame fans have Michigan as their #2 rival but the AD would rather play Stanford every year who the fans have at 5th. Interesting.
September 5th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
on the west coast every year, so keeping both USC and Stanford (both home and home) makes sense. It's just like we should be playing OSU and MSU at home in alternating years - scheduling consistency.
That said, it's f-ing ridiculous that they are ending this rivalry. I hate ND much more than Staee, and will miss these games.
September 5th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
Most Enjoyed - Purdue/Navy (tie)
of course you enjoy those the most.
September 5th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
There's nothing like Ohio, MSU, and ND. Nothing!
September 5th, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^
If we couldn't beat them, we'd still be on the schedule. A beatable name school? They wouldn't be able to resist it. The risk/reward for them on the playing field was loooow.