[NU Sports] ND breakup with Michigan schools

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> The Detroit Free Press is reporting that ND will
> take
> two-year breaks soon with its series with Michigan

First reaction: Booooo! <chickens clucking>

Second reaction: Good. The Big Ten needs to stop
helping ND pad up their weak schedule.

Third reaction: Funny how they still have room for all
those commander-in-chief trophy games.:)

> Now Michigan is no big deal: since 1982 they have
> played just 17 times meaning many years off in
> there. 

Disagree big-time there! Yes, there have been breaks
in the series, but you could make a strong case for
ND-Michigan as the greatest rivalry in college
football. You have two teams close to each other - one
with the most wins in college football history, the
other with the highest winning percentage in college
football history (I think ... the Davie era may have
changed that:) ).

ND-Michigan games are huge and have had a big impact
on the national title chase ... certainly in the late
80s and 90s with the colossal September matchup often
involving at least one top 5 team (and being 1 vs. 2
at least once).

I would imagine that for ND fans, the game is right up
there with USC for their biggest of the year. And for
Michigan fans, only OSU is bigger.

> But ND and Michigan State have played all but 4
> years since 1948.
> 
But it hasn't really been as big of a rivalry - save
for that game in the Sixties. Plus, it hasn't been
much of a contest in recent years either, with Sparty
owning the Irish (save for last year's collapse in the
rain).

> It does appear that Perdoo-ND (every year since
> 1946) will continue uninterupted.
> 
They're not scared of Purdue - especially after Tiller
departs West Lafayette.

> ND seems to be making a major push to be a more
> "national" team with games in Orlando and San
> Antonio

Interesting to see who gets those "neutral site" games
- are they on ND's network or open for ESPN/ABC?

> and now this. Good thing they can still fit Navy in,
> though.

Oh well - ASU and OU will be tough foes, but Wazoo in
the middle of Texas doesn't seem to be a big draw. I
guess the Big Ten will just have to make their
statement this September, when Michigan, Penn State
and Purdue better defend home turf and beat ND!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


       
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