Follow up: Michigan-ND Rekindling Series? Harbaugh weighs in.

I might be in the minority here but I would really like for this to get talked up and then UM come back publicly with a definitive NO.

 

The way the series ended (them bailing after the home game, them saying they wanted a tougher schedule, etc) really makes we want to stick it to them.

If this happens anytime in the next decade+ our SOS would be greatly increased but so would our likelihood of suffering a loss (providing that the teams we've scheduled remain relevant).  As fans, do we want a two or three loss team against great opponents or a one loss team against weaker opponents?

I don't know how I feel about this (OSU and MSU both have weak schedules but could end up in the playoff).  I don't know how the committee really feels about SOS yet.

Having said all that.  I would love two see a four year play cycle that has us play Notre Dame: Home, Away, Off, Off and repeat

As we're down to only one real rival on the schedule (OSU). But since they backed out of the deal last time, any new deal needs to be on our terms. It doesn't have to be every year. Every other or two on and two off is fine. Just make sure we're playing them at home during the years we go to Columbus.

Nope. I'm over ND and everybody else should be too. They had a chance to continue the series. They can shove it.

I'd rather play the Tennessee's, LSU's, Texas', USC's of the world in the nonconference which we were never able to do with ND. Maybe an on and off series.

Of course we will play them. Who else will join the B1G when we grow a spine and kick Rutgers out? /s

Been sitting on this out but I hear Hackett really wants to add Oklahoma. There are some talks going on right now. That is all I can say. Take it or leave it.

Fuck Notre Dame

I don't think B. Kelly would feel the need to want Michigan back on the schedule if not for the recent attention/relevancy UM has reacquried. A part of why they decided to drop UM had to do with the shape the program was in at the time, and they simply thought there were better opportunities to promote their brand.

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that UM is back on people's minds, and all of a sudden, ND "remembers" how important a rivalry it is.

 

I used to be as pumped for the Mich/ND game as damn near any in college football, but with the way ND handled that entire situation (remember the letter on the field), I honestly wouldn't be mad if we never played them again.

Let's do this.

 

Of course they're going to put the game back. It's only gone because he was a dumb person.

That's the trend now, because realignment has caused many schools to either uproot themselves or find themselves surrounded by new schools, you can't count on your conference slate always selling your stadiums out like you could in different eras (hello Rutgers and Maryland!). So Michigan could really use a yearly OOC game that 1) gets eyeballs (because duh, that's the point of everything) and 2) is guaranteed to sell their stadium out no questions asked.

And Notre Dame, despite their new 5 game agreement with the ACC, can always use games to help fill that 12 game schedule. 

And for both teams, it's very difficult to find a yearly OOC partner that 1) has top traditions guaranteeing an audience 2) is good on the field 3) is less inclined to take, shall we say, shortcuts? to get the tippy top players. You can only play Stanford once a year

Few rivalries have the cachet of ND - UM. Even Christopher Moltasanti knows to keep his schedule open that weekend.

Wouldn't mind having them back on the schedule. That game was always a huge draw no matter how good or bad each team was.

But I hope we somehow manage to draw those guys in a bowl game this year. I should probably let it go, but whoever it was that snuck in that cheap shot on Gardner at the end of the game last year, he essentially got a freebie and didn't have to fear any retribution. It's bothered me ever since last year. Would love to draw them in a bowl game just to watch us return the favor.

I really enjoyed the rivalry. I hope at some point it comes back. In the meantime, let's play some other p5 teams that we haven't seen at the Big House!

the series ended, Brandon-related or something else? i mean can we blame him for all the recent scheduling snafus, like getting MSU twice on the road, though I realize historically that Michigan has had its share of multiple home games against Sparty. 

I never bought the public explanation for the Irish ending the series with Michigan, although a hiatus is altogether fitting given the way scheduling has gone between the schools over time. 

 

This was their choice. I like being able to schedule match ups like Arkansas, VA Tech, Texas and would much rather have the likes of them on our calendar. For that matter, I'd rather just play Wisconsin and Nebraska every year. I realize that's not really on the table, but I wouldn't trade either of those for a hundred Notre Dames.

Fuck Notre Dame! Don't care about them anal beads.

The idea that playing two good OOC games is somehow a competitive disadvantage for Michigan isn't true until Purdue, Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, and Indiana stop being garbage glorified G5 teams Michigan is stuck in a conference with.

Adding Notre Dame + a rotating Utah-ish level team is actually the prudent decision to overcome that handicap of having useless ass Maryland/Rutgers/Indiana every year.

ND knew that the ACC was the weakest of the P5 conferences and thought they were going to mow right through the conference every year. Well they could barely beat Virginia and wanted the ACC for recruiting ground. I hope we don't renew the rivalry. Chip Kelly even said we weren't a rival and made our game sound like it wasn't a big deal. We do not need ND, they need the B1G. To Hell with Notre Dame..

Not unless that is our one big OOC game for the year. With 3 OOC games a year, give me one of each: premier, mid and low level opponent