Mich v ND Discussion. In memory of and to honor Clashmore Mike

[WM Wolverine]

I guess I saw it as giving them what they want without joining the B1G. ND needs to play 'national' games to sustain being a 'national' program, games vs USC, Texas, Stanford, M, Ohio State help them do this.

In the B1G, they wouldn't play in Texas, California or the northeast often enough to be a national program. They take pride in their silly independence but it's important to sustain a national following.

[Whitley]

I guess I saw it as giving them what they want without joining the B1G. ND needs to play 'national' games to sustain being a 'national' program, games vs USC, Texas, Stanford, M, Ohio State help them do this.

In the B1G, they wouldn't play in Texas, California or the northeast often enough to be a national program. They take pride in their silly independence but it's important to sustain a national following.

Actually, I could see them as an associate member say 8 games against the conference that would leave them with 4 OOC games that would allow them to take care of the main rivalries (USC, Stanford, Navy and another one)

A typical year you could have ND against 2-3 of UM/MSU/OSU and Penn State and 1-2 against IU/Rutgers/Maryland

And then 4 against the West with 1-2 every year against Iowa/Wisconsin/Nebraska and 2-3 against Northwestern/Purdue/IU/Illinois

So in a typical year ND could have a schedule like this

(Random Rivalry)
Michigan
Michigan State
Navy
Purdue
Rutgers
Northwestern
Stanford
Wisconsin
Ohio State/Penn State
Nebraska
USC

I don't know that looks like a nation schedule to me (it also looks like a very hard one as well)

[WM Wolverine]

B1G won't allow an associate football member, Notre Dame's value is their football program and B1G would require Notre Dame home games to be B1G games. ND playing a full B1G schedule won't allow them to schedule their 'national' programs in California and where a lot of their fans are in the northeast.

[Whitley]

B1G won't allow an associate football member, Notre Dame's value is their football program and B1G would require Notre Dame home games to be B1G games. ND playing a full B1G schedule won't allow them to schedule their 'national' programs in California and where a lot of their fans are in the northeast.

So they join the B1G 9 games--leaves three OOC (USC, Stanford takes care of CA). Navy is an East Coast game.

Depending which division ND was in they could have at least one game in the East Coast (Penn State/Rutgers) with BIG. Ohio State and Michigan have national cache.

[Mike]

ND will never do it and if they played that schedule, it would be the most difficult in the country every season.

[entropy]

In the end, Notre Dame is a bigger name. This will be a huge national game. A home and home with Arkie isn't as valuable, PR wise.

Ideally, you keep Arkie AND add ND, but money has to be made, and you can't fill your non-cons with home and homes.

Good move by M.

I think you misspelled "ND told Michigan they wanted the game"...

[Hannibal]

Replacing Arkansas with ND -- bleh.

[lineygoblue]

I think Ent nailed it.

ND wanted to start scheduling Michigan again, and once again Michigan kowtowed to ND's demands.

[AlabamAlum]

Notre Dame is more prestigious and will be viewed as a better win for M even though they are easier to beat than Arkansas. This was a no-brainer.

[lineygoblue]

You got the no-brainer part right

[Mike]

Yeah, no kidding. I actually think Michigan would get more national cred for beating Arky, especially on the road, than ND. Again.

[AlabamAlum]

The Hogs are a middle tier SEC team. You win, people shrug their shoulders and offer you a tepid "congrats." You lose and you hear "SEC, BABY!"

Notre Dame is a national brand. The game will be huge. Gameday guaranteed.

[Mike]

I guess I'm just tired of playing ND at the expense of any other big time OOC game.

[AlabamAlum]

Beat their brains in and the decision won't vex you further.

[WM Wolverine]

2 on, 2 off okay for me. M needs to play other major programs in the south; Oklahoma, Florida, UCLA, Texas like they've set up.