Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: What Is The Biggest Game On Notre Dame's 2013 Schedule? Regular-Season Finale At Stanford Michigan Sets The Course By Dan Murphy By Lou Somogyi The 2012 overtime goal-line stand in the pourOn paper, yes, Stanford appears to be the biging rain sparked enough of a controversy to take gest game on Notre Dame's 2013 slate. Based on this annual matchup to rivalry level. The Michigan tradition, USC also still remains the archrival for series is going on hiatus. the Fighting Irish. Boston College will only be But when it comes to on future schedules once assessing which way the every three years. Notre wind will blow on Notre Dame's schedule is ripe for Dame football seasons, the a new enemy, and another outcome in the early-seabattle with Stanford could son Michigan showdown cement the Cardinal in that almost always serves as role. the weather vane. The Irish-Cardinal game Since the series' renewal has typically been one of in 1978, the Fighting Irish mutual respect — the SAT Notre Dame's early-season showdowns with and Wolverines have met Bowl — but that's chang- Michigan have proven to be a good barom- 29 times and the series is ing with the current tra- eter for how the rest of the season will go dead even at 14-14-1. jectory of both programs. for the Irish. In the 15 years when photo courtesy bill panzica Notre Dame did not lose Stanford pushed Notre Dame around for three straight years before com- the Michigan game, it finished 137-42-3 for a .761 ing up just short last season. Head coach David winning percentage. The Irish never had a record Shaw left South Bend steaming after Notre Dame's worse than 6-6 (2004), won at least nine games 10 20-13 win in October. times and finished in the Associated Press poll top This year's game, the regular-season finale, 10 seven times. could have just as much on the line. Stanford Conversely, in the 14 years Notre Dame lost to could potentially be playing for a BCS berth or the Wolverines, its final mark was 92-77-1 (.544) possibly even a national title shot. Notre Dame's with six losing seasons, 11 with a minimum of five bowl destination will likely hinge on how it handles defeats and none with less than three losses. a late test on the road — possibly the difference Think of how the three straight gut-wrenching between a BCS game and a plunge into the post- losses to Michigan in 2009-11 set a negative tone season scrap heap. for the year. Now think of how last year's 13-6 vicMost importantly, though, if we're talking about tory created a "Whoa, we might have something the best game of the year, it should be against the here" optimism. best team on the schedule. Stanford looks to be The Nov. 30 game at Stanford could be a fine footthat team in 2013. Two stacked defenses locking ball dining experience to close the regular season. horns in primetime in late November is the stuff However, Notre Dame's outcome at Michigan is what of college football fans' dreams. buys the groceries, preps the food and sets the table.