The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Say No To The Irish By Chris Balas When it comes down to it, the game will only happen if a) Notre Dame believes play- ing Michigan is best for Notre Dame, and b) see point a. That's what the Irish are and have always been about, made clear in the way they announced the cancellation of the series prior to the 2012 game. The schools had extended their contract in 2007, taking the series through the 2031 season, but it was on a three-year rolling basis, giving either side the chance to opt out with three years' notice. Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick could have given the Wolverines a heads up; instead, he chose the smarmy way out and handed then-Michigan AD David Brandon a letter prior to kickoff of the 2012 game. "Because I am providing you with this notice prior to the commencement of this year's football game on September 22, 2012, there is no liability to Notre Dame for cancel - ing those games," Swarbrick wrote. Three years before he died in 2006, Bo Schembechler reportedly said that if he was still the athletic director, he wouldn't sched - ule the Irish even "if they got down on their hands and knees and begged," offering his oft-repeated "to hell with Notre Dame" in in- sisting Notre Dame needed Michigan more than Michigan needed Notre Dame. Since then, the Irish have snubbed their nose at the Big Ten several times, acting much more relevant than they've actually been. The big picture for the Big Ten — if Notre Dame wants to play a Big Ten team, let them ask to join the conference. In reality, nei - ther one needs the other anyway given that money now dictates who ends up where, regardless. Tradition Should Win Out By Michael Spath I have no defense for the way Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick delivered the news to David Brandon, but if Michigan re- ally wants to get into a shouting match over integrity it only needs to look at the 'Go Blue' skywritten over Spartan Stadium in 2013 or playing the 'Chicken Dance' song after U-M beat the Irish at Michigan Stadium in 2013. This rivalry is bigger than one man, one sea - son, one silly insult. It's about the two most successful programs in college football his- tory; schools that share geography plus aca- demic and athletic standards, and rivals that consistently produce one of college football's most meaningful September matchups. Since the series resumed in 1978, 18 of the 32 contests have been decided by seven points or less, while 21 of the 32 games fea - tured both teams in the top 20, and six meet- ings boasted top-10 squads squaring off. Strength of schedule is a listed criteria for the new College Football Playoff selection committee, but it remains to be seen how big of a factor it will be and if a team could survive two losses in a season. In that vein, there is hesitation to sched - ule an opponent the caliber of Notre Dame with future matchups slated against Florida (2017), Arkansas (2018-19), Virginia Tech (2020-21), UCLA (2022-23), Texas (2024 and 2027) and Oklahoma (2025-26). However, in the years Michigan is sched - uled to play those foes on the road, will the fans be placated by non-conference match- ups at The Big House against the likes of Cen- tral Florida, Air Force, Hawaii, SMU and Ball State? Notre Dame is a marquee opponent with a history as rich as Michigan's, and this rivalry is too big to let ego stand in the way. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT SHOULD MICHIGAN SCHEDULE NOTRE DAME IN FOOTBALL?