Could ND become the bigger rivalry?

[MgoMatt]

Tim Brewster hit the nail on the head when talking about rivalries.

“We’d like to be able to compete on a level with Michigan year-in and year-out where we’re winning some football games against them so it truly is a rivalry. We’ve won two times in 30 years. We’re 0-11 in the Metrodome. I have a hard time calling that a major rivalry.”

Now, we've lost 5 in a row against the Buckeyes, 7 of the last 8. ND has lost to USC the last 7 times, by an average of 27 points each game.

But with Michigan - Notre Dame, no team has won more than 2 in a row since 1988-1990.

Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be a few years before we can compete on the same level as OSU. And the same goes for ND-USC.

So I'm wondering... will we (and ND) start circling the other game on our schedule? The one we know we can win? The one that's more of an even match-up? I'm not suggesting that the Ohio State game will be like Minnesota... but could it slip behind the Irish in terms of importance?

[rickyleach]

i cant see that as being possible, michigan and osu are the best and most important, rich rod needs some time and he will get it done, nd, has been very sad over the last number of years , i cant amagine going thru that crap. although ill bet if michigan and nd set up a scrimage at the big house we would probably sell out , beating nd is almost as good as it gets.. this could be our bowl game..

[tpilews]

Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be a few years before we can compete on the same level as OSU.

F*uck that. We're going to be young next year, but RR will at least have some talent to work with. This offense was a decent qb away from being good at the end of the year. Yeah, the beginning of the year, they looked awful. They made some good strides while be extremely thin at critical areas.

On the other side, tuos is losing so much talent, especially on d. They'll be pretty good again, but they'll be rebuilding.

[W0lv3r1n3]

ND - Michigan could have very easily developed into college footballs "premier" rivalry had it started sooner. It's still actually relatively new since the teams have only been playing each other annually since the early 2000's. Back in the day when both teams were power houses, it would have been huge.

[Wolvrin704]

ND - Michigan could have very easily developed into college footballs "premier" rivalry had it started sooner. It's still actually relatively new since the teams have only been playing each other annually since the early 2000's. Back in the day when both teams were power houses, it would have been huge.

We've been playing ND far longer than that. Since 1978 we have played ND every year except; 1983, 1984, 1995, 1996, 200, and 2001. For a good portion of that stretch they were our first game of the year.

[MAIZEandBLUEsuedeshoes]

Actually when I was growing up, that was the big game for me.... (mich. vs ND.)---- you have to understand..LOL...I live in indiana. Every year my dad would take me up to my grandma's house(she would leave 99% of the time)---In Jackson, Michigan, and my 2 uncles would come over(or we would go there) and would watch the game(ND) and usually whatever bowl game they were in that year....

For some reason though, we never went up there when they played Ohio State. Maybe once, but I can't remember......

I've known for QUITE a while, that the Buckeye game is more important though.

I'll tell you what though.... if you ever get time(or like to read) , if you haven't read it--- check this book out(hell I might buy it now that you mention the rivalry) NATURAL ENEMIES

http://books.google.com/books?id=IBzFV5QGSv0C&dq=Natural+Enemies+Michigan+vs.+Notre+Dame+book&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0

A co-worker let me borrow it, but I didn't get to read it all...... If you like that kind of stuff, you might find it interesting

[W0lv3r1n3]

We've been playing ND far longer than that. Since 1978 we have played ND every year except; 1983, 1984, 1995, 1996, 200, and 2001. For a good portion of that stretch they were our first game of the year.

It's still a rather young rivalry if you consider it being annual since 1978, which it hasn't.

[amazinblue]

It's still a rather young rivalry if you consider it being annual since 1978, which it hasn't.

I think it's similar to Michigan's rivalry with MSU. Michigan knows MSU is a big game, but THE rival for Michigan in OSU, period. ND, when they were strong, was always a good OOC game. I think that ND will be facing challenges for several seasons to come, and though ND may view Michigan as a huge rival, I think that Michigan will begin to roll ND - starting this September.

So, Michigan's rivals - in order, IMO, are - OSU..... MSU, ND, PSU... Wisconsin, Illinois... Minnesota (just for the Brown Jug).

[StevieBrownforHeisman]

I think it's similar to Michigan's rivalry with MSU. Michigan knows MSU is a big game, but THE rival for Michigan in OSU, period. ND, when they were strong, was always a good OOC game. I think that ND will be facing challenges for several seasons to come, and though ND may view Michigan as a huge rival, I think that Michigan will begin to roll ND - starting this September.

So, Michigan's rivals - in order, IMO, are - OSU..... MSU, ND, PSU... Wisconsin, Illinois... Minnesota (just for the Brown Jug).

Illinois v. Michigan is a rivalry...?

[LAMfan]

I think it's similar to Michigan's rivalry with MSU. Michigan knows MSU is a big game, but THE rival for Michigan in OSU, period. ND, when they were strong, was always a good OOC game. I think that ND will be facing challenges for several seasons to come, and though ND may view Michigan as a huge rival, I think that Michigan will begin to roll ND - starting this September.

So, Michigan's rivals - in order, IMO, are - OSU..... MSU, ND, PSU... Wisconsin, Illinois... Minnesota (just for the Brown Jug).

For me, ND has been more of a measure of our season, so a better rivalry than MSU. I think PSU has the chance of moving up there as well. That being said, if MSU starts winning at a clip of more than 1 out of 4, and ND stays pathetic, then MSU will be the better rivalry game.

[1OSUNUT]

You cannot down grade who your biggest rival is based on results or skill level. We did not discount the importance of the Michigan / Ohio State rivalry when we were getting our @sses kicked every year under Cooper - it just made us even more angry. So take you beatings like a man and improve your team so you can once again compete in what is the biggest rivalry in college football.

[Wolvrin704]

UM has always had allot of big rivalries. In fact right now they have 3; OSU, MSU and ND.

Along with that you can throw in PSU, Wiscy and Minnesota.



It's still a rather young rivalry if you consider it being annual since 1978, which it hasn't.

Its still allot older than you make it out to be and it is our longest running OOC rivalry, in fact its our only OOC rivalry. And with the long contract we have with them now its one that will be there for quite some time.

[MgoMatt]

Haha, MSU. We are their #1 rival, but they are our #3.

:D

Personally, MSU is my #4th.

OSU, ND, PSU, MSU

[GoGreen23]

Michigan might be our number 1 "rival" but personally I think the better rivalry that MSU has is with ND, it's a lot more even. Well not recently, but ND vs MSU is always a good game. PSU is an artificial rivalry, so I don't really count it as a real one.

[Wolvrin704]

Michigan might be our number 1 "rival" but personally I think the better rivalry that MSU has is with ND, it's a lot more even. Well not recently, but ND vs MSU is always a good game. PSU is an artificial rivalry, so I don't really count it as a real one.


I agree with you here. MSU/ND is becoming a rather good rivalry.