Michigan Football: Renew the Notre Dame rivalry for 2020 and beyond

The Michigan football-Notre Dame rivalry took a hiatus between the 2014 and 2018 seasons and no one wants to relive that nightmare, therefore, I implore the two to renew the contract for 2020 and beyond.

No season is complete for Michigan football fans without battling the Fighting Irish; just the same as it is for Notre Dame fans. The heated competition brings hatred, respect, and also a sense of history and nostalgia. This sentimental game is something that no one – especially not the NCAA big wigs – wants to disappear again.

Both sides have different versions of why the games ended. The methodical businessman and former Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says he was handed a note just moments prior to the kickoff back in 2012. A letter that officially ended the games which were originally scheduled through 2031.

Notre Dame’s story came from their athletic director Jack Swarbrick who says he called Brandon the day before and that it was Dave who requested the letter as an official correspondence of the breakup.

“I put the letter in my pocket and didn’t bother to read it right away because I was focused on the game we were about to play,” Brandon said. “I read it on the way home Sunday morning.”

The discontinuation of games could have been attributed to Notre Dame’s quasi-agreement to join the ACC as scheduling becomes tremendously more difficult when you sign a contract to automate a certain amount of Atlantic Coast Conference games.

Many may have already forgotten about the rivalries leave of absence considering this will be the second year in a row the teams meet; however, after this season, we might not see it again. Back in May, Warde Manuel was interviewed by M Live and asked about continuing the games considering both sides only agreed 2018 and 2019 without hamming down the future.

“We haven’t talked about anything recently,” Warde said at the Big Ten headquarters, “We have talked in the past about wanting to continue but in the last few months, no, we haven’t talked about it.”

While Warde expressed his interest in renewing the rivalry, interest just ain’t going to cut it. The fans desperately want it. How do I know that? They fill the Big House beyond capacity anytime the Fighting Irish step into Ann Arbor.

The top two highest attendance records at the Big House were set in 2011 with 114,804, and in 2013 with 115,109 both games against Notre Dame.

The Irish may have bested the Wolverines in two of the last three matchups but the tide has turned in Michigan’s favor and ND is Michigan bound this year. A location they haven’t seen since losing in 2013.

The players want it

Prior to last years matchup, several of the football players were interviewed including the former Wolverine Chase Winovich who made a snarky reference to the infamous Brady Hoke incident where Hoke called out Notre Dame, saying they were afraid to play Michigan football, then he promptly got destroyed 31-0.

Chase then went out-of-character and put on his serious face.

“I’m happy it got renewed,” Winovich told reporters. “This is a great opportunity. It’s cool for me, two reasons, one because I was on the scout team. That was one of my first experiences at Michigan, getting beat pretty bad by Notre Dame, and I don’t intend that to be one of my last experiences at Michigan.”

Tyree Kinnel said the team was excited and hoping to start the season off strong and that “Knowing it’s Notre Dame, knowing it’s a rivalry we’ve never been a part of. We want to go beat them in South Bend. It’s a great way to start the season to go beat them.”

And most importantly – because of my ego – I want it.

It’s not all about football

I wrote a story last month about how Matt Dudek, Michigan football’s Director of Recruiting, hilariously trolled Notre Dame’s pathetic attempt to outshine the Michigan football’s trip to South Africa.

https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1129180998590242816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1129180998590242816&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgbmwolverine.com%2F2019%2F05%2F19%2Fmichigan-football-matt-dudek-trolled-notre-dame-and-won%2F

"When you choose Notre Dame, the  (world emoji) is your classroom. #GoIrish"

The Fighting Irish sent a total of five student-athletes to South Africa and they say the world is their classroom.

https://twitter.com/Thee_Matty_D/status/1129190293281157125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1129190293281157125&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgbmwolverine.com%2F2019%2F05%2F19%2Fmichigan-football-matt-dudek-trolled-notre-dame-and-won%2F

"When you choose Michigan, the (world emoji) is your classroom. #GoBlue #ImitationIsTheGreatestFormOfFlattery #NiceTryThough"

Less than an hour after ND tweeted, Dudek dropped his bomb with the hashtag imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Dudek 1, Notre Dame 0.

The details

The Michigan-Notre Dame game has historically taken place in September, in fact, the last time the two met up during any other month was way back in 1943.

Well, they’re doing it again. The Michigan Wolverines play the Fighting Irish on October 26 at the Big House.

As of today, the time of the game has yet to be decided; however, in a recent addition of Jon Jansen’s Podcast, Warde hinted at a night game between the two storied programs.

“It is a possibility,” Manuel said. “In general, I prefer to play during the day time. I understand television is important, in particular financially, to members of our league and to us. There could be another night game. That is certainly true.”

Whether it be a noon game or a night game, the boys in blue will be ready to take on the tiny Irishmen from Southbend.

By the way, Jim Harbaugh’s record as a player against Notre Dame 2-0, and during his coaching career 0-1. I’d say the man is hungry to get back to his winning ways.

Overall, Michigan leads the series 24-18, with 14 of those wins coming at home, nine away, and one neutral win.