Football Articles
Scheduling Notre Dame, Part 1: Who The Irish Play
Posted by Michael Collins on April 13th, 2011 under Football
Like many of us, I want to play Jack Swarbrick and control the scheduling for the Irish. I’d do it for free, too. Almost all of us have to be pretty pleased, however, with the job he is doing, moving away from Kevin White’s 7-4-1 model and the commitment for three Big East games per year. The latter was probably more dictated by the rejection by Rutgers and Connecticut of multiple game, long term deals. Yet that opened up the schedule, combining with a 6-5-1 model and backing away from some games with Army, for the home and home game deals with Oklahoma, Texas, Miami and BYU.
Sure, we had trepidations when Washington State was our neutral site game in 2009, when Army was our neutral site game for 2010 and when Western Michigan, Tulsa and Utah were signed for 2010. But Swarbrick needed buy-in games to complete White’s failed imitation of most current BCS teams’ scheduling. Tulsa and Utah proved stiff competition. The Army game provided a measure of redemption.
In the end, we are Notre Dame – with unique challenges in scheduling as an independent, commitments to our traditional rivals, a national alumni base and national recruiting, and values that must be reflected in our football team. Swarbrick had NBC’s contract to please and needed to convince them of the value of only six home games, too. Perhaps switching the USC game this year to a night game is another shrewd move that mitigates the loss of a home game for NBC/Comcast.
So, on a soft night the week prior to our Blue-Gold game, let’s look at future scheduling by looking back at the past. Who have we played? Can we come up with trends that transcend individual biases and explain who we will most likely play in the future?
Here is the scheduling for the past twenty-five years:
Notre Dame’s Schedule 1986-2010
Traditional Rivals – A Look Back
Tradition is one of those factors for which Notre Dame is known, which includes traditional football rivalries – USC, Navy, Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Stanford and Boston College. Here is the list of number of games played against each of those rivals and how many times those rivalries saw a hiatus:
Notre Dame’s Traditional Rivals
We’ve played USC, Navy and Purdue continuously for from periods ranging from 55 to over 80 years. Michigan State has had only one two game hiatus since 1948. Both Purdue and Michigan State stood by us when Michigan attempted to blackball us from playing Western Conference/Big Ten competition in the 1920-40s.
Pittsburgh has played the Irish 66 times with interruptions of only ten years total over the past fifty-eight years and only six years since 1982. The Panthers provide a tough Big East opponent who has produced Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Larry Fitzgerald and Darrell Revis to name just a few. Pennsylvania has numerous Notre Dame alumni clubs, a large following of Irish fans and some valuable recruiting territory. Many Irish players have come from western Pennsylvania.
Michigan resumed their rivalry with Notre Dame in 1978 when the Michigan Athletic Director wanted to fill the Big House with fans since attendance had dropped to 60,000 for games. Over those 33 years, the Wolverines have supplied great games and a powerful opponent with only six years total in hiatus. This year’s game with the Irish will be the first night game in Michigan Stadium, featured in prime time. Will the Irish play the Wolverines under the lights next year?
Except for two years, Stanford has played us continuously since 1988. Including Stanford on the schedule provides the Irish with yearly exposure in California, games in the northern part of the state, and some flexibility. With USC’s game contracted for mid-October when in South Bend and November in Los Angeles, Stanford has agreed to compliment that schedule.
Boston College is a natural rival as the only other Catholic BCS football school, East coast exposure, and a large alumni and subway alumni base in the region. Except for two years after the Eagles bolted from the Big East, the Irish have played the Eagles continuously since 1992.
Boston College and Stanford also provide opponents with similar values and vision for their football programs with high graduation rates and commitments to their players’ education.
Contracts
The Irish will always play USC and Navy annually. Michigan contracted for games through 2031, though leaks suggest it is a verbal contract. Michigan State will be on Notre Dame’s schedule through 2025. Pittsburgh is on the schedule through 2016. Purdue is on the schedule through 2015 with reports that the Irish want to then play the Boilermakers every other year. Notre Dame and Boston College have contracted for six games over nine years from 2012 to 2019. Stanford is only on the schedule through 2012. The Notre Dame game for Stanford is their big money-maker, exceeding the Big Game with Cal, and rivaled only by a USC game in Palo Alto.
The new contract with BC opened up three potential future games. What would you do with the schedule for these other rivals? Drop Stanford and play in California every other year? Play Purdue every other year? Would you renew the Pittsburgh contract or drop our only regular Big East opponent?
In addition to Oklahoma, Texas, Miami and BYU, Swarbrick has added three games against Wake Forest, beginning this year, and three games against Temple. Wake and Temple have agreed to two home games for the Irish. The Temple series will have the Irish playing in Philadelphia.
Who would you like to see on the schedule? How would you get a balance of competition, appealing to local alumni and fan support, geography, similar values including graduation rates that evidence commitments to their student/athletes, and home and home opponents with a large stadium? What large venues or neutral sites would you like to see the Irish play?
Here are lists of the BCS and non-BCS opponents (outside of those rivals listed above) that the Irish have scheduled in the past twenty-five years:
BCS Opponents, 1986-2010, Non-BCS Opponents, 1986-2010.
With my next article, I’ll discuss further those factors that play into Notre Dame scheduling.
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Sailor Ripley
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Michael Collins
pablo
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pablo said:
April 14th, 2011 at 12:54 am
Opinions:
USC and Navy remain staples for obvious reasons.
Same with the Big-Ten 3. The rivalries are too historied and intense. Also, people tend to forget these days how important it is for the student-athletes and athletic budget to have at least a few regional games. Unfortunately this usually forces us to play an overwhelmingly front-loaded schedule. Personally, I could live with a toggling of MSU/Purdue, but their loyalty should be considered (even though that was 70 years ago). Maybe we could at least threaten that unless they’d play us mid/late-season once in awhile — would it really kill them to squeeze us in next to IU, NW or Minn? Almost every other team we play has a conf. schedule and bye considerations.
Stanford should stay on, primarily for the balance of getting to California every thanksgiving. For an essay of other reasons
Pitt. as well — history, but more importantly, as you noted, for the relative wealth of talent from the area that can be attracted to ND.
Then we’ve got those other 2 mandatory Big East teams. I vote TCU for one of em! The other can rotate but I’d take USF, then Rutgers over UConn — again for geographical recruiting presence.
BC can be more sporadic. Yes, strong commonalities but New England isn’t exactly a hot-bed of talent. Besides, they made things logistically difficult when they decided they just HAD to move to the ACC.
Damn, not a whole lot of wiggle room left there. I like the idea of getting in a “winnable game” down south like Wake Forest or UNC, or better yet a mediocre SEC team. Also, another Texas school to balance out TCU.
But that’s just me.
pablo said:
April 14th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Forgot my shameless Stanford plug: http://onefootdown.fantake.com/2010/08/15/the-palo-alto-connection/
TLNDMA said:
April 14th, 2011 at 2:55 am
I like all of our traditional rivals. A year or two break in those every ten years or so, to shake up the schedule is ok. I want Stanford, BC , Pitt and the Big Ten teams on the docket most years though.
The neutral site game is something I like, as long as it’s in a nice city and against a fairly solid opponent. It too, is a good recruiting tool.
I think the hardsest part for ND, is finding the right balance of difficulty. You don’t want cupcakes, nor do you want every team to be in the top twenty.
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 5:09 am
Have to agree with both of you. Wiggle room seems to be what JS is trying to create. Moving Stanford out of that first October weekend slot and lightening up on our early season schedule would be ideal. Navy in Phila and Temple opposite it would help balance out some holes in a Pitt annual series, but Pitt still keeps our foot in with the Big East.
Either getting Purdue to play later for more balance or every other year opens up a space for home and home series for teams who insist on a preconference game. It’s not like the weather in S.B. for Purudue later in the year should be a problem either.
BC seems most vulnerable. Play USF in Orlando and TCU in JerryWorld.
April 14th, 2011 at 5:20 am
What impact will the Big Ten have when they switch to 9 conference games? I continue to believe that at least one of our rivals from that conference (ahem…Michigan) is going to get tired of playing 10 BCS teams every single year.
Anyway, USC and Navy every year.
I could live without Purdue on the schedule and would be happy to see an every other year policy adopted there.
Obviously Michigan and Michigan State should stay, although as I already mentioned history suggests the former team may take their ball and go home at some point.
I’ve always liked the Pitt rivalry, very underrated in my opinion.
Stanford? Eh…I know we share common goals as universities and they are really good right now and this series looks nice and bright, but if you could tell me we could switch this game to a mid-level SEC team or a team in Texas I’d do it in a heart beat.
Same deal with Boston College, it’s just not one of those games that I find has much glamor or a ton of history behind it. Common goals and all that yeah I know, but I’d like to play other teams.
The problem is we basically need all these 8 rivalries as an independent and it is very difficult to have to schedule 4 or 5 games for each season.
I know one thing, it would be awesome to see a behind the scenes 1-hour documentary that followed Swarbrick around for a few months while he hashes out some dates and teams the Irish will play.
April 14th, 2011 at 6:45 am
Home and home series just announced with Northwestern.
Wildcats come to South Bend in 2014, and we visit them in 2018.
The first game is on November 15th which should be right before we travel to USC. The press release isn’t saying when the road game will be, but I would guess in November as well.
Erik '04 said:
April 14th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Another Big Integer team? That’s unfortunate, really. i don’t see any upside to us playing Northwestern, except that I might be able to get a ticket to the game and head down to Chicago from here in Wisconsin.
Patrick Mikes '79 said:
April 14th, 2011 at 8:18 am
I would keep Navy.
Keep USC and Stanford, but ensure we play one of them in California and one at ND each season. Don’t want two trips to California in one season.
Play 3 Big 10 teams each season–Michigan St & Purdue plus a rotating home-and-home schedule with Michigan, Ohio St. & Wisconsin.
One team each from the Big 12, ACC, Big East, SEC, & Mountain West.
This leaves one game for Jack or Brian to play with.
Screw Boston College. I don’t like them or their fans. They need us more than we need them.
Jim Miesle said:
April 14th, 2011 at 8:59 am
The single best thing about what JS has done over the past few years (how long has it been now, 3+?) is that he identifies regions that ND needs to get back into (Texas, Florida, Mid-Atlantic) and gets those neutral site games there. That cannot be understated.
My view is pretty simplistic on all this, but here you go:
1. An annual trip to California is a must. I would like to see ND go to Texas and Florida with increased regularity as well.
2. Recruiting has slumped a bit in the Philadelphia-Baltimore-DC region over the past decade or so. Not a surprise that there are games scheduled in all of those sites over the next few years.
3. The Wake Forest deal was a great one. It opens up the whole state of NC and probably gets some interest from SC preps as well.
That being said, USC and Navy are must-keeps on the schedule for obvious reasons. I think Stanford should stay there as well to maintain the CA presence. I wouldn’t be upset if UofM, MSU, Purdue, BC, and Pitt took a year off every once in a while. I agree a home-and-home with a respectable SEC team would be a deal worth pursuing, but not many of those teams are looking to add a strong OOC opponent to the schedule.
If the 6-5-1 thing is going to stick (which it should), you have to break up the 5 road games (technically 6 with a neutral site game) into regions and try to play in one per year. Obviously, CA is one region to itself. Then try to play one in the midwest, one in the east, one in the south/southwest. That should leave enough flexibility in the schedule to keep up with the home-and-home or home-home-neutral.
April 14th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Patrick Mikes,
I’d be great to have that amount of diversity, but I don’t think we play every conference.
One of our fellow ND bloggers sites is steamin’ angry over the NW series. Let me address his complaints if I may:
A. It drudges up more Notre Dame to the Big Ten talk
With or without this series this discussion will continue for years and years. It must be stressed that this is only a TWO game series too.
B. NW has a small stadium
So does Stanford, BC, and Wake Forest…hey we’re playing them all this year! Obviously, we’re not going to get into the habit of playing in small stadiums but for ONE game out of the next couple decades…that’s enough to complain about? Does it really matter?
C. It does nothing for our brand, gives us no exposure
Neither do the majority of the games we play. I mean we already have stuff coming up with Miami, Oklahoma and Texas…we can’t schedule top 25 programs every time Swarbrick picks up the phone.
D. Fitzgerald has “peaked” as a coach at NW
I don’t really care…he’s done a decent job there and I can’t hate on him too much.
E. NW has annoying fan base
I think this is probably the biggest reason for a lot of people. Especially for the fans living in and around the Midwest…they just don’t like Northwestern and this gives them a perfect opportunity to bitch about it.
Sully64 said:
April 14th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Recently the Atlanta Journal Constitution had an article saying that the University of Georgia had contacted Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State seeking a home and home series. Notre Dame wouldn’t do it and Ohio State did. What an opportunity missed. Georgia won their only national championship by defeating ND in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia has a beautiful 92,000 seat stadium and great SEC tradition. They have wonderful fans and they, unlike Miami, are true football fans and not Miami type fans who throw rocks at the ND team buses. What an opportunity missed by ND. I’de rather play a big time SEC school and risk losing (or winning) than a second tier school and lose!
Whiskeyjack said:
April 14th, 2011 at 11:01 am
I hope Savvy Jack is working on getting TCU scheduled ASAP.
If we must please Big East football teams, we should be testing ourselves against the best that pathetic conference has to offer.
We need increased exposure in Texas anyway.
April 14th, 2011 at 11:26 am
Sully,
Probably a missed opportunity, but we don’t know what went on behind the scenes. We’re also playing Texas in the two years prior to the start of that OSU-UGA series as well, so it’s not like we’re completely missing out. There’s still plenty of time to add someone in 2020 and beyond, but Georgia could have been a nice one.
Whiskeyjack,
TCU would be a good idea. I’ve always liked Syracuse if we’re going to play Big East teams. West Virginia also rarely comes up when talking about teams from that conference.
Miller said:
April 14th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Notre Dame has a nice tradition with Tennessee…I would like to see a home and home series with them. I would also like to see ND get Wisky and Iowa back on the schedule every so often. And, it wouldn’t hurt to play IU again…maybe in place of the every other year filling Purdue’s slot.
todd maloney said:
April 14th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
From the Big East why not Cincinnati, West Virginia?? WVU is hands down the most exciting team in the Big East and Cincinnati is a no brainer with ole BK coming from there.
Why not get an SEC team up here? ND used to play Tennessee which was great. How about Florida, Georgia, BAMA?? I’ve got a feeling those SEC teams don’t like to play a difficult non-conference schedule but I’m sure they would jump at the chance to take on the Fighting Irish…
I think it is great Texas and Oklahoma are on the schedule coming up. Why not get Nebraska involved now that they are involved in the Big Ten?
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Eric,
i could see Michigan becoming a Florida and close to a Ohio State, playing only schools within the state – the directionals, Eastern, Central, Western. Just too hard a sell for them for a premier or prime time game. This year they play Western, Eastern, San Diego St, and ND.
I like the Pitt rivalry, too. Would you trade Stanford for TCU (combining with an annual U. of Texas game), so that we play every other year in Texas instead of California?
We had only four traditional rival games in 1995 – USC, Navy, Purdue and BC. But I agree that it is easier to work with 6-8 traditional annual games.
I like the NW contract, filling a Nov slot, similar goals for the universities, probably Soldier Field for the away game, a nice short drive from S.B., easy to fly into and a great fanbase there for the Irish. Stanford’s first weekend in October slot should be easy to fill if they do not want to move it to later in the year for more balance to our schedule.
BTW, ever hear of the shillelagh given to the winner of the game?
http://hailtopurple.com/features/trophyhistory.html
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Patrick,
I don’ think either Ohio State or Wisconsin wants to play us regularly, but would prefer to beat up small fry. Neither wants to play a non-conference game outside of Sept. Both have huge stadiums, which would be an attraction. I imagine this fails because we can’t meet their demands and they don’t want to extend themselves. They would prefer that Michigan have to go through the ringer yearly prior to conference games.
Three B10 games a year is enough, and I would like to move one of them to later in the year. Thanks for the comment.
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Sully,
Hmmm, I wouldn’t have minded playing Georgia at all. Better than Georgia Tech, in my mind. Maybe it’s a case of the devil being in the details. I respect Georgia for yearly playing a tougher OOC schedule than most in the SEC and taking on opponents nationally.
Too bad more SEC don’t do that. Thanks for the addition.
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Miller,
NDNation had some posts recently on the best opponents’ fans at away games. Tenn fans were mentioned a number of times. I also like Tenn for future games – big stadium, great fans, tradition, respect for the Irish.
As for renewing with Wisc, only three games (in the early sixties) since WWII. We have played Iowa more, but last time was 1968 when Ed Podolak and Dennis Green played there. I’d like to see B10 teams open up to play OOC games in October or November. Think that will happen? Nice thought about alternating Purdue with Indiana.
Thanks for the comment.
Michael Collins said:
April 14th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Jim,
I agree totally with everything you said. I’d like to see more of Wake Forest and applaud JS for opening up the Carolinas and Philly/S.Jersey/MD/DC with games in Philadelphia. Should Temple go to the Big East, he is ahead of the curve.
A few more games in Florida/Georgia would be a great addition. I’d also like to see a home and home series with Oregon.
Thanks always for your comments.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:18 am
So that’s three shillelagh trophies we have with rivalry games?
I would switch Stanford for TCU in a nanosecond.
We’ll never get Wisconsin on our schedule, which is a shame given our good friend Barry Alvarez is running the show in Madison. I just checked and they have a series coming up in 2016 I believe with Virginia Tech, which for them is a bold statement. They will schedule one decent program OOC (Arizona State, Oregon State, etc.), but they never take on any legitimate top 15 teams. They’ve consistently one of the weakest schedules in CFB for a decade-plus.
Look for the Badgers to add another tough team to their schedule sometime around 2032.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:20 am
It looks like we play NW at Ryan Field, cap 47,130. I wonder if JS got NW to agree to a non-Sept game? From Keith Arnold, MSNBC: “If you’re looking for reasons this deal got done, consider that Phillips, now heading Northwestern’s athletic department, was a chief lieutenant in the Notre Dame athletic department from 2000-2004. Also consider that head coaches Brian Kelly and Pat Fitzgerald are friendly and both involved in coaching association endeavors, and Kelly also participates in the annual Randy Walker golf tournament, in honor of the late Northwestern head coach.”
Scheduling Notre Dame, Part 2: Factors In Scheduling the Irish | One Foot Down said:
April 19th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
[...] Scheduling Notre Dame: Who The Irish Play (Part 1) [...]