Please, please keep OU on the schedule Dr. White. And more importantly, crush Michigan's national championship hopes every year for the next two and half decades.
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 11:27 am | #

One interesting thing: the idea of another Oklahoma series has been floating around since 1999. Per the Tulsa paper, linked above:

Castiglione said in 2004 that when he got to OU, he came across a letter of agreement, signed by both schools, that laid out discussions for a future home-and-home series...

White was hired in 2000, but the schools have been trying to strike a deal since before Castiglione was hired at OU in 1998 – the year prior to the teams' last meeting in 1999.

Castiglione said in a 2004 interview that he had been working hard to add the Fighting Irish to OU's growing list of non-conference challenges.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 11:37 am | #

Also in 2031: Those four idiots in that picture will still think those outfits are cool. God, I hate Michigan.
Bullfrog | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 11:44 am | #

If Dr. White has had a change of heart, this is probably a smart move. You have Michigan/USC as your marquee home/away game every year. Now he has to find one (or hopefully two) more game(s) to fill up the marquee portion of the schedule.
PJC | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 11:53 am | #

Oklahoma, Michigan, and USC all for two years would be super awesome.

Not that it will stop Ohio State fans from going on and on about our soft schedule, but it will make for some great viewing (in front of the tv sadly).
obediah | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 12:00 pm | #

I'd always thought the 7-4-1 thing was more about money than it was about making the schedule easier. And I guess this is confirmation of that, in some respects.

(Of course, as Jay and the boys have pointed out, the 7-4-1 format, regardless of intention, will have the effect of dumbing down the schedule a bit, because there's a limit to good teams that will play anything but a home-and-home)

So, good for Kevin White. A solid move. But can we agree to stop calling him DOCTOR White?
Hal | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 12:01 pm | #

well Bullfrog, I'd rather have some "idiots" like those guys in attendance then some silent old rich alumni that sit on their butts the whole game.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 12:16 pm | #

I'll be 58. Holy crap. Please, God, let me be watching that game with my daughter the ND alumna, and not the UM alumna. Which, if true, will mean I'm watching it from a cardboard box b/c of the $1 million in tuition that I will have paid.
IndyTom | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 12:45 pm | #

Hal - where have you been? Kevin White doesn't make solid moves. He's ending the Michi ...er, well, we'll get back to that. And, he's filling up our schedule with softies, like Okl... er, hmmmm.

Let's see now. That two year series .. aha!!! It hasn't been signed! The nets will go first block with that tonight, followed by a package on The Bad Doctor's okaying of the boiling in oil of tens of thousands of children in Africa.
Hold on, I'm not coherent.

Back to the Latin, ladies : Mea culpa, mea culpa.


Go Irish
Bill H. | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:15 pm | #

From:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.../707310364/ 1131

"Also, the attempt to tweak the schedule to avoid playing Notre Dame and Ohio State on the road in the same season was, the official said, too complicated to get done because there were so many scheduling issues."

Looks like UM is willing to stick with the current format.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:21 pm | #

This brings up an important question for me....

Where the **** is my flying car? TV promised me the flying car by the year 2000, and I currently drive a Saturn. Absolute bulls***. We need to get on this people. At the very least, there will be a whole lot more parking room at the stadium.



Also, by 2031 I fully expect...

- for ND to be competing for its 28th National Title under half-man, half-machine coaching legend RoboWeis3000

- for Nicholas Montana to have thrown for 9,000 yards his senior year at ND

- for people to be still complaining about ND's easy opening schedule of FSU, UM, @Tenn, @LSU, USC, @OSU, @UF

- for Mark May to have long since been torn apart by rabid wombats

- for brand new articles in ESPN proclaiming that Notre Dame can't compete anymore because of academic constraints

- for Urban Meyer to have undergone his 9th chin-implantation surgery

- and for rumors to begin circulating about the impending retirement of 110 year old JoePa.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:27 pm | #

Lads it’s called negotiation and posturing.

My hat’s off to Dr. White. Will wait and see if I bow.

Depends on when we play these guys and how it falls out.

Hope we got something out of the deal.

BTW, 2031, you will have to cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame without me, though hopefully I will be asking our Lady to intervene where appropriate.

Go IRISH. Beat the Sooners and the Skunks.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:39 pm | #

Great if we play both. I still think UMs problem will resolve itself. My guess is that when tOSU rotates off of their schedule in a couple of years, it will come back on in a way that UM is playing one at home and one on the road. That is the simplest fix.

OU can fit because we won't have brought on all the Big East games by then. I also think that is aspirational not a contractual requirement. I don't think we can miss it regularly without affecting the relationship, but for two years, nobody will say anything.
Andy T | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:43 pm | #

Anon, you've clearly never been sitting in the last row before the Michigan section for one of these games.
Bullfrog | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:45 pm | #

Andy:

There is no 'rotating off the schedule' for OSU-UM. OSU-UM is a more permanent game on the schedule than ND-USC. There would be riots if they dropped the series for even 1 year. Trust me, I live in Michigan, there would be fires and peasants with pitchforks.
PAK'00 | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:54 pm | #

PAK is right. I was just about to say, while there is rotation in the Big Whatever, serious rivalries never skip.


Also, Subway Alumni,

The nice thing about cheering for Notre Dame is the thought that someday I will die, and due to my team affiliation, I will just wind up getting better seats. I'm betting God has a crazy Plasma set up, and free Irish whiskey, the only drink good enough to get into heaven.

And just think.....NO TICKET LOTTERIES!
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 1:59 pm | #

P.S. Michigan and Ohio State fans are forced to watch their teams lose every game from a lake of fire for eternity. True story.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:00 pm | #

Who won the scheduling issue: ND or Mich.?
As I understood the issue, Mich was insisting that the ND game be prior to the commencement of the Big 10 schedule whereas ND wanted the game later in the year.
Does the new contract resolve this issue or not?
Peace
J.
jjjudge | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:10 pm | #

I would rather have it early in the year, that way Michigan season is over before it begins when we beat them.
anon | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:18 pm | #

When you see that ND will play Michigan until 2031, this is a perfect reason to not get too wrapped up in the future schedules. A lot can change in the next 24 years.

I'm all for interesting match-ups but you never know what is going to happen to a once mighty program.
The Butobi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:28 pm | #

I've never understood why Michigan was so insistent on having it early in the year. In my view, it inconveniences them just as much as it does us.

While I understand that they don't want to have to finish out the year with MSU, ND, and OSU, who says it needs to be that late?

Michigan could easily play its normal patsies of Eastern Michigan Tech A&M Northbynortheast State and Bowling Young State. Then, normally they play somebody like Oregon or someone, then play Indiana and THEN Notre Dame. This would pace their (and our) schedules out a bit so they weren't so front heavy, and they'd still have lots of time to beat up on the Big11 also-rans like Northwestern and Illinois before they have to gear up for OSU. It just seems a little easier for everyone.

Then again, I've also kind of enjoyed the early season big game. While its tough on coaches, it gives teams time to recover and grow in case they lose, and gives fans some early season action when every else (cough cough Nebraska cough Florida cough USC cough EVERYONE) is playing D3 nobodies.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:32 pm | #

I really, really hate Michigan and their fans.
Skunkbear Hunter | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:44 pm | #

Brad, I wouldn't include USC in that group, within the past 5 years or so they have had a damn good early season non-conference schedule. Last season their non-conference foes (besides ND every season)were Arkansas and Nebraska,. The season before that it was Hawaii, Arkansas, and Fresno State. In '04 it was VT, Colorado State, and BYU. In 03 they played Auburn, BYU, and Hawaii. And to top it off in '02 They played #22 Auburn, #14 Colorado, and #6 Kansas State. USC scheduling is unbelievable especially with the Pac-10 being a conference that has maybe 1 true bottom-dweller in Stanford. Every team in that conference can beat one another on any given day...although I hate to defend the spoiled children I have to give credit where credit is due.
Behnke | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:50 pm | #

Touche, Behnke, touche.


Though I will take issue with you on one thing. The only reason any team in the Pac10 can beat any other on any given day is because they all collectively suck. USC is good, Cal has gotten pretty good, but nobody else is anything special. Oregon has a good year here and there, and UCLA does too. But Arizona, Arizone St., Oregon St., Washington St., and Washington all suck pretty bad.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 2:57 pm | #

I'm so shocked Michigan agreed to this. They're actually putting their winning record against us in jeopardy. Who's got the over/under on how many years it'll take for us to (1) tie up the series and (2) to take the series lead forever?
DJA2 | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 3:02 pm | #

So is it no longer cool to trash Kevin White?
H8er | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 4:00 pm | #

And everyone is happy again...
Chris | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 4:30 pm | #

I wouldn't say that White has totally redeemed himself. About the only thing he's done is not caved to UM on the scheduling issue -- which is nice, because his negotiations in the last few years would make you worry -- but it's basically a minimum standard of competence.

We're still waiting on at least one more "name" opponent for the '12-ish range, and preferably two.
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 4:54 pm | #

Somebody take the Internet away from john carroll, I'm not quite sure he's ready for it yet.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 5:05 pm | #

Maybe I wasn't clear in the post, but extending the Michigan deal, by itself, doesn't negate any scheduling concerns that have been expressed in previous BGS posts.

The main issue -- fewer home and homes with interesting teams, as a result of the BE commitment, the neutral site configuration, and especially the 7-4-1 scheduling model -- is, unfortunately, still a concern.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 5:12 pm | #

The upside to john carroll's visits today is that its keeping me entertained on a very slow afternoon at work.
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 8:07 pm | #

yes, USC does schedule some tough opponents, like Idaho. that one is going to be killer, hopefully they are still #1 when we face them.
yak | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 8:13 pm | #

USC is 17-2 against the top ten under Carroll. I hate them as much as the next Irish fan, but you have to respect that they go and play the SEC (Auburn, Arkansas), they play Notre Dame, They play Nebraska, they played Kansas St. when they were still good (and lost), and they played Virgina Tech, the ACC winner/contender the last few years. They also dominate their bowl games, be it against Iowa, Oklahoma, or Michigan. When they lost to Texas, it was at the end of the game by three points. I must go puke now.
Jake | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 9:11 pm | #

Where's Irish Rat?

Go Irish
Bill H. | Email | Homepage | 07.31.07 - 11:27 pm | #

Irish is in urz Big House eatin ur cheezez til 2031 k bai.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 2:56 am | #

In all seriousness, I'm not happy about this. While I'm glad that K-dub is locking up a quality opponent, but I was kind of looking forward to parting ways with the Wolverines. This is not a friendly, enjoyable rivalry--it's disgust and hate from both sides. I was kind of proud that we were saying "F michigan" and scheduling Oklahoma in their stead--this just reinforces their misguided notions of "Notre Dame needs us".
Nate | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 3:38 am | #

Just to be clear, the h-h rotation with Michigan will stay as-is, and Oklahoma remains on the schedule for 2012-13, per someone in the athletic department.
El Kabong | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 8:19 am | #

El Kabong's post about Oklahoma staying on the 2012/13 slate is very encouraging. I am also unconcerned that Michigan could be like Stanford or something by 2031. Michigan has shown remarkable consistency over at least the last 40 years.

Now the question is, how about every year other than 2012/13? Can we count on at least a third program like Oklahoma being on the schedule? Relatedly, does anyone know whether we were under any obligation to schedule this as part of a 2-1 with the 1999 game, or was the 1999 game purely a one-off?
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 8:39 am | #

There is good and bad in this announcement. The only good thing I can see is that now there is a small hope White may try to schedule 3 'marquee' teams each year, whereas I had thought he was only striving for 2 heavyweights. This is very good news IF true.

Onto the bad - (and yes I think we should applaud White when good things occur, but I just don't see this as being at the good level). First, I don't understand why we lock up 25 years of our schedule to a team who has stiffed us in the past. Who knows what they will do/say/brag about in the future so why 25 years? It seems kind of lazy to me. Why not 10 years and see how things are going? Is it that difficult to add another 10?

Second, if we want to expand and build on our national presence, why not schedule other heavyweights? I realize this would actually force our AD to do some sort of work, but it can't be that difficult. I have no problem with UM, but why not play them 8/10 or 6/10 years and have a h-h with another heavyweight or two. We always play UM early in the season and other teams should have no problem scheduling us in. I really think this would be easy.

Third and finally, in light of the 8-4 talk and 3 Big East teams, it seems as if White is boxing us into a corner with these deals/contracts. The beauty of ND's past schedules is having flexibility to play who we want, and I think White is creating a brainless, set-in-stone schedule that is giving us virtually no wiggle room to jump at the opportunity of great future games. Again, the wonderful part of being an Independent should center around being flexible, and I think we're losing our upperhand.

Just my opinion, I can't help not being excited by this news.
Treyu | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 9:46 am | #

I agree, Jay, all scheduling fears aren't assuaged, but this does completely knock out the "disaster scenario" in which Arizona State might have been our only "marquee" (if you can even call it that!) home game when we would've played USC and OU away the same year.

I also think the Big East will have a minor upswing soon...West Va, Pitt, Louisville....Rutgers if that wasn't a fluke...could all end up being interesting games.
Tommy O | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 11:58 am | #

Michigan (23-of-the-next-25-years) has become a "perpetual" game. USC and Navy are eternal. Anyway, I hate to say it, but no team has been so successful (W-Ls) since 1969 as UM, leading to...

We now have the most historical Midwest power as well as the 'Heathens of the West' on our schedule .. forever. But as someone noted previously, it's tough to gauge a team in the future. During our '93 season, our student body had little perspective on, and less respect for, USC (other than their being a team we owned since they were 7 years old).


If we could only sked a couple of games in the East, and perhaps barnstorm the South (say, a couple of games in the Gator state) the UM quarter century deal will combine with Wazzu in Texas as pretty much the most Rockne-like innovation to scheduling that any of us has ever seen.

Yes, you read it here first, the university contracted with me to devise these brainstorms. I wish. However, hats off to whoever did have the foresight and genius to pull this stuff off.

Last point. On a 7-4-1 (let's call it 8-4) sked, we may be in big trouble with getting quality opponents at some time down the line. Had we a marquee name and the potential to offer opponents some type of exposure, we'd have less worries. Also, if a system existed whereby who-you-play carried any weight, we'd have little to worry about.

It's August 1st. Somebody please give the countdown to kickoff; enough of this other stuff.

Go Irish
Bill H. | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 12:42 pm | #

Nice write-up. The BGS blog has consistently been the best read on ND football for some time now and I just wanted to point that out. The ND message boards have a tendency to be insufferable at times and it is really refreshing to come here and not have your intelligence insulted while at the same get great ND updates.
Brian ND'86 | Email | Homepage | 08.01.07 - 12:49 pm | #