The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam Friday, September 5, 2014 -- 7 Once again, 'M' and ND bid farewell (or not By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA Managing Sports Editor Depending on which side you're approaching it from, Notre. Dame's decision to suspend its football rivalry with Michigan is either an unfortunate necessity of conference realignment, or, as coach Brady Hoke has suggested, a deliberate move by the Irish to make their schedule alittle easier. "They're still going to play Michigan State, they'll play Purdue, they don't want to play Mithigan," Hoke told attendees of the West Michigan Sports Commission in Grand Rapids last May. No matter how you feel about the drama, remember two things: Michigan and Notre Dame have almost always been at odds, and this isn't the first time the rivalry, has been put on hold. Thoughonthe other occasions, it was Michigan's fault. Leaders and Learners In 1887, per Notre Dame's request, Michigan traveled to South Bend for a joint training. session to teach the Irish football. Not surprising given the circumstances, Michigan won the next day's game, 8-0, an amicable beginning to what would become a bitter rivalry. "The Michigan boys, the champions of the West, came more to instruct them in the points of the Rugby game than to . win fresh laurels," wrote Scholastic, Notre Dame's student newspaper. "This occasion has started an enthusiastic football boom, and it is hoped that coming years will witness a series of these contests." As the Wolverines departed SouthBend, Scholasticcontinued, Rev. President Matthew Walsh thanked them and assured future teams of a "cordial reception" on their campus. This weekend, you might have s hard time findingthat. The Wolverines won the first -eight games of the series, conceding just 10 points total in that span, and the programs met sporadically until the Irish claimed their first victory over Michigan in 1909. Michigan and Notre Dame have intertwined stories, beginning with the Wolverines teaching the Irish football in 1887. The Daily dives into the history books. Then, they didn't play again. until 1942. What happened? An untimely cancellation The day of Michigan's game at Notre Dame in 2012, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbick delivered a note to Dave Brandon. Not thinking much of it, Brandon waited until after the contest to read it. Because the envelope had been received before kickoff, that night's Irish win counted as one of the required three games notice, meaning the series could end in 2014 rather than 2015. But last-minute cancellations are nothing new. In fact, Michigan did it first, and with much less warning. The Wolverines were scheduled to host Notre Dame in 1910, but Michigan coach Fielding H. Yost argued that two Irish players had exceeded their eligibility. The team from South Bend, though, said otherwise and planned to dress the athletes in question. So the day before the game, Michigan called it off. . "It is understood here that this ends all athletic relations between Michigan and Notre Dame," The New York Times. reported on Nov. 5, 1910. Some of the animosity stemmed from Yost's disdain for Catholics. By the mid-1920s, he spearheaded a campaign to bar Notre Dame from joining the Big Ten or playing conference opponents. The Wolverines didn't meet their nearby rivals again until 1942, after Yost had left his position as Athletic Director. Blip in the radar: Two meetings during World War II In 1942 and 1943, Michigan and Notre Dame met in a home- and-home series, with each team winning on the road. But relations between coaches Fritz Crisler and the Irish's Frank Leahy were strained. When Notre Dame invited Crisler to its postseason banquet in 1942, the Michigan coach replied expressing his "deep disappointment" in having to decline, according to John Kryk's book, Natural Enemies. Later, Crisler told an alumnus that, "I have my tongue in my cheek when I say that." After the 1943 meeting, Notre Dame sought to schedule more meetings with the Wolverines. Crisler revealed Michigan's position in December, telling the Associated Press that "we'd better wait until we know more about what footballwill be like in the next few years." As Kryk's book details, Crisler also believed that the Wolverines' affiliation with the Big Ten complicated efforts to schedule Notre Dame, and the coach regularly dismissed Leahy's requests for future meetings. In 1946, Michigan even went as far as creating an official policy mandating that. their three non-conference games be against a team from the East, one from the West and Michigan State - which at the time was independent - effectively eliminating the Irish from schedule consideration. The series went on hiatus again until 1978. A man, a plan, Canham: The modern era Hired in 1968, at a time when Michigan Stadium averaged fewer than 70,000 fans, former Athletic Director Don Canham is the reason Michigan has had at least 100,000 people crammed into the Big House in every game since Nov. 8, 1975. He's known for slapping the block 'M' on anything that would sell in order to promote Michigan's brand, but he also recognized the value of big-name opponents and rivalries. Notre Dame Athletic Director Moose Krause approached Canham at a banquet before the 1969 season and suggested their football teams play again. Canham quickly agreed with a handshake, and the series resumed in 1978. The following year, Michigan hosted the Irish for the first time in more than three decades. And on that afternoon, 105,111 fans packed the Big House. The teams have played regularly since. This isthe future There's a reason the Wolverines and Nbtre Dame have met just 41 times since the rivalry's humble roots in 1887. The majority of the blame falls on Michigan, which - for legitimate reasons or not - has found excuses to avoid scheduling the program from South Bend. Last September, Irish coach Brian Kelly stirred up controversy by arguing that the series isn't a "historic, traditional" rivalry. At least in some ways, he's right. Unlike Michigan-Ohio State or Notre Dame-USC, this one has almost always been expendable, Because of Notre Dame's new obligation to play five ACC programs every year, the Irish had to make some cuts. The rivalries with- Big Ten adversaries Michigan State (77 total meetings) and Purdue (85) survived. The one with Michigan did not. But in other ways, Kelly's comments downplayed the importance of the series. Michigan and Notre Dame are just three hours apart by car. They possess storied, intertwined histories (the birth of the Irish football program, its status as an FBS independent, the fierce debate surroundingthe 1947 championship). The game has served as a barometer, an early test to determine which program deserves the most respect in the Midwest. After all, Notre Dame and Michigan boast 1,786 combined wins and are No. 1 and No. 2 in all-time winning percentage. That margin is so close the Wolverines can surpass the Irish with a victory Saturday, a fitting bookend to the series as it once again enters a hiatus. For a rivalry with so much history, it has been mired by controversy, and abandoned time and again for petty and political reasons. But Saturday, just like that day 127 years ago, the Wolverines will travel to South Bend and there will be football. The series' three best games Who gets the last laugh? By GREG GARNO Managing Sports Editor The Daily has been covering the rivalry since 1920, and we broke downthethreebestgames in the storied history. No. 3: Notre Dame 29 - Michigan 27 (1980) The Daily dubbed it a "seesaw battle" in which the Fighting Irish's Harry Oliver nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired. Oliver, who called the kick "by far the greatest moment of my life," finished a drive that began with just 41 seconds to go in the game. Michigan, though, had mounted a comeback after it fell down 14-0 early in the first half. It fought back to score 21 unanswered points thanks to two touchdown passes from John Wangler. He threw his third late in the fourth quarter to Craig Dunaway to give the Wolverines the lead for a fleeting moment. Former coach Bo Schembechler said then: "It was a great Michigan effort. We have nothing to be ashamed of." The Daily's Stan Bradbury called it, "Heartache, plain and simple." Notre Dame and Michigan both lost two games that season, but the Wolverines won the Rose Bowl that year over Washington. No. 2: Michigan 26 - Notre Dame 24(1994) The Wolverines exacted revenge after the 1980 heartbreaking loss by delivering one of their own. Michigan quarterback Todd Collins mounted a drive with 46 seconds to go on the 17-yard line, marching down the field, escaping what seemed to be an imminent sack to set up Remy Hamilton's 42-yard field goal with seven seconds to go. H "C di. FILE PHOTO/Daily Michigan and Notre Dame have regularly been among the country's best Hamilton kicked three field goals before that, connecting on his longest for the game winner. Until then, Hamilton had made one field goal in his entire career. Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz called a timeout as the play clock wound down in an attempt to ice Hamilton, but the added time gave him a chance toset up. "(Notre Dame) did us a favor," Hamilton said after the game. "Thanks, Lou." Wolverine fans swarmed the field and stormed down South University in celebration. "I'm sure I won't appreciate this until I'm older," Hamilton said. Collins, meanwhile, passed for 224 yards while tailback Tshimanga Biakabutuka (an all-time great name) rushed for 100 yards. Collins shined in a game overshadowed by star quarterback Ron Pawlus. Michael Rosenburg, now with Sports Illustrated, wrote then: "I'm telling you it's perfect. Another chapter in the folklore." No. 1: Michigan 35 - Notre Dame 31(2011) Games like this are tough to script. The kind that are hyped up so much and live up to it. In the program's first-ever night game, Michigan completed one of its best finishes. Trailing 24-7, the Wolverines scored 21 unanswered points behind quarterback Denard Robinson. Even the Fighting Irish's touchdown with 30 seconds left to retake the lead wasn't enough. Robinson erased three quarters of ugly football when he found Jeremy Gallon alone on the sideline before connecting with Roy Roundtree in the end zone with two seconds remaining. The Daily's Tim Rohan, now with the New York Times, said of the game in his column: "The crowd was roaring, woken up from its slumber by a team that needed waking itself. Every maize pom-pom beat the air in unison. The event - the first night game ever, the largest crowd ever, the anticipation building because it seemed everyone who had ever called Ann Arbor home was back in town this weekend - felt larger than life. Under the lights. "And the game was outshining the event." It I Michi Dave letter Notre was o of it with Wolv No final is Satur game South will last betwe progr the fo future The contr' since letter. Hoke "chic optin; Notre coach Kelly the "regio before game playec a sl with Hoke oke called Irish of a home-and-home series between Notre Dame and :hicken;" Kelly Ohio State in 2022 and 2023. The Fighting Irish said they smissedrivary didn't have room for the series with Michigan, and the By MAX COHEN announcement indicates that Daily Sports Editor they may view the Wolverines' chief rival as a better program has been two years since despite Michigan winning four igan Athletic Director of the last five games against Brandon was handedthe Notre Dame. that said But this week, both coaches Dame Michigan a have noticeably avoided pting out creating more drama. s series Notre Dame Kelly was careful with his the Matchup: words at his weekly press erines. Michigan conference Monday to prevent w, the 1-0; Notre adding any additional fuel to meeting Dame 1-0 the fire. He was asked if the here. When: end of the rivalry would be a day's Saturday good thing for college football in 7:30 P.M. because of the opportunities Bend Where: Notre both teams will be able to be the Dame Stadium pursue in its place. The coach meeting TV: NBC jumped around the question but en the still wanted reassurance that he ams for did well in his response. reseeable "How did I do with that? e, ending a historic rivalry. Pretty good?" Kelly asked. ere has been no shortage of Hoke has been more coy than oversy and bold statements usual this week, particularly Brandon received the in regard to his own team. He . Michigan coach Brady hasn't commented on injuries called the Fighting Irish since Monday and refused to kens" for reveal which g out and offensive Dame linemen Brian "They pipe in will play. deemed The status rivalry their own music. of freshman onal" cornerback e the ... It's right in Jabrill was bPeppers d in 2013, backof us. and senior entiment linebacker which Desmond and Morgan, both At center, redshirt junior Graham Glasgow has fulfilled his one-game suspension, meaning he could possibly replace redshirt junior Jack Miller at the position. Fifth- year senior Joey Burzynski started at right guard against Appalachian State but was replaced by redshirt sophomore Kyle Kalis in the first half. Hoke has given no indication about which players have been earning the reps in practice or who will play Saturday. Hoke has acknowledged that crowd noise will be a factor on the road. He has taken to playing the Notre Dame fight song in front of his players all week so it won't faze them. He predicted Wednesday that the preparation of his players will help them overcome the road environment despite the difficulties it presents. "The intensity in the stress that we can continue to put on our players so that when you do go to a great venue and play a game, a place where it's going to be loud - they pipe in their own music, as we all know," Hoke said. "It's right in back of us." On the field, Notre Dame presents its own problems. Quarterback Everett Golson looked sharp in his return last week after missing the 2013 season because of academic dishonesty. He threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns in addition to rushing for three more in Notre Dame's 48-17 drubbing of Rice. Michigan's pass defense shut down Appalachian State, but Golson presents a far greater challenge, as does the entire Fighting Irish team. Michigan lost the last time it played in South Bend, when Brandon was handed the letter that ended the rivalry. Saturday is the Wolverines' chance to get the last word. many fans disagreed. Just last week, Michigan senior defensive end Frank Clark said the conclusion of the rivalry felt like "a slap in the face." Another perceived slap in the face to the Wolverines came with Thursday's announcement potential difference-makers, is uncertain. The offensive line also comes into the game with numerous questions. Hoke has maintained that he has a plan for the unit all week, but he hasn't divulged what exactly it is.