Tag: Notre Dame Stadium

History of Notre Dame’s rivalry with Navy

This rivalry is filled more history than nearly any other rivalry in college football.

Few rivalries in college football have as much history and prestige as Notre Dame-Navy.

Except for the COVID-19-affected season, these programs have played each other every year since 1927. Even with the college football landscape seemingly always in flux, there’s no reason to think this rivalry will stop anytime soon. Most fans on both sides are fine with that, even if the Irish have won the vast majority of the meetings.

If for no other reason, Notre Dame owes it to Navy to keep the rivalry going. When Notre Dame faced financial difficulties during World War II, the Navy opted to use the university as a training ground for its V-12 program. The money the Navy paid for that usage kept the university from going under, so Notre Dame feel it’s forever in its debt.

The result is many memorable moments over the years. Here are some of them:

Notre Dame-Miami game scheduled for 2024 pushed to 2026

Apologies to those who love to recall Catholics vs. Convicts.

Those who followed Notre Dame in the late 1980s remember the games against Miami all too well, particularly Catholics vs. Convicts. However, the programs haven’t met since the Hurricanes crushed the Irish, 41-8, in 2017. The good news is the rivalry finally will be renewed later this decade. The bad news is it now will take a year later than originally scheduled as reported by the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson:

This is perfectly understandable from the Hurricanes’ perspective. They aren’t going to drop any games against in-state rivals, and they sure won’t give up a home against Ball State just so they can go to South Bend. You don’t want to put yourself at any kind of scheduling disadvantage.

As for the Irish, they now need to find another home opponent for 2024. The remaining ones from the ACC are Louisville, Florida State and Virginia, and the Irish also play Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Pittsburgh and Wake Forest come to Notre Dame Stadium this upcoming season, so you can cross them off the list. 2025 will bring visits from NC State and Syracuse.

Maybe Boston College fills the spot since the Irish already are scheduled to travel to them in 2025? Or another Power Five school that has a 2024 opening? Perhaps a Group of Five school that’s never been to South Bend will get its chance? The speculation will run wild until a new opponent can be determined.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Woodward Sports Network: ‘Nobody should schedule Notre Dame’

Nope. Not happening.

With college football being thrown completely out of whack, attention has turned to Notre Dame once again. All indications are that despite the calls of many outside the Irish fan base, their independence isn’t ending anytime soon. The program will not be intimidated by such pressure.

But that’s not stopping outlets such as the Detroit-based Woodward Sports Network from telling would-be opponents to force Notre Dame’s hand. Check out this clip from a show with a panel that includes Braylon Edwards, who faced the Irish three times while with Michigan:

Please. Any athletic director with a brain would be foolish not to agree to play the Irish regardless of the state of their own program. The exposure and grandeur is too hard to resist, and lesser opponents gladly will take the money they’re paid to come to Notre Dame Stadium because being there is not an opportunity that comes along every year.

These programs are shifting conferences because of money. Nobody is going to take a financial hit just so it can get Notre Dame to persuade itself to join a conference. If anything, teams will do whatever it takes to get a piece of the pie in South Bend because it benefits everybody to some degree. Those who think otherwise should find a different line of work so they aren’t detrimental to their school.

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Notre Dame-Ohio State all-time series history

Would you like to see Notre Dame and Ohio State played more regularly?

According to Google Maps, it’s a 270.8-mile drive from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend to Ohio Stadium in Columbus. A drive that takes four hours and 19 minutes, which isn’t just down the street but it is nothing when it comes to a road trip for a college football team or its fans.

Especially when you consider those two college football squads are among the most historic in the game and have two of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports, not just college football.

But Notre Dame and Ohio State have met on the football field just seven times. Of those seven, two have been played at Notre Dame Stadium, three have been played at Ohio Stadium and two have taken place in the Fiesta Bowl.

Unless you live under a rock, you’re aware Notre Dame opened the 2022 season at Ohio State and the Buckeyes make the return trip to South Bend late this September.

Before this underplayed series resumes late this fall, here is a look back at the brief history Notre Dame and Ohio State have shared on the football field.

Podcast host: Any fan selling Ohio State tickets ‘an absolute loser’

Do you agree with this?

Notre Dame will host Ohio State on Sept. 23 in one of the most anticipated games of the 2023 season. It will only be the Buckeyes’ third trip to Notre Dame Stadium with the only previous ones coming in 1936 and 1996.

With the Buckeyes only playing in South Bend once every one or two generations, plenty of Buckeyes fans will take advantage of the opportunity to see it. But “Golden Homers” podcast host and former Blue and Gold writer Mason Plummer doesn’t take kindly to Irish fans actively aiding fans of “THE” Ohio State University:

While the “loser” label might be a little harsh, Plummer does have a point. The Buckeyes will be in the national championship conversation once again, and the last thing the Irish need is their own fans enabling the possibility of the game sounding like it’s being played in Columbus. If you must sell your tickets to that game, be careful with who you’re selling them to.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Watch: 2004 highlights of Notre Dame win over Stanford

Were you at this game?

2004 was a so-so year for Notre Dame, ultimately finishing 6-6. One game came one week after losing to No. 15 Purdue as Stanford came to Notre Dame Stadium. It looked like the 3-2 Irish might drop to .500 sooner as they trailed the Cardinal, 15-10, going into the fourth quarter. But two touchdowns and one incomplete Hail Mary at the end later, the home fans could be content with a 23-15 Irish victory:

[autotag]Ryan Grant[/autotag] scored the go-ahead touchdown, his second of the game, early in the fourth quarter. [autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag] threw for 173 yards and ran for the Irish’s other fourth-quarter touchdown. Quinn did not have any touchdown passes, and neither did Cardinal quarterback Trent Edwards despite throwing for 267 yards.

By all accounts, this was far from the prettiest game in this rivalry, and most fans probably have forgotten about it. But this still was a bright spot at a time when [autotag]Tyrone Willingham[/autotag] was fighting for his job, which he ultimately lost. At least he was victorious on this afternoon.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Top 10 musical artists that need to perform at Notre Dame Stadium

Who do you want to see play in South Bend?

According to the website setlist.fm, Johnny Cash was the first artist to play at Notre Dame Stadium in 1977. That would be the last musical performance at the stadium until Chicago played at halftime of the Irish’s 2017 game against USC. Since then, Chicago has come back for one other game, and Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have played there twice apiece. Weezer appeared there for the 2019 Winter Classic, and Billy Joel played a full show there in 2022.

Other than that, Notre Dame Stadium has a very paltry history when it comes to hosting big musical acts. I don’t know or care what’s behind that. I just want to see Notre Dame Stadium become a hot spot for concerts like most other stadiums around the world are when they don’t have games to host. Plus, such things only can be a boost to South Bend’s economy, and those shouldn’t have to happen only during football season.

Here are 10 artists I believe need to add Notre Dame Stadium to their next tour:

Watch: ‘SportsCenter’ highlight of Notre Dame’s 2000 season opener

Remember this game?

After losing its final four games of 1999, Notre Dame needed to get off to a good start for the 2000 season. Opening against No. 25 Texas A&M was no easy task, even if it was at home. Fortunately, new athletic director [autotag]Kevin White[/autotag] got off to a good football start for his tenure as the Irish upset the Aggies, 25-10. Now, you can see the “SportsCenter” highlight from the game that vaulted the Irish to the rankings and kept them there for the rest of the season:

[autotag]Arnaz Battle[/autotag] made his first collegiate start at quarterback during a hot afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium. He threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns. However, he never got to build on that as he broke his wrist on the first play the next week against top-ranked Nebraska and never played quarterback again. He converted to receiver the next season, putting him on a path to the NFL.

The Irish outgained the Aggies on the ground, 194-90. Five different players rushed in double figures. That group was paced by [autotag]Julius Jones[/autotag], who had 60 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

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Notre Dame football: History of Notre Dame clues on ‘Jeopardy!’

Post how many you got right in the comments.

It has been established more than once on this site that I am fanatical about game shows. With Notre Dame athletics on hiatus until fall save for the track team at the NCAA championships, I have time to try ideas I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. One of them was planted in my head after our own Nick Shepkowski reported on a “Jeopardy!” category that was about ACC schools. I’ve decided to take that idea and narrow the focus to “Jeopardy!” clues about Notre Dame.

Using the site J-Archive, which has records of nearly every game during the show’s current run, I have come across several Notre Dame clues. Many of them were repeats because that’s what happens when you’ve been on for 39 years. However, I feel like I’ve compiled a diverse list of clues that you should be able to respond to if you have even a basic knowledge of Notre Dame, particularly the football program. Check the end of this list for the correct responses:

Micah Shrewsberry learns one ‘can’t just walk into’ Notre Dame Stadium

The new Irish coach still is feeling his way around campus.

New Notre Dame coach [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] spent Thursday at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. He made the interview rounds on ESPN, which was covering the event. By far the highlight for him during the broadcast was revealing that he learned a hard truth about Notre Dame Stadium when he first arrived on campus. Specifically, he learned just how exclusive the stadium is:

It’s nice that Shrewsberry was able to be let into the stadium, but it most likely would not have happened if he weren’t a university employee. I made several trips to Purcell Pavilion for basketball coverage this past season and never once gave into the temptation to try and get inside the next-door stadium. For one, I could see that the gates were locked every time, and I surely would have come away disappointed had I decided to go for it. So I guess the only way or anyone else in the general public can see the stadium again is to buy a ticket.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89