Fleeing Irish

Everyone's up in arms about the Domers' announcement that they'll take a two-year break from us in next decade. The two different college football sides in me are fighting against each other in trying to analyze this. The rational college football fan agrees that this is probably the only mutually acceptable way for both schools to get the game on the opposite year as their other big game (OSU, USC). I don't think Notre Dame would ever be willing to come to Ann Arbor twice in a row. We'd never do it for them. Plus it gives both schools a chance to play some other teams. Notre Dame has Oklahoma and Wazzou now, and Michigan is looking at Rutgers and Georgia.

On the other hand, the die-hard Michigan fan inside is dying to yell at the Irish for pussying out one of their few tests through the year (something has to make up for Navy and Army). I just find it odd that Notre Dame's AD Kevin White broke the news long before Michigan, to an Alabama newspaper of all things. But as Bo said, we don't need Notre Dame, Notre Dame needs us. They'll be back, and we'll still be handing their asses to 'em.

But we need someone to make up for the hole created by the absence of the Irish. Rutgers and Georgia have already been mentioned. I wouldn't mind us playing an ACC or Big East team, like BC, Pitt, USF, Wake Forest, Clemson, or UConn. I like BC, Pitt and UConn because they're near alumni centers (Boston, Pittsburgh). Wake Forest, Clemson, and USF are in recruiting areas (the Carolinas and Florida). All are mid-level BCS opponents that'd look decent on the schedule, but should be quite winnable. It's up to Bill Martin to make it happen.