Sports Arena
A Rivalry Renewed
The Notre Dame – Miami rivalry will have a different character this time around.
Two of college football’s most stories programs have decided to resume their rivalry.
Last week the University of Notre Dame and the University of Miami announced plans to play three games over the decade. In 2012, the rivalry will take a special setting, with the teams squaring off in Chicago’s Soldier Field, with a home-and-home in 2014 and 2016. The games haven’t been finalized but, barring any unforeseen issues, will be.
Notre Dame and Miami haven’t met on the field since 1990, but had faced off each year since 1971. But when this rivalry returns in 2012, its character will have changed — both on the field and off.
The rivalry reached its peak in the 1980s, when Notre Dame and Miami was tantamount to Good v. Evil, or Catholics v. Convicts, as the media liked to call it. Notre Dame, under Lou Holtz, seemed to represent the best of Muscular Christianity, while Miami seemed to represent the new guard of college football — big, strong, fast players as likely to appear in an ESPN highlight package as they were in the police blotter.
When the schools called it quits two decades ago, it wasn’t because the schools’ cultures were so different, it was because the on-field competition was too intense. In 1988, Notre Dame beat Miami 31-30 en route to finishing undefeated and with the school’s eighth (and to this day, last) national championship. The Hurricanes came into South Bend riding a 36-game unbeaten streak.
Then in 1989, with Notre Dame on the verge of repeat, Miami beat the Irish 27-10 at home en route to the school’s third national championship that decade. The Hurricanes won the title again in 1991 and 2001.
Two decades after the teams last met, the concern is no longer about spoiling each others’ potentially special seasons. At this point, both schools could use some positive ink, hence the bold scheduling move.
Notre Dame, in particular, has gone out of its way to seek the spotlight. When the University of Michigan hosts its first night football game in 2011, Notre Dame will be the guest of honor.
Miami has long held a take-all-comers philosophy with its scheduling. Not only did the Hurricanes play Oklahoma in 2007 and 2009, but the Hurricanes start a home-and-home series with Ohio State the next two seasons.
The Fighting Irish haven’t threatened for a national championship since Holtz walked the sidelines, and they’re counting on Brian Kelly to restore greatness to the program. Miami has done better over the years but declined sharply last decade before former ‘U’ footballer Randy Shannon took the helm before the 2007 season.
Shannon, who led the Hurricanes to a 9-4 record in 2009 facing teams like Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma, was just rewarded with a four-year extension by Miami brass.
“We believe Shannon will get us back where we belong — competing for a national championship every year,” University of Miami president Donna Shalala said in a statement announcing the extension.
By 2012, both Notre Dame and Miami might be back in national championship contention. But the Catholics v. Convicts meme is a thing of the past.
Under Shannon’s watch, not a single Miami player has been arrested. When he first took the helm, he stripped players’ names off of Hurricane jerseys, only bringing them back after his authority was established. Ironically, Brian Kelly already has a player arrest on his record, after backup tight end Mike Ragone was arrested in LaGrange County, Indiana for marijuana possession
With 13 national championships and plenty of history between them, Notre Dame and Miami should have a lot to play for when they meet in 2012. But mostly both teams will be playing for pride, the right to say that they took on all comers and emerged victorious.
And that’s what college football is all about.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (29) | Leave a comment
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Matt| 5.20.10 @ 8:53AM
Yeah!
2Anglico| 5.20.10 @ 8:55AM
Go Canes Go!
GoT | 5.20.10 @ 9:36AM
Football fans from South Bend to South Florida can all cheer for this one: the return of a compelling series and a classic rivalry T-shirt. A great tradition continues once again...Check out the 2012 edition here ==>
http://www.zazzle.com/skateo*
saltine| 5.20.10 @ 10:09AM
Glad to see the 'Canes back on the schedule, and can't wait to see the game. Shannon is turning out to be a very good coach. Hope Kelly does the same. Go Irish!
Mike M| 5.20.10 @ 10:42AM
Miami completely slaughtered ND on that day in 1989, and they were all crying on the sidelines, it was quite funny actually. Notre Dame then yelled out "no mas, no mas" and they never palyed again. even the game in 1988 they had to cheat to win if you recall.
MikeN| 5.20.10 @ 11:52AM
ND certainly threatened under Weis. If Matt Leinart's fumble goes a different angle, then ND plays for the championship.
Rob O'Neil| 5.20.10 @ 2:14PM
and gets their ass kicked ...
Didn't they get hammered by Ohio State that year in the Fiesta?
Albert Anthony Turner| 5.20.10 @ 1:42PM
Good exhibition game ND vs The U. That's all it is. I love how you college football fans talk of "National Championships" like they are legit!! College football is as phony as can be. Until a football playoff plan is implemented, college football will continue to be nothing but exhibition games.
Norman Browning| 5.20.10 @ 2:17PM
Like it or not, college football does a better job of putting the best team in the championship game. The NCAA basketball tournament is great, but it's all about matchups. Does anyone really believe Butler was the second best team, and Duke the best team. I don't think there's much doubt Alabama was the best in football. Both postseasons have pluses and minuses, but I do think football gives you a better shot at the two best teams playing for it all.
JP| 5.20.10 @ 2:19PM
Notre Dame is about as Catholic as Baylor or Oral Roberts (both very good schools, BTW). Football should be the least of thier worries right now.
On the other hand, why should I complain? They are following in the footsteps of other over priced "secular" Catholic Schools (ie Georgetown, DePaul, St Johns, Gonzaga, and Xavier).
mark| 5.20.10 @ 2:36PM
JP, you forgot Marquette. The Jesuit schools remind me of a comment by, I believe, Coulter: I love the Jesuits and pray for their conversion to Catholicism.
Tony in Central PA| 5.20.10 @ 3:42PM
Shannon hasn't had a single player arrested since he took over in 2007 ! ? These days, that's a bigger accomplishment in major college football than a National Championship.
I bet Luther Campbell, wherever he is, is heartbroken.
PCP Smoker| 5.20.10 @ 6:47PM
My bubble was burst when I saw "The Rocket" being interviewed by Roy Firestone on ESPN, Rocket was a stalwart for ND in those days.
The man, a ND graduate, was illiterate, relying on hand signals to express his thoughts.
Catholics vs Convicts? No fucking way, it's more like Bloods vs Crips.
Quartermaster| 5.20.10 @ 7:35PM
College football has been pretty much worthless since they started allowing coaches off campus to recruit players. Many of those players couldn't get into college if they had jump the same bar as the normal student does. As a result, they are simply teams made up of ringers.
saltine| 5.21.10 @ 10:44AM
First of all, as to the Miami "slaughtering" ND thing: Check the history, dimwit. ND historically has owned this series, except for a brief period in the late 1980s. And Miami got a NC only because of anti-Catholic bigotry: They lost head-to-head, and then your media lackeys argue that they are still the better team. Very logical.
And as to ND not being Catholic. I have had three kids go there. It is a very Catholic place. Jenkins is a tool, and it was a disgrace to invite Obama. But their is still a strong spiritual life on the campus among the students that I (probably unlike you, I'm guessing) have seen at first hand.
Oldefarte| 5.23.10 @ 3:27PM
ND's college fortunes are/were tied to Charlie Weis; and going forward, will surely descend even further into the cesspool of college football!!!!
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