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.
