Notre Dame Exercises 3-Year Out In Michigan Deal
ANN ARBOR (WWJ/AP) - Notre Dame has notified Michigan it is exercising a three-year out in their contract, meaning their last scheduled game against each other will come in 2014.
A letter from Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon cancelling games in 2015-2017 was obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday through a Freedom of Information Act request.
"The decision to cancel games in 2015-17 was Notre Dame's and not ours," Brandon said in a statement. "We value our annual rivalry with Notre Dame but will have to see what the future holds for any continuation of the series. This cancellation presents new scheduling opportunities for our program and provides a chance to create some new rivalries."
U of M color commentator Jim Brandstadter says after all the courting the Big 10 has done with the Fighting Irish to join their conference, Notre Dame has always excluded football:
"What kind of deal is that? I applaude Dave Brandon, I applaude the University of Michigan for actually moving on and going and looking at their long term plan, not including Notre Dame in them. If Notre Dame is going to be an independent, and stay that way - good luck to them, and goodbye," said Brandstadter.
The Irish beat the Wolverines 13-6 Saturday night in the latest game of a storied series that dates to 1887. They've played every year since 2002 and regularly since 1978. Michigan and Notre Dame were scheduled to take a hiatus during the 2018-19 seasons.
The Fighting Irish recently decided to move to the Atlantic Coast Conference other than in football with a provision to play five games a year against league opponents.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
