Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly made some comments today slighting, or at least diminishing Michigan. They were on par with the derisive comments made by Wolverines Coach Brady Hoke back in May. It wasn’t a direct retaliation by any means. However, on paper, it looks like a measured response to Hoke shooting his mouth off four months ago.
The last scheduled Notre Dame visit to Michigan Stadium is Saturday night. The game will now get even more media attention than it was already receiving.
”I really haven’t seen it as one of those historic, traditional Notre Dame rivalries,” Brian Kelly said during conference call.
”I’ve seen it as just one of those great football games that Notre Dame has played.”
Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick handed Michigan AD Dave Brandon a letter on the field before last season’s game, cancelling the ND-UM meetings which were scheduled for 2015-2017.
Really? He couldn’t even bother to tell him to his face?
The change was made because Swarbrick and ND are now friends-with-benefits to the ACC. They don’t need the Big Ten rivalries anymore.
In May, Hoke told a Grand Rapids luncheon that Notre Dame was ”chickening out” of the series.
”We’re a team that a lot of people want to play, including Michigan, or Brady wouldn’t comment in that regard,” Brian Kelly said today in response to that remark. ‘
‘We’re trying to do the best we can while maintaining the independent status and fulfilling the obligations we have with the ACC.”
Brian Kelly said he doesn’t believe playing at Michigan for the final time adds anything extra special to the game for his players.
”They really don’t need any more motivation. There’s going to be over 100,000 people and it’s a very electric atmosphere. That will be enough.”
The last time ND went to Michigan was September 10th 2011, the first night game in the history of The Big House. Brian Kelly and the Irish blew a three touchdown fourth quarter lead and the Wolverines pulled out a last second victory. The game saw three lead changes in the final minute.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)