Let's make it happen! I got $5 on it!
Illinois-Notre Dame series 2027-2028
and 69 others
“Timeout South Carolina”
Not questioning your comment but curious why Chicago Illini fans would hate ND. They’re not even in our conference and we never play them.
because we all grow up hearing how special the school is and the football team
see Rudy
oddly , the schools academics have gotten way better than 50-60 years ago , while the football program hasn’t
Expect a raise in football ticket prices. Probably more than just a typical increase. They need a reason for an increase that will be "sticky".
They even created the, kinda, sorta, waiting list for football season tickets (perception). Tickets aren't that much in demand (see secondary prices) but it is much better than a few years ago. ND will help that and help with retention in what I believe will be a nice increase (for DIA) in prices. Who wants to give up their 2028 ND tickets?
I also think a few big donors will give more that can go directly to the players. If others are doing it, do it. At least get to or close to the $49M roster cap (all sports) with the new B1G agreement.
Also, what's the status of facility loan debt? Ubben at one point was scheduled (or it was hopeful) to be paid off in 2028. Perhaps there's been progress in debt payments?
I'll take a WAG that more fundraising types announcements, either targeted to the masses (like us) or that they've secured an additional big donation. At least that's my hope.
Adding to this: 2028 Home schedule includes:
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Washington Huskies
The Birds from ISU (local draw)
Also: Ohio Bobcats, Michigan State and Purdue.
Even most of the financial Curmudgeons will pay an increase in ticket price and try to re-sell the ND and/or OSU game.
I am excited for this. Being in stl I would like to see us play Mizzou, but maybe we can play them in 29.
Lets improve our defensive front and go beat the Irish
Lets improve our defensive front and go beat the Irish
because we lost every recruiting battle in football with them in the last 50 years that I've been paying attention.
Not all. I bet O'Donnell had an offer from ND. But it's a long list of all-staters we wanted that ended up in South Bend.
I dislike the hyperbole sometimes because it makes it seem like they're unbeatable. Notable names off the top include Martez Wilson (And Benn and others out of state). Even more recently you've had Feagin, etc. etc. and they've gotten plenty others who could easily have had an ND (Or were good enough compared to schools Illinois beat out). That includes guys like Konkey on this class.
This is why you schedule them. Beat them and you have the ammo straight up to show both recruits and the fans who seem to hold them up to some higher standard.
They aren’t alone; graduates of Catholic schools other than ND are tired of the ND fans’ hubris. I have friends of Irish descent who can’t stand Fighting Irish fans!
Chicagoland is close enough to ND that there is a disproportionate number of fans to bask in the glow of past glory. They are like NE fans’ sense of entitlement- ND won 11 NC’s but haven’t won an NC since 1988. Even so, they seem to think everyone else should be hugely impressed with everything and everyone associated with ND. Touchdown Jesus etc.
Academically ND is below Big Ten schools (only 2 Nobels compared with 26 for U of I).
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
That's interesting. I have friends of Irish descent who are fans of ND because of that and that only. I think it's pretty stupid but I guess people will find whatever reasons they can for their fandom.
What’s I’m most interested in is what the financial burdens look like for opting out of the Missouri series.
1) A close loss to ND does more than a win over Mizzou? Highly doubt.
2) The overwhelming majority of their games against unranked teams are blowouts.
Big games have cost us many winning seasons in the past. This is a very risky move on Whitman’s part.
The theme of this thread is there’s a lot of strong opinions, but nobody is wrong.
A win over ND does more than a win over Miz and a close loss to ND is better than a close loss to Miz.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
As a junior in high school, I was at that beat down, too, watching with my dad and older brother who was a sophomore at Illinois. Notre Dame just kept pouring it on, winning 58-8. I’ve hate them ever since…
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
These fans are called “Subway Irish.” My parent’s best friends loved Notre Dame and went to lots of games with their only connection being they were of Irish descent. Even though my mom (and I) are Irish, we got very tired of their loyalty to ND and disloyalty to their state school…
I'm excited for this series, but you're either not understanding the point people are making or intentionally glossing over it.
Everyone agrees that a win over ND is the best scenario. It's also unlikely.
The big question in reality is this:
Which is better?
a) getting blown out by ND, or
b) a close loss to Missouri
Playing ND and getting blown out does nothing to help us. Maybe losing to either team in either fashion doesn't help us. But I have to imagine we will have a much better shot beat Missouri than play ND close.
They should try playing someone other than Byu and now Miami. I'm glad we'll see them 2 years in a row.