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Notre Dame

What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about Michigan rivalry on Bussin' With The Boys

IMG_9992by: Tyler Horka14 hours agotbhorka
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Michigan Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins is tackled by Notre Dame defenders during the second half Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019 at Michigan Stadium. (Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press via Imagn)

Notre Dame has played Michigan twice in the last decade. The Fighting Irish and Wolverines had a home and home in 2018-19. They’re not scheduled to play each other again until another home and home in 2033-34.

That just isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, per Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

He told Taylor Lewan, a former Michigan offensive lineman and the co-host of the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast with Will Compton, that he’s a “huge proponent” of making the Irish’s rivalry with the Wolverines a more regular occurrence.

“I remember growing up watching Michigan play Notre Dame,” Freeman said. “That is such a great rivalry. And you talk about two iconic programs. I would love to see that happen in the future.”

The way it’s set up now, Freeman wouldn’t get a regular season shot at the Wolverines until his 13th season at the helm in South Bend. How long away is that? For perspective, only coach in the history of Notre Dame football has lasted all the way until a 13th season. It was Knute Rockne from 1918-1930. Three coaches (Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz) were at Notre Dame for 11 seasons. One, Brian Kelly, lasted 12.

Of course, Freeman is breaking barriers and repurposing the boundaries of Notre Dame head coaching. He’s got a cutting-edge style to him in an era that requires it. And he’s only in his fourth season. But, again, that serves as a reminder that there’s a long way to go to get to that Michigan series.

Could the Irish and Wolverines meet some time between now and then in the ever-expanding College Football Playoff? Absolutely. But there is something to what Freeman said about seeing Notre Dame on the same field in September, October or November.

“We have to get that back going,” he said.

“That would be awesome,” Lewan added. “Because if you guys are going to play the Miamis, the A&Ms, if you’re going to schedule big games, why not schedule a big game with some history behind it? It would be awesome.”

Michigan holds the all-time series record vs. Notre Dame with a mark of 25-18-1. It’s been a back and forth affair since the turn of the century with the Wolverines winning eight times and the Irish winning seven, including a vacated 13-6 victory in a 2012 season in which ND went on to play for the national championship.