Quick Thoughts: Michigan Adds Duke To The Schedule

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

Michigan gets one heck of an opponent next season in Duke:

Quick Thoughts: Michigan Adds Duke To The Schedule

Hot Topics: Reactions To The End of Notre Dame vs. Michigan

On a regular basis, our writers will break down a "Hot Topic" among the Michigan fans and express their personal opinions regarding the issue. Topics cover everything from major athletic department decisions to team apparel. Writers have their own opinions and readers and their views may not necessarily represent Hoke's Mad Magicians as an entity.  Readers are welcome to comment below or contact our writers via Twitter with their own thoughts.

Notre Dame Opts Out of Series With Michigan

It was announced earlier today that Jack Swarbrick sent a letter to Michigan AD Dave Brandon, exercising a clause in the Michigan- Notre Dame contract that cancels the games in 2015-2017. This information was obtained from the Associated Press through the Freedom of Information Act. Now, I did touch on the story of Notre Dame football having to switch to playing 5 ACC schools in a couple years when Notre Dame and the rest of their sports have switched to the ACC. I outlined there what Notre Dame is probably going to end up doing as far as a buyout goes. I have a few thoughts about this whole thing, so please stick with me.

1. Jack Swarbrick did so underhandedly--Now in the story that was released, Dave Brandon was given the letter of notification from Swarbrick on the field prior to the game beginning last Saturday. In doing so, Swarbrick and Notre Dame evade any penalty outlined in the Michigan-Notre Dame contract. I know there is a bit of communication between athletic directors that the public is generally not privy to, but it seems to me Swarbrick could have come up with a less conspicuous time to hand the letter to Brandon. Considering the date of the letter was on the Friday before the game, Swarbrick had obviously given it a lot of thought. Basically, he's telling Brandon "we'll do one more home-and-home contest, then you can kiss my butt." There will be no buyout clause, as is the case in breaking most contracts. Now, all that is left is one game in Ann Arbor in 2013, and one game in South Bend for 2014. The contract initially was supposed to go till 2020, and therefore negotiations might open up for more contests in future years. After 2014, I don't envision Michigan playing Notre Dame for quite a long time.

Week 3 Notes With Analysis Of The Irish

Are we into Week 3 already? Michigan fans--we have this game against UMass and then Notre Dame, and then we have our conference opponents. Here's just a few thoughts I had coming into this week's slate of games:

1. I'm sure most people have heard of the Notre Dame/ACC decision by now. While Notre Dame is not a Big Ten school, and now probably never will be, this still does affect some teams. Michigan currently has a contract with ND to play them up until the contract expires in 2020, with years 2018 and 2019 not being played. Okay, so Michigan will be playing ND up through 2017, which amounts to 5 more games. Michigan State has a contract with ND that is valid through 2031, so within the next 5 years neither school will be booted from the schedule. By signing this agreement with the ACC, ND will have to schedule 5 ACC games per season in football. ND is not leaving any conference in football, therefore I'm not sure when the agreement goes into effect. For other sports it's a 5 million buyout and they must wait two years...for football that might start as of next year. So think of it...for 5 years ND has to schedule 5 ACC games, Michigan, MSU, probably Purdue; and traditional games against Navy, USC, and Stanford. That's 11 games right there folks.

The "New" Big Ten vs. ACC Challenge

In today's somewhat surprising news, Notre Dame has opted to leave the Big East conference and football independence to join the ACC.  It's expected that all of Notre Dame's sports will join officially except for football and hockey.  However, Notre Dame will be playing five annual football games against ACC opponents, which is a departure from its traditional past.  Their football program has always maintained complete independence and "cementing" five games on the schedule will be something new.  It's not exactly crazy considering that Notre Dame is playing four games against ACC or future ACC teams this season, but it will definitely be something different in the future.  The ACC also doesn't have a hockey conference, so Notre Dame really didn't have a choice there.

So Notre Dame has joined the ACC.  Why am I posting on this topic today?  Well, Notre Dame joining the ACC is pretty noteworthy in itsel,f since they are one of Michigan's three biggest rivals, but the issue that I believe is being overlooked today is the future impact on basketball.  Notre Dame has a pretty respectable basketball program, having played in the tough Big East, made the tournament in 5 of the last 6 years, and had some impressive wins last year including a victory over then #1 Syracuse.