Geoff JohnsonRivalry weekend takes the stage at Michigan Stadium as the Wolverines host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, this Saturday at 8 PM ET, in the most interesting game of College Football week 2.
It’s easy to say neither of these two teams like each other, but their two coaches won’t talk bad about each other.
“He’s never been one to show disrespect to anybody or anything,” Notre Dame Brian Kelly said of coach Brady Hoke. “It’s really, for me, about two programs that share a border that it makes sense to play. I get that. It’s just there’s so many complexities with our schedule and our agreement with the ACC that it’s difficult and frustrating. I can see the frustration that would be there.”
“He speaks for Notre Dame, and I speak for Michigan,” Hoke said. “Maybe they don’t consider it a big rivalry, but we do. This is a game that started in 1887, and we’ve won 904 games, and they are pretty close behind, so you are talking about two of the great programs in the history of the sport.”
Last season game ended with a 13-6 win by the Irish. Brian Kelly thinks he’s team is ready to win again.
“They really don’t need any more motivation. There’s going to be over 100,000 people, and it’s a very electric atmosphere. They’re not going to need any more motivation other than the team that they’re going to be playing against Saturday. That will be enough.”
Notre Dame is 1-4 against the spread in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Michigan; also 1-6 on the road against Michigan.
The Wolverines are 4 point favorites for Saturday’s matchup.
