(06-28-2018 10:29 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: How do we keep getting Notre Dame at Savage? Now they are the defending champs. Great pickup!
Just guessing but assuming the non-conference schedule really is about tuning up for conference play, then I think that a team like Toledo can offer a lot to a team like Notre Dame. Here is what I see as incentives for Notre Dame to play in Savage.
1. FAIRLY SAFE GAME: Notre Dame can probably beat Toledo 9 out of 10 times
2. BUT STILL COMPETITIVE: The Rockets can still give them a game, so they are at least challenged a bit. Nobody gains any long term benefit from a totally one-sided blow-out/ massacre
3. SAFE ROAD GAME IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WITH A LARGE CROWD: provides good "dry run" for many of their conference road games. UT probably will have more fans than ND will see in many (most?)of their conference road trips although perhaps not as openly or bitterly hostile as conference foes.
4. SIMPLE LOGISTICS: Easy bus trip ----no need to fly
In addition, if this is a "home and home series", UT will probably bring a few more fans to South Bend than many other schools would, but I think this is only a minor consideration if one at all.
Still, the Rockets are in Notre Dame's debt for being willing to schedule (and being good enough to feel that they can afford to chance scheduling) a game like this.
