One of my biggest pet peeves in terms of scheduling under White was that he seemed to view it as a burden rather than an opportunity. In that regard, he was only too happy to rubberstamp annual games with MSU and Purdue because, well, it filled our schedule in a mindless, low-effort kind of way. I appreciate the shared history there, but what in the hell is the point of being an independent if we're just going to play the same 8 or 9 teams every damn year?

I wouldn't rotate UM and OSU one for one, but I think that swapping the former out for the latter once every decade or so would be a good idea. The MSU and Purdue games should be liberally replaced with others. And Wisconsin, PSU and Iowa would be at the top of my list in terms of subs. Maybe one of the others if the schedule in a particular season appears to skew heavy on serious challenges.

But I like your line of thinking. Don't we have UM strapped down for 20 years or something absurd?

At any rate, I'd really rather we only play 2 B11 teams a year, but since UM seems to be on the docket forever, I'd be game for UM + 2 others each year, so long as no consecutive years include playing the same B11 teams each year.

Above all else, I'd really like to see fewer games with PU. I see no point in the games. It feels contrived to try to call it some sort of intrastate rivalry.

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Sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick.

I hope this is the beginning of a redefinition of our relationship with the Integer. In my ideal world we would play three of their teams annually. I'd pair Michigan and Ohio State and rotate them. I'd pair Purdue and Michigan State and rotate them. Then I'd flex the third spot with Wiscy, PSU, MN, Northwestern...whoever you want to play.

By rotate I mean you'd do a home/away with the two pairs...So you'd play Michigan home and away, then OSU home and away, then back to Michigan, etc. Same with Purdue and MSU.

And I'd try to get at least one of those games as a late season game.

Of course this is as likely as ND playing the Patriots but a guy can dream.

I've been in favor of taking "breaks" from certain Big 10 teams -- MSU, Purdue and even Michigan (although losing the skunkbears from the schedule won't happen in the forseeable future) -- and replacing them with other traditional Big 10 opponents: Northwestern (who the Irish have played 47 times), Indiana (29) and Iowa (24).

Wisconsin fits the bill, and is someone we have not played in four decades.

UW has eyes on Irish for football schedule

By Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May. 26, 2009

Madison - Those University of Wisconsin football fans who have criticized the school's non-conference football schedules as soft and lacking big-name programs might want to sit down before they continue reading.

UW athletic director Barry Alvarez is working to get Notre Dame on the Badgers' schedule, with 2012 through 2015 as the window of opportunity.

Alvarez revealed his efforts Tuesday afternoon during a radio interview on WTSO-AM in Madison.

According to Alvarez, Notre Dame officials are revamping their annual series with Big Ten Conference member and longtime rival Purdue. Instead of facing the Boilermakers every season, Notre Dame would like to face Purdue every other season.

When Alvarez spoke during a clinic at Notre Dame earlier this spring he informed Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick that UW would be interested in filling the vacancies.

"We haven't confirmed yet," Alvarez said, noting officials from Purdue and Notre Dame are still working on their respective future schedules. "But yes, there is work being done on it."

UW and Notre Dame have met in football 16 times, the last time in 1964. The Irish lead the series, 8-6-2.

Nine of the games have been played in Madison, four in South Bend, Ind., two in Milwaukee and one in Chicago.

It is no secret Notre Dame has struggled under coach Charlie Weis, who is 29-21 in four seasons but just 10-15 in his last two.

The Irish finished 3-9 in 2007 and 7-6 last season.

The latter mark included a 49-21 victory over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl to snap a string of nine consecutive bowl losses.

Notre Dame last won a national championship in 1988, when Alvarez was an assistant there under Lou Holtz. Two seasons later, Alvarez took over as UW's coach.

Nevertheless, Notre Dame's name still carries a tremendous amount of prestige nationally. The Irish, which has an exclusive TV contract with NBC, has the No. 2 winning percentage in NCAA history (.736) behind Michigan (.738).