KALAMAZOO – Western Michigan Athletics announced jointly with the University of Notre Dame on Friday the two institutions will meet on the football field for the first time on Oct. 16, 2010.

It will mark the first time since the inception of the Mid-American Conference that a team from the conference will take on the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame replaces Virginia Tech, which was originally slated to be on the Broncos’ 2010 slate.

“Western Michigan University is extremely excited to announce this partnership with the University of Notre Dame. This has been a collaborative effort and could not have become reality without the efforts of our University staff, Notre Dame and the Mid-American Conference. Another major factor in this is the willingness of Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver to move our contracted game at Virginia Tech from 2010 to 2016. The impact this game has on WMU is tremendous. Jim’s understanding of that is due to his relationship with this University and greatly appreciated,” commented WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard.

“It is very special to be able to set a precedent like this for the MAC and we look forward to working with Notre Dame’s athletic department. Scheduling in today’s economic climate has an effect on the teams, Universities and especially our fans. This is a historic venue and is very accessible to our students, fans and alumni in the Midwest.”

“We had one opening left on our 2010 schedule, and Western Michigan was able to move some things and get it done. We’re thrilled because there is great value in having teams play here that are coming from close by. The fans from Western Michigan will make this a difficult ticket, and there’s always energy in the stadium when you play someone from not far away,” commented Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.

This will be the Broncos first meeting with Notre Dame as a member of the MAC but it will not be the first ever meeting between the two programs. WMU and the Irish squared off against one another in 1919 and 1920 with Notre Dame emerging victorious on both occasions. WMU also battled the Notre Dame “B” (1-1), reserve (1-1) and frosh teams (6-2) sparingly from 1916-1931. The last meeting between the Broncos and a team sponsored by Notre Dame came in 1931, a 27-6 win over the Notre Dame “B” team.
In fact four teams that are either current or past members of the MAC have played Notre Dame prior to the conference’s inception in 1947 – Akron (1910), Butler (1911, 1922-23), Cincinnati (1900), Miami (1909) and Western Reserve (1911).

“This makes sense on all levels, for our University, for our fans and for our team. When we speak to recruits and our players, we tell them you will have the opportunity to play against anyone in the country and that now includes Notre Dame,” commented head coach Bill Cubit. “With the Irish’s national fan base and attention, it is a great way to celebrate our university and the fine young men that make up the Western Michigan football program in front of millions of people.”

Western Michigan will now play Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., during the 2016 season. The remainder of Western Michigan’s 2010 non-conference schedule will be announced later this spring.