N.D.-U of M a special clash

Published 9:54 am Friday, September 9, 2005

By Staff
This weekend is a very special one for football fans.
Not only does the National Football League get into full swing, but the Michigan Wolverines and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are squaring off in Ann Arbor on Saturday.
We hope that everyone enjoys the college and NFL football seasons, but remembers that these are only games.
Football fans tend to get out of control from time to time in support of their school or team.
The Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry is particularly intense here in southwestern lower Michigan due to the fact that we live just 30 minutes north of South Bend, Ind. or less.
We hope that all the Irish and Wolverine faithful can keep it in perspective.
Michigan and Notre Dame fans are split pretty much down the middle, sometimes within families.
This good-natured rivalry gives each side a chance to earn bragging rights for an entire year.
The Michigan-Notre Dame series could be in jeopardy.
Michigan has made noise about canceling the series before it reaches its current contract end in 2011.
Michigan does not want to play any non-conference road games due to the fact that it loses money when it hits the road.
We are sure that Notre Dame won't agree to travel to Ann Arbor each year.
Still, there is plenty of time to enjoy one of college football's greatest rivalries.
The Michigan-Notre Dame series ranks right up there with Nebraska-Oklahoma, Oklahoma-Texas, Notre Dame-USC, Notre Dame-Michigan State and Michigan-Ohio State.
Michigan is the all-time winningest football team in college football history.
Notre Dame is not far behind.
The Fighting Irish under new head coach Charlie Weis would love nothing more than to upset the Wolverines for a second straight season and narrow that gap somewhat.
No matter the outcome on Saturday, we hope everyone enjoys the game and the remainder of the season.
College football and professional football provide us all with great entertainment.
So good luck to all.