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We’ve talked about Notre Dame’s “rivalry” games for years. For the most part, I think we here at OFD and the community at large, have chosen to accept a certain type of tier system for Notre Dame’s rivals. That basic system is BIG R and little r. The former describes the USC
Trojans whereas the latter is more fluid — maybe it describes the Clemson Tigers.
At one point, very long ago, the Miami Hurricanes were a BIG R rivalry with Notre Dame. The hatred was strong and so were the stakes. Sadly, that organic greatness, was dissolved by both schools by cancelling the series after the 1990 game. The two teams wouldn’t play again until the 2010 Sun Bowl, and they weren’t on the regular season schedule until a 2012 Shamrock Series game in Chicago.
The two teams played a home and home in 2016 and 2017 — and that’s it. Notre Dame has been in this scheduling deal with the ACC since 2014, but have only had two games against Miami in over a decade.
So how much of a rivalry is this — really? Are you forcing this to the surface due to a very short (and very hot) timespan in the late 80’s and early 90’s? I’m 47 years old and can distinctly remember the rivalry for what it was, but for fans aged 40 and under, how much does this history even mean to you?
