Rivalry Renewed: Miami and Notre Dame Set To Meet
Christmas came early this year for University of Miami football fans. The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish finally sealed the deal to play each other for the first time since 1990.
The game has been set for October 6, 2012 in Soldier Field. While it is a neutral site, the proximity of Chicago to South Bend definitely makes this practically a home game for Notre Dame.
A home and home set has also been scheduled for 2016 and 2017. Notre Dame will host the Canes on October 8, 2016. Then the Irish will travel to Miami the following season for a game on November 25, 2017.
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The Hurricanes and Irish faced each other every season but one between 1971 to 1990. While Notre Dame dominated the first several years of the rivalry Miami came on strong in the 80's.
Several classic games and moments occurred during that stretch. There was Jimmy Johnson and the Hurricane back ups annihilating the Irish in Gerry Faust's last game as Notre Dame coach.
The 1988 Catholics vs Convicts match in South Bend where Notre Dame was blessed by "Touchdown Jesus" thanks to a horrible referee call on Cleveland Gary's "fumble" (cough cough). The Irish went on to win the National Title that year by beating No. 3 ranked West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. Many felt that it should have been a rematch between the Irish and the Hurricanes instead as Miami was ranked No. 2.
Then who could forget the 1989 pay back that the Hurricanes laid on the Irish?
Notre Dame came into the contest ranked No. 1 in the nation. I was fortunate enough to be there attending my first ever football game. The match featured a play that I will always remember, Randall Hill's sideline streak on third and 43 for a first down. In the end Miami had avenged the previous seasons loss (referee and voting committee snubs) by demolishing the Irish 27-10 in route to their third National Title.
It just seems appropriate for Miami and Notre Dame to square off at least every couple of years. Now if only the University of Florida would grow a pair and stop dodging the U.
