Notre Dame Plans Softer Schedules, More Home Football Games in Future

Notre Dame will soften its football schedule and play more home games in the future, Athletic Director Gene Corrigan said in an interview with a Toledo newspaper.

Corrigan said the Irish will schedule more games against schools “we feel we have a lot in common with,” such as Stanford, Boston College, Northwestern, Indiana, Duke, Vanderbilt and Virginia.

That will mean fewer games against some regular Irish opponents such as Penn State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Pittsburgh and Air Force. Corrigan made no mention of the traditional intersectional game with USC.

Last year, 8 of 11 teams on Notre Dame’s schedule went to bowl games, and 7 of 11 are likely to be in bowls this season. Included on this year’s schedule are Michigan, Penn State, USC, Alabama and LSU--all ranked in the top 20 wire-service polls. The Irish have a 4-4 record.

“Nobody plays those schedules anymore,” Corrigan said.

Corrigan added that the Irish won’t make up any future schedules with as few as five home games in a season. Notre Dame has six games at home this season, but only five are scheduled for 1987 and 1989.

“It’s ridiculous for Notre Dame to ever have just five home games,” Corrigan said. “We should have six or seven . . . it’s killing us financially.

“By buying some games, we can have more home games. I think there are some people out there who would like to come to Notre Dame and play. We’re going to buy some games from people we know and respect.”