Notre Dame AD Responds To Speculation Surrounding Potential BYU Game
Jul 19, 2021, 1:43 PM
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 20: Prince Shembo #55 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stops Iona Pritchard #5 of the BYU Cougars at Notre Dame Stadium on October 20, 2012 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated BYU 17-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – Are the echoes finally awakening for another BYU/Notre Dame game?
Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick recently participated in a “State of the Union” address with a Notre Dame fan site Irish Sports Daily. He was asked about where things stand with the situation regarding the one game with BYU.
Swarbrick replied, “Relative to playing BYU, all I can say at this time is what I’ve said before: We absolutely recognize and will honor our obligation under the original contract. We had two games here, one game that they get to decide where it’s played. And we’re going to honor that.”
ISD spoke with Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick on Thursday and he addressed speculation that the Irish could play BYU in the near future. pic.twitter.com/Sg3WXqKvQa
— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) July 15, 2021
Interesting wording from Swarbrick, one of the most powerful voices in the world of college athletics.
These comments from Swarbrick come on the heels of BYU AD Tom Holmoe saying last month at BYU Media Day that the two programs are getting close to putting together a game.
Robby McCombs from SB Nation reported that his sources had informed him that BYU pitched Notre Dame on playing a game in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium in 2022.
#BYU and Notre Dame last met in 2013. Will the Cougars get the home game they've been waiting for from the Irish?#BYUFootball #GoCougs #GoIrish https://t.co/XsmVM8497W
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 21, 2021
Both teams have openings on their 2022 football schedules as each has only 11 opponents currently slated for next season.
After witnessing BYU put together a game 72 hours before kickoff last season against Coastal Carolina, you would think there is a lot of time for both teams to sort this out between now and the 2022 season. But last year’s impromptu scheduling hasn’t changed the way the teams schedule far in advance. For perspective, Notre Dame has recently announced games into the 2030s. So if the teams are going to play in 2022 in Las Vegas, it needs to be scheduled soon.
BYU has been waiting since 2010 to have this three-game series fulfilled; what’re another few days, weeks, or even months going to hurt?
Notre Dame and BYU have had eight meetings all time. The Irish lead the series 6-2. BYU’s two victories were in 1994 and 2004. Both programs have met twice as Independents in South Bend in 2012 and 2013.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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