Should I go to Michigan or Notre Dame?

Alpha112 · 03-24-2011, 03:05 PM

Okay, so I'm a high school student preparing to go off to college. I got into both Michigan and Notre Dame. My ACT was a 32 overall. I hear both programs are pretty good academic-wise and career-wise, but my decision is coming down to one thing.

I want to go where there's a LOT of football tradition, where the energy is high on game day, and where I can really enjoy rooting for the football team. Which college has more football tradition - Michigan or Notre Dame?

I mean, I'm not really asking which team is better RIGHT NOW. What I'm asking is, if I were looking to become a serious fan of football (which I do), then should I go to Michigan (Ann Arbor) or to Notre Dame?

Tradition is really important to me, and I want to go to a college that has a lot of football tradition. So, which one?

mom2collegekids · 03-24-2011, 03:12 PM

Notre Dame...altho UMich's traditions are strong, too.

Are both schools affordable? I wouldn't go into debt over football tradition.

Tenors · 03-24-2011, 03:15 PM

I'd look into what suits your major more (and other things too), especially since both have really extensive histories.

Alpha112 · 03-24-2011, 03:17 PM

I got a scholarship to both schools (not a full ride, but enough of one), so money's not really an issue at this point. I've already gone through all the other criteria, nailed down Michigan and Notre Dame to my top 2 picks. My decision now is hinging on which one has more football tradition.

popeyoung5 · 03-24-2011, 03:17 PM

neither one has been any good for a decade. My guess is ND will get better short term, Michigan long term. Tuff to recruit low academic athletes at ND, internal rules. They both have great game day feel. Michigan plays a tuff schedule every year, ND schedule "lil sisters of the poor" types. I would go to Michigan and I am a badger alum.

rjkofnovi · 03-24-2011, 03:54 PM

LOL. Michigan was undefeated and lost a close game to Ohio State in 2006. They then lost to USC in their almost annual home game in the Rose Bowl and ended their season 10-2. I guess five years ago is more than 10.

lesdiablesbleus · 03-24-2011, 03:58 PM

Notre Dame for football, prestige and everything besides Engineering over UofM

rjkofnovi · 03-24-2011, 04:02 PM

Michigan owns the following against ND:

Taught them how to play football in the late 1800's
Had ND copy the basic design of Michigan Stadium (which is still about 25,000 seats smaller.)
Has won more games head to head

Michigan owns:

The all time number of wins in div. 1 college football history AND has the all time highest winning percentage of any school in that division.

I'd say they have equal traditions. I also like "The Victors" fight song better and hate the leprechaun.

Besides that, I always have found it annoying that a school with a French name calls itself, "The Fighting Irish." ;-)

jshain · 03-24-2011, 04:04 PM

Football tradition is comparable. Maybe your "tie-breakers" should be:

Same-sex residence college dorms v. co-ed

Big school v. medium school

Ann Arbor v. South Bend

Which school is more highly regarded in your major (I saved the most important one for last)

en guarde · 03-24-2011, 04:06 PM

should have gone to ohio state, we've got loads of football traditions!

therefore, as a buckeye i can not condone you going to michigan, so NOTRE DAME!

Alexandre · 03-24-2011, 04:08 PM

"Besides that, I aleways found it annoying that a school with a French name calls itself the "Fighting Irish." ;-) "

Not only does Notre Dame have a French name, it was also founded by a Frenchman in Indiana, USA. I have no idea why they are called the fighting Irish!

rjkofnovi · 03-24-2011, 04:09 PM

"should have gone to ohio state, we've got loads of football traditions!"

I guess you missed the part about great academics. By the way, "Script Ohio" was invented by the Michigan Marching Band as a courtesy to teach Buckeye fans how to spell the name of their state.
:-)

Alexandre · 03-24-2011, 04:10 PM

Michigan and Notre Dame both have excellent football traditions. Both programs have had problems, Michigan for the last three seasons and Notre Dame for the last 15 years, but both will be back to their usual winning ways soon, though the long term looks better for Michigan since it belongs to a major conference. Below are some comparative facts:

FACE TO FACE RECORD (the only metric that matters if you ask me):
Alltime: Michigan leads 22-15-1
Since1990: Michigan leads 9-7-1

ALL TIME RECORD:
Michigan: 0.735 (#1 among division 1 programs)
Notre Dame: 0.733 (#2 among division 1 programs)

ALL TIME WINS:
Michigan: 884 (#1 among division 1 programs)
Notre Dame: 845 (#2 among division 1 programs)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Alltime:
Notre Dame 7 (#1 among Division 1 programs)
Michigan 4 (#6 among Division 1 programs)

Since 1990:
Michigan 1
Notre Dame 0

GAME DAY ATMOSPHERE:
Both are awesome and magical, but Michigan's stadium is the largest in the US.

FIGHT SONGS:
Michigan and Notre Dame are #1 and #2 in no particular order

In short, you cannot go wrong with either program.

rjkofnovi · 03-24-2011, 04:14 PM

^^We had Gerald Ford. :-)

Alexandre · 03-24-2011, 04:16 PM

Notre Dame can keep Rudi, I would rather have Charles Woodson and Tom Brady!