Kelly wants to see Notre Dame-Michigan series resume

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly says he would like to see the Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry resume a season after it came to an end.

“What I was trying to say, is that’s a game we definitely want to get back on the schedule,” he said after practice Thursday. “With rivalries in college football being such, it’s just a game that’s on our radar.”

In 2007, the two schools announced they would play annually through 2031. But before the 2012 game, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick informed then-Michigan athletic director that the Irish were ending the series because they had agreed to play five games a season against Atlantic Coast Conference teams and had no room on the schedule for the Wolverines.

Michigan leads the series 17-24-1, with the Irish winning 31-0 in the final game last year in South Bend.

Kelly, who first talked about resuming the rivalry on Rich Eisen’s syndicated radio show this week, said he doesn’t think there’s been any talks between the schools about a game. He also said they would probably have to be “creative” to get the game back on the schedule. But he said he hoped his comments will get the process started.

“How quickly we get it going, at least it gets the momentum moving forward. I’m not going to get it going done myself, let’s put it that way,” he said.

Kelly also said he sees there being some advantage to being in a conference, although he reiterated the school believes it is best to remain independent.

“Any time I’m asked that question, the one thing is I look at it and say, ‘Boy, it would be nice to play for a conference championship.’ Then boy, on the other hand, you love playing in these great venues all over the country and different teams like Texas, and we’re going to be playing Georgia down the line and some other storied programs. It’s one I’m glad I don’t have to make a call on.”

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