There's more to Michigan-Notre Dame game than just football. It's a big regional rivalry. Fans were out in full force supporting their team hours before the game even started Saturday.
The rivalry between the two teams has a long history. Notre Dame fan Stan Guljas said, "It started in the 1880's than they played every year til Notre Dame beat Michigan then Michigan didn't want to play Notre Dame anymore." Michigan fan Aash Deshpandi said, "It's a great storied rivalry and it's actually two schools that have a lot of pride and tradition."
And just like any rivalry there's smack talk. Deshpandi said it happens, "daily, all the time." But it may not sound like your average smack talk, it's a little nicer. For his smack talk Guljas said, "I do respect Michigan as a school and a football program but I hope they enjoy the long drive back to Ann Arbor."
Both sides of this rivalry say it's different from any other rivalry, in a good way. Michigan Fan Max Fredlake said, "It's not a hateful rivalry. All Notre Dame Fans are very respectful." Walt Cohen, who is a fan of both teams, said, "I think this rivalry everyone's respectful and because everyone's respectful that's why everyone loves this game so much." And Deshpandi said, "coming here I have no question about my safety or if I park my car here. You'd be lucky to go out of Ohio with a set of wheels on your car."
Just being friendly isn't why so many fans come out for this game though. Cohen said, "ever since 1980 the Harry Oliver field goal I think this game is the best game of the year." And Guljas said, "It doesn't get any bigger than this."
