Gators vs The Irish???

Terry O'Keefe · Jul 25, 2007

Nope not going to happen. It seems that the Gators are also looking at a neutral site game in 2014 along with the Irish, but both teams are really looking to control the tickets for that game with the opponent just like they would a home game. So it's not likely the Gators or the Irish would give up the financial advantage to play each other in a neutral site game.

I do have to wonder though why the Gators who already have a neutral site game with Georgia would be interested in another neutral site game rather than play at home in the Swamp.

GAINESVILLE - Notre Dame needs a football dance partner for its 2014 visit to the Citrus Bowl. Florida needs a non-conference game that season and for years has considered locking up with a titan in a marquee neutral-site clash.

Sounds like a Central Florida dream, no? The Irish and the Gators teeing it up out by the 408? Won't happen, said Steve Hogan, executive director of Florida Citrus Sports.

"It's a game I'd love to put together," Hogan said by phone. "It'd be a blockbuster. But I don't think it would work for either school."

UF remains interested in exploring a neutral-site game at the Citrus Bowl for no earlier than 2012, said Greg McGarity, UF's senior associate athletic director. Florida would want a top-tier opponent -- McGarity mentioned Michigan as an example -- and not need to play a road game or second neutral-site game to complete the deal.

Hogan, McGarity and UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley have discussed such a game, but those talks remain in the earliest stages.

We did say we would entertain any ideas or proposals that would generate a big-time opponent," McGarity said. "We would definitely sit down and be very interested."

Even in the preliminary chats, obstacles have popped up. Hogan has booked Notre Dame for 2011 and 2014 and FSU for a 2012 neutral-site game, leaving 2013 as an ideal spot for UF. But Florida is slated to play Miami in South Florida early that season.

Both Hogan and Notre Dame senior associate athletic director John Heisler said UF-ND in 2014 wouldn't work. The Irish's trips to Orlando are part of a series of neutral-site games around the country that school officials hope will allow more fans to watch the team live.

"Our approach from the start is that these would be home games that are just played someplace else than South Bend," Heisler said. "We want to provide more access to our football team."

That means a bulk of the tickets would go to Notre Dame, said Heisler, who estimated that Irish fans could fill the Citrus Bowl on their own. With an opponent such as the Gators, especially with the game in Florida, both schools could make such a claim, defeating ND's purpose for playing. A more ideal game for the Irish will come in 2009 when they meet Washington State in San Antonio.

Other issues, including ticket distribution and the all-important television rights, would need to be sorted out. The Southeastern Conference has TV deals with CBS and ESPN; Notre Dame has a deal with NBC. Although both contracts expire by 2011, their extensions might prevent Notre Dame from playing neutral-site games against teams such as Tennessee or Alabama, Heisler said.
Click to expand...

Sid · Jul 25, 2007

Again, what is the definition of "neutral site"? Florida playing in Orlando is truly not neutral for Florida. Notre Dame playing in Indianapolis or Chicago is truly not neutral for ND. The only truly neutral-site games are most of the bowl games with a few exceptions.

Last season's Sugar Bowl was not a true neutral-site game for LSU, but I don't believe that the fan advantage had anything to do with us getting trounced. However, with two evenly matched teams, the site and fan support could tip the scales, a la Florida in Orlando or Texas in Dallas, etc.

ND intends to play "neutral site home games" far away from its home stadium because of its huge national following. However, with control of the ticket sales and the number of ND fans clamoring for tickets, I guess you could make the argument that no site is truly neutral for ND, even Orlando.

George Krebs · Jul 25, 2007

How about the Gators v the Irish in Pasadena?

Log in or Sign up

Gators vs The Irish???

Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

Sid Well-Known Member

George Krebs Well-Known Member

Log in or Sign up

Gators vs The Irish???

Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

Sid Well-Known Member

George Krebs Well-Known Member

Useful Searches