Michigan Head Coach Calls ND Chicken for Not Playing Them

When Michigan hired Brady Hoke as their head coach (after alumnus Jim Harbaugh said no), there wasn't a lot of excitement about his hire, but Hoke has brought back a little bit of the Michigan swagger that was missing over the past few years.

That swagger was seen again today by Wolverine fans and the media when Hoke called out Notre Dame for ending -- at least for right now -- their football series against them.

"The Notre Dame game, that rivalry, which they're chickening out of," Hoke said.

"They're still gonna play Michigan State, they're gonna play Purdue, but they don't want to play Michigan," Hoke continued.

"I don't know how they made that decision ... I really do ... But anyway, that's a great national rivalry game. It's a great game."

Now, to defend Notre Dame, they are moving most of their sports affiliations to the ACC, so they are trying to fit their schedule around that.

The Irish can claim a political obligation to play in-state rival Purdue, which means the schools will have to take extra measures to make it happen. However, retaining the Michigan State series but dumping Michigan looks like a blow to the school's image as a take-all-comers program, especially when it's a traditional series getting the ax.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is not stupid. He knows if he wants another shot at a national championship, it would be much easier if he didn't have to face Michigan every year. 

But don't be surprised if the Fighting Irish come out with a statement claiming how hard their ACC schedule is (stop giggling) and how much they respect Michigan and the Wolverine program.

If only Pravda was still publishing the party line back in the old Soviet Union days. A press release like that would be perfect for them.