Scheduling for Success

Kevin White has a lot to consider these days, and the football schedule certainly takes top priority. The athletic director is trying to devise future schedules that fit a format of seven home games and one neutral site contest, along with four road games.

The goal is to retain the tradition of a opponent diversity as befits an independent university with a national following, without making it so difficult as to ruin any chance for national success.

That means occasionally getting teams such as San Diego State, which will open the Irish's 2008 schedule. It won't necessarily mean an easier schedule (it's hard to predict how good teams will be years in advance), but it should be one more in tune to what, say, Michigan, faces.

For more on this, check out this South Bend Tribune column. And for more on today's game with UCLA in general, Irish safety Tom Zbikowski in particular, check out my column.