The Wolverine Now

game," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "Regardless of what the teams' records are and what the personnel looks like, there's just great pride in both pro- grams. "I don't think I would use [the end of the series] as motivation as much as this is a great opportunity. You might not see a Michigan game for a while, and so we need to relish the opportunity. Live in the moment and enjoy this opportunity to play a great program." That's not to say the Irish will lack for inspiration. When the Wolverines won at Ann Arbor last year, 41-30, the chick- en dance was seen and heard throughout The Big House, a nod to U-M head coach Brady Hoke publicly accusing the Irish of "chickening out." Tempers may be ratcheted up this week- end due to what transpired a year ago in the historic and evenly matched rivalry, but Kelly was certainly not going to admit that. "That's their prerogative," he said of the postgame song choice. "They won the What: Michigan at Notre Dame When: Sept. 6 • 7:30 p.m. ET Radio-TV: NBC will televise the game nationally. The game can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area, as well as the Armed Services Radio, Sirius channel 137 and XM channel 203) with former U-M team- mates Dan Dierdorf and Jim Brandstat- ter, and sideline reporter Doug Karsch. Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (27- 13, fourth season). Notre Dame: Brian Kelly (38-15, fifth season). History: Michigan leads, 24-16-1, with a 41-30 victory last year in Ann Arbor. Notre Dame notes: The Fighting Irish have ranked 27th or better nationally for scoring defense in each of the last four years, but this season, they will op- erate under a new defensive coordina- tor, Brian VanGorder, with significant losses in the front seven, including three players who were selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft … The field at Notre Dame Stadium was changed from natural grass to FieldTurf this off- season after the Irish experienced sev- eral problems with the original playing surface in the last couple of years; it's the first time in program history they have not featured a natural grass field … Running backs Cam McDaniel, Tarean Folston and Amir Carlisle combined for 1,379 rushing yards and six touchdowns last fall — but Carlisle switched to slot receiver with Greg Bryant healthy this fall … Folston and Bryant, both soph- omores, tied for the team lead with 71 rushing yards in the opener. GAME FACTS

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