Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners he’s still trying to schedule an opponent for the TCF Bank Stadium opener on September 12, 2009. Because of previous commitments and other factors it’s unlikely the opponent will be a football school with an elite national reputation, Maturi said.
Notre Dame was his first choice but the Irish have said no. Maturi is a Notre Dame alum and knows the school’s athletic director so he was hopeful about a historic Gopher-Irish opener. Notre Dame, however, is already playing a schedule dominated with Big Ten Conference opponents and wasn’t interested in adding another, according to Maturi. The two schools haven’t played against one another in football since 1938.
California, already scheduled to be the Gopher opponent in the second TCF Bank Stadium game, is probably unwilling to switch from September 19 to September 12, Maturi said. The Golden Bears, who have become a top 25 team, play Maryland on September 5 and Maturi said California prefers to avoid back-to-back games with the Terps and Gophers.
College football scheduling has become a challenge with schools demanding big pay days and return games. Plus, most schools are looking for a mix of competitive opponents and pushovers.
Maturi said there is still discussion in the Big Ten about adding a ninth conference football game but no decision is imminent.
Maturi said the University still must raise about $26 million as its share of an $80 million commitment for the $295 million stadium. He hopes to have the $26 million secured within the next 12 months. Large commitments already include $35 million from TCF Bank, $5 million from Dairy Queen, $3 million from Best Buy. Maturi said several individuals are providing $1 million each.