Arizona State Univ. yesterday reached agreement to "retain its 2014 home football game" against Notre Dame, while the schools "agreed to drop" their scheduled '17 game in South Bend, according to Metcalfe & Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Notre Dame "first notified ASU on April 5 that it did not want to travel to Tempe in 2014 because of schedule changes required" with the school’s move to the ACC. The schools had since "struggled to find a solution." There "was not a buyout provision" for the '14 and ’17 games. ASU already had "focused marketing efforts" around the '14 game. Notre Dame "at one point asked ASU whether a 2015 date in Tempe would work." But ASU "said no because the football team could be playing in smaller Chase Field due to the planned renovation of Sun Devil Stadium." Notre Dame also "suggested Purdue as a 2014 replacement, but ASU did not like that option, either." ASU officials "fought to retain" the '14 game, and "took the matter to the Arizona Board of Regents last week, which in executive session discussed 'seeking legal advice.'" ASU officials "did not believe Notre Dame had the legal right to cancel the games." The original contract for the games stated that they "were to be canceled only due to 'an act of God, a national crisis, or other events beyond the control of the host institution'" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/12).
