The national attention didn't arrive in South Bend until Saturday afternoon. The annual Holy War game between Boston College and Notre Dame is certainly the main course of the rivalry weekend between the two schools.

But in recent years, a hockey meeting between the two national powers has usually served as an appetizer and in some cases dessert. On Friday many of the BC fans that traveled to South Bend got to see the the No. 14-ranked Eagles edge No. 9 Irish, 3-2.

It's an idea that other New England schools should copy. Four different schools - New Hampshire, Maine, Northeastern and UMass - play in Hockey East and football in the Colonial Athletic Association's North Division.

New Hampshire visited UMass in football on Oct. 24. Less than a month later the Wildcats will be in Amherst for two hockey games on Nov. 13 and 14. Why not play the two sports on the same weekend? If the two leagues coordinated schedules, the atmosphere and paying crowds for each sport could be enhanced.

Few of the New England FCS schools travel more than a few dozen fans to road games in either football or hockey and Durham, Amherst and Orono aren't exactly weekend getaways.

But a three-game weekend might make shelling out for a hotel more palatable. Bus trips, tailgating and other organized fan gatherings would most certainly follow.

Scott Meyer of the CAA and Pete Souris of Hockey East each said schedule coordination hasn't been discussed.

Obviously the schools involved as well as the two conferences would need to cooperate for this to happen. Meyer said the CAA has already begun scheduling conference games for the 2011 season. So dates for hockey would have to be blocked off well in advance. The coaches might need some convincing as well.

But these aren't difficult hurdles and the potential payoff seems worth it.