Aug. 6, 1999
? 1999 Fan Appreciation/Media Day Photo Gallery
? Kansas Preview in PDF format
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0)
vs.
Kansas Jayhawks (0-0)
The Date and Time: Saturday, August 28, 1999, at 2:30 p.m. EST.
The Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,012/natural grass) in Notre Dame, Ind.
The Tickets: They’re all expected to be sold-with this game marking the 142nd consecutive sellout in Notre Dame Stadium (the first 130 coming at the old 59,075 capacity and the six ’97 games at 80,225). The Kansas game should mark the 190th home sellout in the last 191 games, dating back to 1964 and would be the 109th sellout in the last 127 games involving Notre Dame, including the first 10 games of 1998.
The TV Plans: NBC Sports national telecast with Dick Enberg (play by play), Pat Haden (analysis), Craig Sager (sideline) and Kevin Smollon (producer).
The Radio Plans: For the 32nd consecutive season, all Notre Dame football games are broadcast nationally on radio by Mutual/Westwood One with Tony Roberts (play by play) and Tom Pagna (analysis). The Mutual Network includes nearly 300 stations. The game also is being carried by the Pacific Coast Radio Network.
Real-Time Stats: Live in-game statistics are available during every Notre Dame home game, via the Notre Dame athletic website (www.und.com).
Websites: Notre Dame (www.und.com), Kansas (www.jayhawks.org).
The Head Coach
Third-year Irish head coach Bob Davie owns a 16-9 (.640) career record at Notre Dame, including a 14-2 mark in the last 16 regular-season games. Davie was named one of 10 finalists for the 1998 Walter Camp Foundation/Street and Smith’s Coach of the Year Award. His 1997 squad beat No. 11 LSU and No. 22 West Virginia in ’97 to mark the first time a Notre Dame team beat ranked foes on consecutive weeks since November ’92 (54-7 vs. No. 9 Boston College, 17-16 vs. No. 22 Penn State) while the ’98 opening win over No. 5 and defending national champion Michigan gave him a 3-4 record vs. ranked opponents (now 3-5). The ’98 season marks Davie’s fifth year at Notre Dame overall, after serving as defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach from 1994-96. He coached nine seasons at Texas A&M (’85-’93), two at Tulane (’83-’84), four at Pittsburgh (’77, ’80-’82) and two at Arizona (’78-’79), spending both years at Tulane as defensive coordinator and the last five at Texas A&M in that role.
THE KEY NOTES
Early Start: Notre Dame opens its 1999 season versus Kansas in the Eddie Robinson Classic, marking many firsts in the history of Notre Dame football.
Way Back in the 1930s: The Notre Dame-Kansas series has endured one of the longest breaks in the history of Notre Dame football while providing several memorable moments).
For Openers: Notre Dame has won nearly 87 percent of its season openers, with several previous games versus teams currently in the Big-12 Conference.
Captain Solo: Senior quarterback Jarious Jackson faces a different season opener in 1999 than he faced in 1998, when his first career start came versus defending NCAA champion Michigan.
One More Look Back: The Irish can take encouragement from several aspects of the successful 1998 season.
Post-Grad Success: The recent months have provided some noteworthy honors and awards for various former Notre Dame football players.
Preseason Rankings
The ’98 campaign marked the 12th straight year Notre Dame began the season ranked somewhere in the Associated Press preseason poll (1999 polls are due out later this month). Here’s where Notre Dame was ranked in the preseason and final AP polls during the previous 12 seasons:
Year Preseason Final1987 18 171988 13 11989 2 21990 2 61991 6 131992 3 41993 7 21994 2 NR1995 9 111996 6 191997 11 NR1998 22 221999 ?? ??
INTRODUCTORY FACTS & NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
FRIDAY FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS
Tickets remain available for the 1999 Notre Dame Football Luncheons, beginning noon on Aug. 27 in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse (north dome). The luncheons will be held at the same day and time before every Irish home game this season. The 1999 football luncheons are sponsored by the Notre Dame Athletic Department and the speaking program each week includes remarks from head coach Bob Davie, members of his coaching staff and members of the Irish squad, in addition to special guests and video features. Tickets are $16 each (plus $3 handling charge per order) and are available by calling (219) 272-2870.
PEP RALLIES
All 1999 pep rallies will be held in the Joyce Center Arena (south dome), with planned start times of 7:00 p.m.
HUNDREDS OF FORMER PLAYERS SET TO FORM PREGAME “TUNNEL”
Another Bob Davie-inspired tradition will continue with the 1999 opener versus Kansas, as prior to the game the 1999 team will run through a tunnel comprised of former Irish football players (more than 300 are expected to return). Davie wrote a letter to every former Notre Dame football player during the summer of 1997, with the University providing them with the opportunity to buy two tickets to the season opener and inviting them to be part of the tunnel ceremony. Nearly 250 Irish football alumni formed the tunnel prior to the 1997 opener versus Georgia Tech and approximately 300 former players formed the tunnel prior to the 1998 opener versus Michigan.
EARLY SEASON START FOR THE IRISH
? Notre Dame and Kansas face off in the second Eddie Robinson Football Classic, opening the 1999 college football campaign. The game honors the former Grambling coach who retired following the ’97 season after 55 years in that role. Robinson finished with a career mark of 408-165-15 (.707) and won more games than any coach in college football history. Proceeds enable the Eddie Robinson Foundation to offer scholarships each year to five high school seniors and to five eighth-grade students – in addition to other scholarships awarded directly to accredited universities around the country. The game is being promoted for the Foundation by Dorna Sports Promotions, Inc., of Winchester, Va.
? Nebraska and Louisiana Tech played in Lincoln, Neb., in 1998 in the initial Eddie Robinson Football Classic (Nebraska won 56-27).
? Notre Dame has previously played one other exempt, preseason game sanctioned by the NCAA, when the Irish defeated Virginia 36-13 in 1989 in the Kickoff Classic played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Notre Dame previously played 12 regular-season games in 1991 and 1997, when the Irish finished the regular season in Honolulu against Hawaii.
? The Irish previously played seven home games in 1988, a year in which they finished 12-0 and were consensus national champions.
? The August 28 start will mark the earliest in history for Notre Dame football and the earliest for a home game at Notre Dame Stadium.
? The game will be played four days after the University begins classes on Tuesday, August 24. The Irish will begin full-squad practice on Saturday, Aug. 7.
KANSAS SERIES NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
SERIES NOTES
? Notre Dame and Kansas have met five times previously, with Notre Dame holding a 3-1-1 series edge. The teams have not met since 1938, marking the third-longest break between series games in Notre Dame football history (see column at right).
? The teams first met in 1904 at Kansas, with the Jayhawks winning 24-5. That game marked the first trek west of the Mississippi River in the early history of the Notre Dame football program.
? The series resumed with a home-and-home in ’32 and ’33. Notre Dame athletic director (and former football coach) Jesse Harper scheduled the pair of games with KU, marking the only games that he scheduled during those seasons. The rest of the schedule had been prearranged by the previous coach and athletic director, Knute Rockne, who died tragically in a plane crash in Bazaar, Kan., on March 31, 1931. Harper had coached the Irish from 1913-17 before retiring to his family cattle ranch in Kansas-the 20,000-acre Ranch of the Alamos in Sitka, Kan.
? Under the guidance of second-year coach Hunk Anderson, Notre Dame won the 1932 game, 24-6 at Kansas. The 1933 game at Notre Dame (in four-year-old Notre Dame Stadium) ended in an 0-0 tie, marking the first non-victory for Notre Dame in its home opener since 1901.
? Notre Dame won the next two games of the series (both at Notre Dame Stadium), led by head coach Elmer Layden-a former member of the Four Horsemen backfield. The 1935 Irish team opened its season with a 28-7 win over Kansas and went on to post a 7-1-1 record-highlighted by the famous 18-13 comeback win at Ohio State (often called one of the best games in college football history). The most recent game in the series served as Notre Dame’s 1938 opener and produced a 52-0 shutout victory for the Irish.
KANSAS CONNECTIONS
In addition to Harper and Rockne (see above), there are several other noteworthy connections between Notre Dame and the state of Kansas
? First-year Irish defensive backs coach Lou West coached the DBs at KU in 1986 and ’87. Sixth-year Irish linebackers coach Kirk Doll was a graduate assistant coach at Wichita State in 1975 and ’76.
? First-year Irish men’s basketball coach Matt Doherty served as an assistant under Roy Williams for eight years at KU (1992-99).
? Current Irish associate athletic director Missy Conboy graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1985 … current assistant athletic director and former assistant coach Tony Yelovich was an offensive line coach at Wichita State in 1968 … 11th-year Irish women’s tennis coach Jay Louderback is a 1976 graduate of Wichita State and coached the Shockers women’s tennis team from 198-86.
? Notre Dame senior women’s swimming All-American Shannon Suddarth hails from Topeka (Hayden HS) … junior women’s swimmer Kristen Van Saun attended Lawrence HS and her father Paul was a defensive tackle at KU from 1972-75 … sophomore softball third base Jarrah Meyers (Carbondale/Santa Fe Trail HS) was named the 1999 BIG EAST Conference rookie of the year … junior righthander Mike Carlin (Manhattan HS) is a reserve pitcher with the Irish baseball team.
? Longtime South Bend Tribune writer Forrest “Woody” Miller is a 1952 graduate of the University of Kansas.
TOP VICTORY MARGINS
In the 60 seasons since the 52-0 win over Kansas, the Notre Dame football program has produced just 12 larger margins of victory (since 1932, the Irish also have posted just six larger shutout victories than 52-0).
Largest Notre Dame margins of victory, since 1932
Margin Score Opponent Date64 64-0 Dartmouth (in Boston) Oct. 14, 194464 64-0 Duke Nov. 12, 196662 62-0 Rutgers Nov. 23, 199661 61-0 Carnegie Tech Oct. 19, 194059 62-3 at Army Oct. 20, 197358 58-0 at Pittsburgh Sept. 30, 194456 56-0 Iowa Oct. 27, 194556 69-13 at Pittsburgh Nov. 6, 196555 69-14 Georgia Tech Nov. 5, 197754 60-6 Pittsburgh Nov. 16, 199653 59-6 Tulane Nov. 22, 194753 59-6 SMU Nov. 11, 198952 52-0 Kansas Oct. 1, 1938
The Host Football Review
Host Communications offers a two-hour delayed replay of each Notre Dame home game. The replays are available in many major markets, via over-the-air syndication, including WNDU-TV in South Bend and TCI Cable (channel 3).
The Davie Show
Bob Davie’s half-hour, weekly television show is syndicated nationally by Host Communications, produced by Golden Dome Productions and hosted by Jeff Jeffers. The show is carried by WNDU-TV in the South Bend market on the following Saturday and on FoxSports-Chicago on Monday afternoon.
RADIO CALL-IN SHOW
The 1999 football season marks the debut of the The Bob Davie Radio Show on WNDV-AM (1490) and WNDV-FM (92.9). The show will have a call-in format and will air Monday nights during the season from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST. WNDU-TV sports director Jeff Jeffers and WNDV-FM morning personality Mark Durocher will play host to the show.
KANSAS SERIES NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
NOTRE DAME VS. BIG 12 TEAMS
Notre Dame has played 51 previous games versus teams that currently comprise the Big 12 Conference, with a .686 winning percentage in those games (34-15-2)
? Notre Dame leads or is tied in every series it has played versus Big 12 teams.
? Three of Notre Dame’s most recent games versus Big 12 teams were bowl games against Colorado: the 1989 Orange Bowl (a 21-6 victory for the No. 4 Irish over the #1 Buffs), the 1990 Orange Bowl (a 10-9 win for the No. 1 Buffs over the No. 5 Irish), and the 1994 Fiesta Bowl (a 41-24 win for No. 4 CU).
? Other Notre Dame games versus Big 12 teams in the 1990s include the pair of Irish wins over Texas: 55-27 at home in 1994, with the Irish ranked 21st and the Longhorns 13th, and 27-24 at Texas in ’95, with the Irish No. 9 and the ‘Horns No. 6. The only other Notre Dame games vs. Big 12 teams this decade were the 1998 win over Baylor (27-3) and two Cotton Bowl wins over Texas A&M: 28-3 in 1992 (Notre Dame was ranked No. 5, A&M No. 4) and 24-21 in ’93 (when the Irish were ranked No. 4 and the Aggies No. 7).
? Most of Notre Dame’s all-time games versus the current Big 12 teams have been against three teams: Nebraska (7-6-1 series lead for the Irish), Texas (8-2 series) and Oklahoma (7-1 series).
? Notre Dame has never played Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State or Texas Tech, with the other series versus Big 12 teams breaking down as follows: Colorado (3-2), Missouri (2-2), Texas A&M (2-1) and Baylor (2-0).
? Missouri and Notre Dame last played in 1984, a 16-14 win at Missouri by the No. 19-ranked Irish. The last Notre Dame-Nebraska game was the 1972 Orange Bowl, a 40-6 win for the No. 9 Cornhuskers over the No. 12 Irish. The last Notre Dame-Oklahoma game produced a 45-21 win at home for the No. 5 Irish over the No. 3 Sooners.
? One of the most famous games in Notre Dame football history came on Nov. 16, 1957, when the Irish won 7-0 at Oklahoma to halt the Sooners’ winning streak at 47 games (which remains the NCAA record).
? The Irish will renew the series with Oklahoma in 1999 and with Nebraska in 2000.
FRIEND OR FOE?
Notre Dame’s preseason roster includes players from 30 states while the KU preseason roster includes 42 Kansas natives and players from 22 other states. A handful of Notre Dame and Kansas players hail from the same hometown or attended the same high school, among them:
? Three Kansas players and Irish sophomore cornerback Clifford Jefferson are natives of Dallas, Texas, and were teammates at Carter High School, with KU’s products of Carter including linebacker Randall Hendley, tight end Adrian Jones and running back Derick Mills. The Jayhawks have two other Dallas natives: sophomore linebacker Marcus Rogers (Roosevelt HS) and freshman center Nick Smith (Adams HS).
? Notre Dame sophomore tight end Gerald Morgan and Kansas freshman offensive lineman Kyle Grady were Poteet High School teammates and both hail from Mesquite, Texas.
? Notre Dame senior safety A’Jani Sanders (North Brook HS) and senior split end Jonathan Hebert (Klein HS) hail from Houston, as do two KU players: senior fullback Tyrus Fontenot (Willowridge HS) and junior fullback Moran Norris (James Madison HS)
? Irish senior offensive lineman Mike Gandy (Garland) and KU junior defensive back Kareem High (Lakeview Centennial HS) both call Garland, Texas, home.
? Finally, KU freshman wide receiver Kevin Toles (Broken Arrow HS) hails from Tulsa, Okla., as do Irish junior defensive tackle Andy Wisne and sophomore offensive tackle Sean Mahan (both attended Jenks HS).
THE KANSAS SERIES
Overall: ND leads 3-1-1
At ND Stadium: ND leads 2-0-1
Current Series Streak: 3-0-1 by ND (wins in 1932, ’35, ’38, tie in ’33)
Site Year Rank W/L/T ND Opp 1904 L 5 24 1932 W 24 6 * 1933 T 0 0 * 1935 W 28 7 * 1938 W 52 0
* - Indicates Notre Dame home games.
Notre Dame vs. BIG-12 TEAMS
School Won Lost Tied Pct.Baylor 2 0 0 1.000 Colorado 3 2 0 .400Iowa State 0 0 0 ---Kansas 3 1 1 .700Kansas State 0 0 0 ---Missouri 2 2 0 .500Nebraska 7 6 1 .536 Oklahoma State 0 0 0 .000Oklahoma 7 1 0 .938Texas 8 2 0 .800Texas A&M 2 1 0 .667Texas Tech 0 0 0 ---TOTALS 34 15 2 .686
CONFERENCE CALL
Notre Dame faced teams from eight different conferences/affiliations during the 1998 season and is scheduled to face teams from six different leagues in 1999, including three each from the Big Ten (Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State) and the Pac-10 (Arizona State, USC, Stanford), two each from the Big 12 (Kansas, Oklahoma) and the BIG EAST (Pittsburgh, Boston College), plus Tennessee (Southeastern) and Navy (independent). In 1998, the Irish played the above Pac-10 and Big-10 teams, in addition to Boston College, Navy, Army (Conference USA), Baylor (Big 12), LSU (Southeastern) and Georgia Tech (Atlantic Coast).
KANSAS SERIES NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
KANSAS NATIVES ON NOTRE DAME ALL-TIME ROSTER
Notre Dame’s all-time varsity football roster includes nearly 2,500 players who have appeared in at least one career game, with 17 from the state of Kansas (current junior offensive tackle John Teasdale is from Kansas City, Mo., and attended Rockhurst High School).
? Notre Dame’s all-time Kansas natives include six running backs, five who played on the offensive line, three receivers, two linebackers, one defensive back and one quarterback.
? The 17 Kansas natives include four Wichita natives, plus three from Kansas City and two each from Atchinson, Shawnee Mission and Topeka, in addition to one each from Spearville, Roeland Park, Springfield and Norton.
ALL-TIME NOTRE DAME PLAYERS WITH KANSAS TIES
? The most recent Kansas natives to play for the Irish include two-year starting inside linebacker and 1996 tri-captain Lyron Cobbins (Kansas City/Bishop Miege HS, 1993-96) and recent four-year starting offensive tackle Chris Clevenger (Wichita Collegiate School, 1994-97), who suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of his final season.
? Possibly the most accomplished Kansas native ever to play football for Notre Dame is outside linebacker Dave Martin, a Roeland Park native who started for the talented Ara Parseghian-coaches Irish teams of 1965-67. Martin was part of a Notre Dame program that compiled a 24-2-2 mark over three years, highlighted by the 1966 national championship season (9-0-1). Martin helped the 1966 Irish defense rank second in the nation for fewest points allowed (3.8 per game), fourth in total yards allowed (187.6/gm) and ninth in rushing yards allowed (79.3/gm). The ’65 Irish defense ranked fourth in scoring, sixth in total defense and fifth in rush defense.
? Other Kansas natives have played prominent roles in Notre Dame football history. Jackie Hayes (Atchinson) was a reserve quarterback in 1939 before serving as Bob Hargrave’s backup in 1940. Offensive guard Tom Freeman (Shawnee Mission/Rockhurst HS) was a reserve in 1984 before serving as a second-stringer in 1985 and a starter in ’86 and ’87.
? Several Kansas natives played on some of the Notre Dame football teams of the early 20th century. Joe Lantry (Spearville) was a second-string fullback on the 1906 squad while Paul “Curly” Nowers (Topeka) competed with Knute Rockne at left end in 1912 and ’13 (when he earned third-string status). Russell Hardy (Kansas City) was a reserve halfback on the 1915 Notre Dame team.
? Two brothers from Wichita (Kapaun-Mt. Carmel HS) were regular contributors with the Irish football teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Dick Boushka played cornerback and also filled some punting duties at Notre Dame from 1977-80, serving as a second-stringer in both 1977 and ’78 (the ’77 team won the national title, led by quarterback Joe Montana). His brother Mike Boushka was a third-string flanker in 1978 and a second-teamer in 1979 and ’80 before splitting time as the starter in ’81 (when he was injured in the sixth game).
? Two other pairs of Kansas natives with the same last names (but from different hometowns) have played football at Notre Dame. Fullback Chet Wynne (Norton) played for the 1918-21 Knute Rockne teams that compiled a 31-2-2 four-year record ( he was a starter in his final two seasons). Topeka native Elmer Wynne (also a fullback) played under Rockne from 1925-27 (he was the starter in ’27). Bill Walsh (Shawnee Mission) served as a starting Irish center and noseguard on the talented 1945-48 Frank Leahy teams that compiled a 33-2-3 four-year record. Guard Bob Walsh (Springfield) saw game action in the 1941 season.
? The following Kansas natives played reserve roles during their Notre Dame football careers: end Leo Seiler (Wichita/Kapaun-Mt. Carmel HS, 1960) and halfbacks Jack Barnard (Kansas City/Bishop Miege HS, 1962) and Jack Clements (Atchinson/Maur Hill Prep, 1971). One of the top ends on the 1960 Irish team was Brian Boulac, who currently serves as an assistant athletic director at Notre Dame.
SEVERAL GENERATIONS LATER …
? Notre Dame and Kansas meet for the first time in 61 seasons, the third-longest gap between series games in the 113-year-history of Notre Dame football. The longest stretch between games ended in 1996, when Notre Dame and Rutgers met for the first time in 75 seasons. Last year’s game versus Baylor provided Notre Dame’s second-longest gap between games (73 years).
? Other Notre Dame series that recently were renewed after long breaks include the 1995 Ohio State game (59 years), the 1995 Washington game (46 years) and the 1991 Indiana game (33 years).
? Upcoming schedules will see the first Notre Dame-Oklahoma game in 31 seasons (1999) and the first Notre Dame-Nebraska game in 28 years (2000). Both of those teams, like Kansas and Baylor, are members of the Big 12 Conference.
? Notre Dame has faced 13 teams (counting Kansas) after a break in the series that lasted 33 years or longer, with the Irish owning an 8-3-1 record in the previous such games:
Years Opponent Break Result 75 Rutgers 1921-96 W 73 Baylor 1925-98 W 61 Kansas 1938-99 ? 59 Ohio State 1936-95 L 58 Rice 1915-73 W 48 Penn State 1928-76 W 47 Syracuse 1914-61 W 46 Washington 1949-95 W 39 Illinois 1898-1937 T 39 Arizona 1941-80 W 35 Michigan 1943-78 L 33 Michigan 1909-42 L 33 Indiana 1958-91 W
SEASON OPENER NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Notre Dame is 92-12-5 (.867) in season openers, including 66-9-3 (.865) in season openers played at home. The last time the Irish lost an opener in Notre Dame Stadium was in ’95 (Northwestern, 17-15). Prior to that defeat, the Irish had won eight straight openers (four at Notre Dame Stadium), dating back to Michigan’s 24-23 win at Notre Dame in ’86 in the first game of the Lou Holtz era.
OPENERS VS. BIG 12 TEAMS
Notre Dame has opened 11 previous seasons with games versus teams that currently belong to the Big 12 Conference. The Irish own an 8-2-1 record in those games (6-2-1 at home).
? The Irish have faced current Big 12 teams in two home openers that were not the first game of the season: a 31-0 win for the No. 2 Irish over Nebraska in 1947 and a 55-14 win over Colorado in 1984 (both came in the third game of those seasons).
? Three of the previous five games between Notre Dame and Kansas were season openers for the Irish (all at home): 1933 (0-0), 1935 (28-7) and 1938 (52-0).
? Three of the most noteworthy Irish openers vs. Big 12 teams featured both teams being ranked among the top-six (or higher) in the AP poll. In 1953, the top-ranked Irish opened with a 28-21 win at No. 6 Oklahoma, en route to a near-national championship season (9-0-1). The next season, Notre Dame opened with a No. 2 ranking and a 21-0 win over No. 4 Texas at Notre Dame Stadium. Fourteen years later, the No. 3 Irish thumped No. 5 Oklahoma, 45-21, in the 1968 opener at home.
? Notre Dame’s other season-opening wins over Big 12 teams: Baylor (1925, 41-0), Oklahoma (1961, 19-6) and at Oklahoma (1962, 13-7). The Irish suffered a 7-6 opening loss to visiting Texas in 1934 and were stunned in the 1978 opener by unranked Missouri, 3-0 (the Irish were defending national champs and ranked fifth).
TAKING BACK HOME FIELD
After sporting a home record of just 17-7 from 1994-97, Notre Dame in ’98 surged to a 6-0 home record for the first time since the ’88 team went 7-0 at home.
? The Irish ended 1997 with home wins over Boston College, Navy and No. 22 West Virginia, yielding a current nine-game home winning streak, longest by an Irish team since a 19-game run at home from Sept. 19, 1987 to Sept. 29, 1990.
? Notre Dame posted its first unbeaten season at home since the 1989 team went 5-0. The win over LSU also gave the Irish just their second unbeaten home season with six-plus wins (the 1988 national championship team was 7-0 at home).
? The longest home win streak at Notre Dame Stadium is 28 games, from Nov. 21, 1942 to Sept. 30, 1950. The program’s longest all-time home winning streak is 40 games, from Nov. 9, 1907 to Nov. 17, 1917 (Notre Dame Stadium opened in 1930).
1999 Notre Dame Opponent UPDATE
Below is a look at Notre Dame opponents’ upcoming games. Since 1977, when the NCAA started rating strength of schedule, Notre Dame’s schedule has been rated the most difficult five times in the last 20 years (1978, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1995).
Opponent 1998 Record Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Kansas 4-7 Idle Cal St. NrthrdgMichigan 10-3 Notre Dame RicePurdue 9-4 at C. Florida Notre Dame
Michigan State 6-6 Oregon (9/2) Eastern MichiganOklahoma 5-6 Idle Indiana State Arizona State 5-6 Texas Tech Idle
USC 8-5 at Hawaii Idle Navy 3-8 Georgia Tech at Kent Tennessee 13-0 Wyoming Idle Pittsburgh 2-9 Bowling Green at Penn StateBoston College 4-7 Baylor Idle Stanford 3-8 at Texas Washington St.
Notre Dame 1999 Opponents' Combined Record in 1998: 72-69 (.511)
MEMORABLE OPENERS
The following games are among Notre Dame’s more memorable season openers, based on ranked opponents and/or close finishes:
October 4, 1930
at Notre Dame 20, SMU 14
Frank Carideo-100-yd kick return, Marchy Schwartz-winning TD with 4:00 to play, 1st game in ND Stadium.
Sept. 25, 1948
at Notre Dame 28, Purdue 27
Irish win on Steve Oracko’s field goal.
Sept. 30, 1950
at #1 ND 14, #20 North Carolina 7
Irish tie game on pass from Bob Williams to Jim Mutscheller with 2:40 to play.
Sept. 27, 1952
#10 ND 7, at #12 Pennsylvania 7
Irish escape with tie, despite lackluster offense.
Sept. 26, 1953
#1 ND 28, at #6 Oklahoma 21
Johnny Lattner intercepts late pass in end zone, Sooners go on to win next 47.
Sept. 25, 1954
at #2 Notre Dame 20, #4 Texas 0
Ralph Guglielmi: two passing TDs, one rushing TD, three INTs.
Sept. 22, 1956
at SMU 19, #3 Notre Dame 13
Mustangs score winning TD with 1:50 to play, spoiling Paul Hornung’s comeback heroics.
Sept. 28, 1963
#6 Wisconsin 14, at Notre Dame 9
Badgers win on Ralph Kurek’s one-yard TD run with 1:07 to play.
Sept. 24, 1966
at #6 Notre Dame 26, #8 Purdue 14
Terry Hanratty to Jim Seymour: 13 passes for 276 yards, Irish go on to national title.
Sept. 21, 1968
at #3 ND 45, #5 Oklahoma 21
Irish QBs Terry Hanratty and Joe Theismann direct Irish to 571 total yards.
Sept. 11, 1976
#9 Pittsburgh 31, at #11 ND 10
Tony Dorsett leads Pitt with 181 rushing yards, Panthers go on to win national title.
Sept. 10, 1977
#3 Notre Dame 19, at #7 Pittsburgh 9
Irish hold Pitt to 82 total yds, Rusty Lisch (106 pass. yds) and Jerome Heavens (94 rush. yds) lead defense, Irish go on to national title
Sept. 9, 1978
Missouri 3, at #5 Notre Dame 0
Tigers kick FG with 12:50 to play, Joe Montana goes 4-of-17 with two lost fumbles.
Sept. 6, 1980
at #11 Notre Dame 31, #9 Purdue 10
Phil Carter leads Irish with 142 rushing yards.
Sept. 6, 1997
at #11 ND 17, Georgia Tech 13
Irish win on Autry Denson’s 1-yard run with 2:37 to play, first game in remodeled stadium.
Sept. 5, 1998
#22 Notre Dame 36, #5 Michigan 20
Autry Denson (163 rushing yards, 2 TDs) helps Irish total most rushing yards by a Michigan opponent since ’87 (321).
OPENER NOTES AND TEAM NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
THE 1998 NCAA STATS
Final 1998 NCAA stat rankings for Notre Dame and Kansas (top 50 for team ranks):
Team Rankings Notre Dame Kansas Rushing Offense 16th at 212.5 148.9 Passing Offense 169.9 170.8 Total Offense 42nd at 382.45 319.73 Scoring Offense 43rd at 27.3 25.5 Rushing Def., yards 40th at 141.8 235.6 Passing Eff. Def. 119.7 rating pts (205.4 yds) / 33rd, 111.2 rat. pts (170.8 yds) Total Defense 43rd at 347.2 387.5 Scoring Defense 27th at 19.4 31.0 Net Punting 39th at 36.7 33.1 Punt Returns 8.2 13th at 13.3 Kickoff Returns 19.6 19.2 Turnover Margin t21st at +0.64 -0.18
DAVIE SIGNS EXTENSION THROUGH 2003 SEASON
Notre Dame head football coach Bob Davie has reached agreement with University officials on an extension to his contract, now making him the Irish head coach through the 2003 season. Davie heads into his third season as head coach in 1999 after taking over in 1997, following three seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. He coached the Irish to a 9-3 mark in ’98 and holds a 16-9 overall record in two seasons, including postseason bowl appearances both years. His original five-year agreement would have taken him through the 2001 season.
DAVIE RANKS AMONG WINNINGEST SECOND-YEAR IRISH COACHES
Bob Davie’s .750 winning percentage (9-3-0) in 1999 ranks among the top winning percentages by a second-year Notre Dame head coach, placing him among the likes of Knute Rockne (1.000, 9-0-0, 1919), Elmer Layden (.833, 7-1-1, 1935), Terry Brennan (.800, 8-2-0, 1955) and Hunk Anderson (7-2-0, .778, 1932).
COACHING IN THE CLUTCH
Knute Rockne owns the best career winning percentage among Notre Dame coaches in games decided by seven or fewer points, at 21-1-5 (.870). Among Irish coaches with 10-plus such games, Bob Davie ranks second behind Rockne at 8-2-0 (.800), followed by Terry Brennan (10-3-0/.769), Elmer Layden (22-7-3, .734), Frank Leahy (17-5-8, .700), Ara Parseghian (13-6-4/.652), Dan Devine (15-9-1/.620) and Lou Holtz (20-18-2/.525). Holtz’s first season saw the Irish go just 1-5-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
1999 TEAM NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
IRISH ADD FOUR NEW ASSISTANT COACHES
? There’s a new look to the Notre Dame football coaching staff, with four new assistants replacing a quartet who departed for either coordinator positions or assignments with National Football League teams. The newcomers include: Kevin Rogers, offensive coordinator and receivers (he’s been the Syracuse quarterback coach the last eight years, the last two as offensive coordinator), Lou West, secondary (he’s been the secondary coach at Virginia Tech the last four years), Jerry Rosburg, outside linebackers, special teams (he’s been the secondary coach at Boston College the last two years), and Steve Addazio, tight ends and special teams (he’s been the offensive line coach at Syracuse the last four years).
? In related moves, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will coach the defensive line and Kirk Doll the inside linebackers.
? Rogers, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., who graduated from William & Mary in ’74, previously coached at Navy, William & Mary and Ohio State. He spent two years (1987-88) on the Navy staff with Mattison. His Orange teams ranked third nationally in scoring in ’98 and set Syracuse records in ’97 for total offense and passing yards.
? West, a Washington, Pa., native who graduated from Cincinnati in ’77, previously coached at Kent State, Cincinnati, Kansas, Western Michigan, Minnesota, Middle Tennessee and Arizona. He spent two seasons (1984-85) on the same Western Michigan staff as Mattison.
? Rosburg, a Fairmont, Minn., native who graduated from North Dakota State in ’78, previously coached at Minnesota, Cincinnati, Western Michigan and Northern Michigan. He spent two seasons at Cincinnati (1992-93) on the same staff as West.
? Addazio, a Waterbury, Conn., native who graduated from Central Connecticut State in ’81, previously coached at Western Connecticut State and Cheshire (Conn.) High School. He spent the last four years at Syracuse with Rogers.
FOOTBALL OFFICE ROUNDS OUT STAFF
The Irish football office completed its coaching and administrative staff for the 1999 season, with the addition of graduates assistants Taver Johnson and Dan Mullen and intern Dennis Moynihan, who is beginning his second stint with the Notre Dame football program.
? Johnson, who will have responsibilities on the defensive side, spent ’98 as defensive coordinator at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. He was the linebacker coach at Millikin in ’97 and spent ’94 and ’95 as defensive line coach at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. In ’96, he was strength and conditioning coordinator and director of fitness and wellness at Millikin. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he is a ’94 graduate of Wittenberg, where he earned first team All-America honors as a linebacker.
? Mullen, who will work with all facets on the offensive side, spent the 1998 season as a graduate assistant at Syracuse and the 1996 season as wide receiver coach at Columbia, after holding the same position at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., in ’94 and ’95. A native of Manchester, N.H., Mullen is a 1994 graduate of Ursinis College in Collegeville, Pa., and was a two-year starting tight end.
? Moynihan, who also served as the Irish football intern from 1996-97, spent the 1998 season as an assistant football coach at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I. A 1993 graduate of the University of Connecticut, he was an assistant coach with the Huskies from 1993-95 after serving as a UConn offensive lineman from ’89-’92.
PLAYING STREAKS
? Senior defensive lineman Brad Williams owns the longest active streak for consecutive starts (16) on the current Irish football team, followed by senior center John Merandi (12) and sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Weaver (12).
? The longest active Irish streaks for consecutive games played belong to senior safety Deke Cooper (35), senior split end Bobby Brown (25), junior tailback Tony Driver (25) and junior flanker Joey Getherall (21).
? Just five Irish players have started 15 or more games in their careers at Notre Dame: Williams (21), Brown (18), senior defensive end Lamont Bryant (18), senior cornerback Deveron Harper (17) and junior tight end Jabari Holloway (15).
THEY SHALL RETURN
During the past 13 seasons (1986-98), Notre Dame has produced 47 touchdowns (with those TDs coming over the course of 41 games) via kickoff, punt and interception returns-including the A’Jani Sanders interception at Arizona State and Bobbie Howard’s INT vs. LSU-compared to eight total returns by the opposition in that 13-year stretch.
JARIOUS JACKSON NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
CAPTAIN SOLO
Senior quarterback Jarious Jackson (Tupelo, Miss.) has been elected captain of the 1999 Notre Dame football team, the third time in 32 seasons that Notre Dame has featured a single football captain (joining Mike Kovaleski ’86 and Rodney Culver ’91). Jackson’s ’98 season was one of the most productive in Irish history, as he completed 104 of 188 passes for 1,740 yards, 13 TDs and six interceptions while ranking second on the team with 441 rushing yards-yielding 2,181 yards of total offense (fourth-most in the Irish record book). He finished 13th nationally in passing efficiency (149.5 rating points) while his 154.4 career pass efficiency ranks second all-time at Notre Dame, as does his career interception avoidance (seven in 220 attempts).
AN EFFICIENT SEASON
Due in part to a solid TD-to-interception ratio (13/6), Notre Dame senior Jarious Jackson was 9-2 as a starter in 1998 and ranked 13th in the nation with a 149.50 regular-season passing efficiency rating. That QB rating ranks second among Irish QBs during the 1990s (behind Kevin McDougal’s 151.29 in ’93) and marks the eighth time in the last nine seasons that an Irish QB has finished in the NCAA top 20. Rick Mirer ranked eighth in 1990 (149.21), 10th in ’91 (138/8) and 14th in ’92 (134.65) while McDougal was 12th in ’93. The previous four seasons saw Ron Powlus rank 20th in 1994 (139.18), 16th in ’95 (140.67), 17th in ’96 (141.26) and outside the top 50 in ’97 (124.92).
JACKSON JOINS IRISH RECORD BOOK
Jarious Jackson has made his mark in the Notre Dame record book following a successful 1998 season (statistics from postseason bowls are not counted towards NCAA or Notre Dame records):
? His 153.51 career passing efficiency rating is just behind Irish record-holder Kevin McDougal’s 154.4 (1990-93).
? Jackson’s .554 career completion percentage (122 of 220) ranks fifth in the Irish record books, with McDougal holding down the top spot (.622).
? His low interception total (6) during 1998 produced an “interception avoidance” ratio of 0.319 INTs per pass attempt, which ranks among the top eight in Irish single-season history.
? Jackson’s career interception ratio of .0318 stands second all-time at Notre Dame, behind former teammate Ron Powlus (.0278, 1994-97).
? Jackson has averaged 9.39 yards per passing attempt during his career (220 for 2,067), ranking second all-time at Notre Dame behind McDougal (9.58).
? His career mark of 16.9 yards-per-completion ranks third in Irish history behind George Izo’s 17.3 (’57-’59) and Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte’s 17.0 (’62-’64).
? Jackson’s combination of 188 passing and 113 rushing attempts in ’98 produced 301 total offense attempts, ninth-most in Notre Dame history. If he had played at USC, Jackson would have needed just 12 offensive attempts to vault into fourth on that list.
? He had six games with 200-plus yards of total offense, ranking behind only Joe Theismann (8 in 1970) and Huarte (7 in 1964) among the all-time Irish quarterbacking greats. Jackson nearly matched Huarte with a seventh 200-plus yard game but came up a yard shy versus Baylor (133 passing, 66 rushing).
? Jackson’s 2,181 yards of total offense in 1998 (1,740 passing, 441 rushing) ranks fourth all-time at Notre Dame, behind former greats Theismann (2,813 in 1970), Rick Mirer (2,423 in 1991) and Steve Beuerlein (2,246 in 1986).
FIRST-START MAGIC
Irish senior Jarious Jackson became the ninth straight Notre Dame QB to see the Irish go on to victory in his first start, after leading Notre Dame in ’98 to the 36-20 win over then-No. 5 Michigan. The previous QBs who helped lead the Irish to victory in their first career starts are: Tom Krug (’95), Ron Powlus (’94), Kevin McDougal (’93), Paul Failla (’91), Rick Mirer (’90), Kent Graham (’87), Tony Rice (’87) and Terry Andrysiak (’85). Irish junior Eric Chappell failed to extend the streak in the regular-season-ending loss at USC.
TOUGHEST TEST
Jarious Jackson was just the fourth Irish signalcaller in the last 24 seasons to face a ranked opponent in his first start (versus Michigan, in ’98) and the first to face a team ranked higher than the Irish. He also became the first Notre Dame quarterback to make his debut start versus a defending national champion. In fact, the Irish opened the season versus a defending AP poll champ just once previously-a 19-9 win for the No. 3-ranked 1977 squad over No. 7 Pittsburgh. He is just the fourth Notre Dame QB since ’75 to start his first career game with the Irish as a senior, with the most recent being Kevin McDougal in ’93.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Jarious Jackson’s 100-yard rushing day versus Stanford in 1998 represented the most yards on the ground by an Irish signalcaller since Tony Rice ran 26 times for 141 yards and two TDs, versus Penn State on Nov. 18, 1989.
RARE TRIFECTA FOR IRISH QB
Jarious Jackson’s three rushing TDs vs. Stanford in ’98 were most by a Notre Dame quarterback in 32 seasons, since Paul Hornung ran for three TDs (and kicked the extra points) in a 21-14 victory over North Carolina on Nov. 17, 1956.
RECAPPING 1998 (MEDIA DAY)
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
Notre Dame finished tied for 21st in the nation in 1998 with a +0.64 regular-season turnover ratio. Just 11 Division I-A squads had fewer turnovers than the Irish’s 18: Wisconsin (9), Miami, Ohio (10), Tulane (11), Syracuse (11), Air Force (13), Rice (14), Fresno State (14), Texas A&M (15), North Texas (16), Tennessee (17) and UCLA (17).
THE LONG MARCHES
Notre Dame produced numerous long scoring drives during ’98. After throwing out the team’s 12 touchdowns scored after turnovers in the opponent’s territory or long returns, Notre Dame traversed an average of 72.7 yards on its 32 conventional TD drives. Those drives averaged eight plays while including 12 drives of 80-plus yards.
HOLLOWAY DID IT HIS WAY
? Sophomore TE Jabari Holloway collected four pass receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-30 win over Purdue on Sept. 26 1998, including a 17-yard catch on a slant pattern over the middle that cut Purdue’s lead to 30-28 with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter.
? Holloway’s 94 receiving yards were most by a Notre Dame tight end in 110 games, since the Sept. 30, 1989 game at Purdue when Derek Brown latched onto four Tony Rice passes for 101 yards. Brown’s big day included catches of 27, 23, 38 and 13 yards but no TDs in a 40-7 win
? Holloway’s two TDs were most by an Irish TE in 22 games, since Pete Chryplewicz caught two passes for scores in the 54-20 win over Washington at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 12, 1996.
HALF AND HALF
The 1998 Notre Dame football team erased memories of third-quarter futility in ’97 (when the Irish scored 27 total points) and first-half struggles early in ’98 (outscored 38-6 in first three games). The Irish totaled 140 first-half points and 187 in the second half, including 107 in the crucial third quarter. Despite a rough first-quarter start to the season, Notre Dame finished with a 68-65 first-quarter scoring edge.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Notre Dame’s jump from 22nd to 10th in the AP poll following the season-opening win over Michigan in 1998 represented the biggest one-week improvement in that poll for the Irish in 39 years. The 1959 Irish squad was not ranked in the Sept. 21 AP top 20 but rose to #8 just one week later, following a 28-8 win over North Carolina in the opener (the AP poll switched from 20 to 25 teams beginning in 1989).
A PRIME-TIME PERFORMANCE
? The 1998 opening win for the No. 22 Irish over No. 5 Michigan ranks among the top upsets-based on rankings-in Notre Dame history, as there were just three previous games in which an Irish team that was not ranked in the AP top 20 beat a team in the top five (since 1936). Since ’87, Notre Dame is 10-2-1 in Notre Dame Stadium vs. AP top-10 teams and 6-1 vs. top-five opponents.
? The opening win over Michigan marked the first time Notre Dame has opened a season by beating a team ranked more than seven spots higher in the AP poll. Notre Dame faced the defending AP national champ once previously in a season opener (since 1937), coming away with a 19-9 win at No. 7-ranked and defending champ Pittsburgh in 77 (the Irish were ranked No. 3 prior to that game).
NEAR-PERFECT IN THE RED ZONE
? Notre Dame in 1998 came away with points in 41 of 45 trips into “red zone” territory (91.1 percent)-including TDs on 71 percent of the chances-while opponents posted points on just 72 percent of their chances (barely over half of the opposing red-zone chances, 22 of 43, produced TDs).
? The Irish converted nearly 20 percent more of their red-zone chances than their ’98 opponents (.911-.721) and were +69 in red-zone points (219-150).
? Notre Dame’s 2-5 start in 1997 featured a 70 percent success rate in the red zone for the Irish (16-of-23, 12 TDs) and 78 percent for the opposition (21-of-27, 16 TDs).
IRISH ACCUSTOMED TO CLOSE FINISHES
The Irish finished 9-3 in ’98 based mainly on their ability to win the close games:
? Michigan – came back to win 36-20 after trailing 13-6 at the half.
? Purdue – used two Tony Driver interceptions in the last two minutes and Jim Sanson’s game-winning field goal with 57 seconds left for a 31-30 win.
? Army – needed a career-long 48-yard field goal from Sanson with 1:06 left.
? Boston College – thwarted BC on four rushes from inside the five in the final two minutes to hold onto 31-26 win. Bobbie Howard stopped the first two rushes, followed by Jimmy Friday’s memorable goalline stop and Deke Cooper’s fourth-down tackle (all four runs were by BIG EAST career leading rusher Mike Cloud).
? LSU – Jarious Jackson’s 10-yard pass to Raki Nelson with 1:27 left to play provides the final margin (39-36).
SCORING STREAK ENDS
The Irish had scored points in 24 straight quarters in 1998 before being shut out at USC, with the previous scoreless period coming in the fourth quarter vs. Stanford. The last time Notre Dame scored in at least 20 consecutive quarters was during the 1990 season, when the Irish scored in every quarter vs. Air Force, Miami, Pittsburgh, Navy and Tennessee before scoring in the first two quarters vs. Penn State (22 straight overall).
LIVING ON THE EDGE
Over the past two seasons, Notre Dame is 8-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less, with losses to No. 6 Michigan (21-14) and USC (20-17) in 1997. The Irish also posted close wins over Georgia Tech (17-13), Navy (21-17), No. 22 West Virginia (21-14) and Hawaii (23-22) during the ’97 season before beating Purdue (31-30) and Army (20-17) on late field goals in ’98, turning in a goalline stand to hold off Boston College (31-26) and rallying to beat LSU (39-36). Included in those 10 games is a 7-1 mark for the Irish in games decided by 1-5 points.
NFL DRAFT RECAP
? Seven Notre Dame football players were selected in the ’99 NFL draft, the most since 10 Notre Dame players were selected in 1994. The seven players taken were: offensive tackle Luke Petitgout (N.Y. Giants, 1st rd, 19th pick), offensive guard Jerry Wisne (Chicago Bears, 5th rd), offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal (N.Y. Giants, 5th rd), wide receiver Malcolm Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers, 5th rd), punter Hunter Smith (Indianapolis Colts, 7th rd), tailback Autry Denson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7th rd) and linebacker Kory Minor (S.F. 49ers, 7th rd).
? The 1999 draft marked the first time that Notre Dame’s first three players chosen were offensive linemen. Petitgout became the 10th Irish offensive lineman to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, joining Bill Fischer (’49), Gerry Groom (’51) Art Hunter (’54), Frank Varrichione (’55), Paul Seiler (’67), Tom Regner (’67), George Kunz (’69), Andy Heck (’89) and Aaron Taylor (’94).
? Petitgout (Georgetown, Del.) was the fourth offensive lineman selected and became the first Notre Dame player taken in the first round since defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn in ’97 (Jacksonville, 21st pick). He is the highest-picked Notre Dame player since defensive lineman Bryant Young was selected by San Francisco (7th pick) and offensive lineman Aaron Taylor by Green Bay (16th) in 1994.
RARE TRIFECTA
Notre Dame joined the University of Michigan and the University of Miami in a unique distinction concerning recent draft selections in the four traditional “major” professional sports. Over the course of the 1998 and 1999 pro drafts, Notre Dame, Michigan and Miami were the only schools in the nation that produced a first-round selection in three of the four major sports.
Notre Dame pitcher Brad Lidge was a first-round selection of the Houston Astros in the ’98 Major League Baseball draft (with the 17th pick) while forward Pat Garrity was a first-round pick in the ’98 National Basketball Association draft (the Milwaukee Bucks took him with the 19th pick but Garrity went to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade with Dallas).
Notre Dame completed the “two-year trifecta” in the ’99 National Football League draft, when the New York Giants selected offensive lineman Luke Petitgout with the 19th pick of the first round.
Notre Dame nearly pulled off an unmatched four-sport sweep by placing a first rounder in the ’99 National Hockey League draft, but center David Inman slipped to the second round, as the 59th pick by the New York Rangers.
Michigan produced ’98 first rounders in the NFL, NHL and NBA drafts, in addition to a ’99 NHL first-round pick. Miami had a first-round NFL pick in both ’98 and ’99, plus a first rounder in the ’98 MLB and ’99 NBA drafts.
FOOTBALL ALUMNI NOTES (MEDIA DAY)
BROWNER ELECTED TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
? Notre Dame two-time unanimous All-America defensive end Ross Browner has been elected to the National Football Foundation’s College Hall of Fame and will be enshrined in December in New York, followed by a ceremony at the Hall of Fame during the summer of 2000 in South Bend.
? Notre Dame has more representatives in the Hall of Fame than any other school – with Browner representing the 37th player, along with five former Irish head coaches.
? Browner joins 11 other players and three coaches in his class of inductees: players Chuck Dicus (Arkansas), Chris Gilbert (Texas), John Hannah (Alabama), Billy Kilmer (UCLA), Steve Kiner (Tennessee), Chuck Long (Iowa), Frank Loria (Virginia Tech), Joe Palumbo (Virginia), Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma), Herschel Walker (Georgia) and Ed White (California), and coaches Jerry Claiborne (Virginia Tech, Maryland, Kentucky), Don Coryell (Whittier, San Diego State) and Jim Young (Arizona, Purdue, Army).
? A native of Warren, Ohio, the 6-3, 250-pound Browner was a four-year starter for the Irish, including the 1973 and 1977 Notre Dame national championship teams. He won the Outland Trophy as a junior in ’76, then as a senior claimed the Lombardi Trophy and the Maxwell Award and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
? Browner was the eighth overall selection in the first round of the 1978 National Football League draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played from ’79 through ’86 with the Bengals, then in ’87 with Green Bay. The 1978 Notre Dame graduate with a degree in economics is in private business in Atlanta, Ga.
NEW ‘JACKET FOR ORSINI
Former Irish football player Steve Orsini was named senior associate athletic director at Georgia Tech on July 2. Orsini spent the previous five years as associate athletic director and treasurer at the U.S. Naval Academy. A native of Hummelstown, Pa., Orsini was a three-year letterwinner as a fullback with the Irish and was one of four team captains on the ’77 national championship squad. He spent three years as a CPA with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells and returned to Notre Dame in ’81 as assistant business manager and ticket manager before joining the Dallas Cowboys, where he served from as ticket manager and director of administration from 1984-93.
FAMILIAR FACE
Recent Irish quarterback Tony Rice-who helped the ’88 squad win a national title and was a finalist for the ’89 Heisman Trophy-was appointed assistant director of regional development for Notre Dame in the Chicago area on Feb. 1. Rice assists regional director Charles Schnur in the identification, cultivation and solicitation of individuals who are able to make significant gifts to Notre Dame for priorities chosen by University officers.
MONOGRAM CLUB HONORS TWO FORMER FOOTBALL TEAM MEMBERS
? Former Notre Dame placekicker John Carney was the 1999 NCAA recipient of the Ed “Moose” Krause Award, recognizing the Notre Dame National Monogram Club member of the year. Carney was presented with the award at the Club’s annual on-campus June banquet as recognition for his charitable work. KickStart for Kids, a foundation in the San Diego area, was founded by Carney and fellow Notre Dame alumnus, Dr. Dennis Nigro. Carney-who has been a member of the San Diego Chargers since 1990-raises money for KickStart through pledges for every point he scores for the Chargers. The money raised benefits Fresh Starts Surgical Gifts, Inc., a non-profit organization providing children with a “fresh start” in life through reconstructive surgery. Carney has raised nearly $950,000 for the charity. He was presented with the 1995 NFL Alumni Kicker of the Year award, as voted on by his peers, and was the leading scorer in the NFL in ’94 while playing in both the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.
? Tom Ross was one of four recipients of honorary Notre Dame monograms, as bestowed at the June 1999 meeting of the Notre Dame National Monogram Club. Ross came to Notre Dame as a scholarship football player and played on the 1970 freshman team before seeing his career cut short by multiple back surgeries. He currently works for the nationwide Mortgage Investors Corporation and was presented his honorary monogram by classmate Ed “Duke” Scales. Ross and his wife Jan-who were married in Basilica of the Sacred Heart-reside in Indianapolis.
MONOGRAM CLUB APPOINTEES
DUERSON JOINS BOARD
Former Irish football great Dave Duerson officially was appointed vice president of the Notre Dame National Monogram Club, at the 1999 June meeting. A four-year letterwinning defensive back, he served as a team tri-captain in 1982 while earning All-America honors. After graduating with a degree in economics, he was a third-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears and enjoyed an 11-year NFL career. A four-time All-Pro, he was named the 1987 NFL Man of the Year, the ’88 NFL Humanitarian of the Year and the ’90 Monogram Club Member of the Year due to his charitable work with substance abuse prevention and the Special Olympics.
Duerson was a starter on the vaunted 1985 defense that led Chicago to a Super-Bowl title. He played on another Super Bowl champ with the 1990 New York Giants before closing his career with the Phoenix Cardinals.
Since April of 1995, Duerson has served as president, CEO and majority partner of Fair Oaks Farms, Inc., in Kenosha, Wis., the primary supplier of sausage patties to the McDonald’s System worldwide and other wholesale and retail outlets. Duerson, a native of Muncie, Ind., and his wife Alicia reside in Highland Park, Ill., with their three sons and daughter Taylor.
NEIDERT NAMED TO BOARD
Former Irish football player Rob Neidert was among five individuals named to the National Monogram Club board of directors, through 2003. The Akron, Ohio, native served as a starting offensive lineman in 1969 before platooning on the defensive line. He was a starting defensive end on the 1970 team. He has spent the past 15 years as an account executive for Chicago-based Viskase Corporation, which sells packaging supplies to the food industry. He and his wife Patricia are the parents of three daughters and reside in Stow, Ohio.
CENTURY OF GREATNESS
Fans will have the chance to determine the top 10 moments during the 1900s in Notre Dame football history as part of a joint promotion involving the University of Notre Dame, Host Communications and University Netcasting/FansOnly. Beginning in August, Irish fans will have the opportunity to select their top moments from the 1900s as part of a season-long “Century of Greatness” program. Fans may vote throughout the month of August at www.und.com. Ballots also will be distributed at Notre Dame Stadium in conjunction with the August 28 season opener versus Kansas. Select Meijer stores also will provide ballots through displays that will include the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a trip to the Nov. 6 Notre Dame-Tennessee game in Knoxville.
RECENT IRISH RUSHING HISTORY
Notre Dame’s rushing attack has ranked 20th or better in 11 of the last 12 years:
Year Rushing Ave NCAA Rank Rushing TDs1987 252.1 14th 331988 258.0 11th 301989 287.7 8th 421990 250.3 12th 331991 268.0 5th 311992 280.9 3rd 341993 260.7 6th 361994 215.6 20th 181995 233.5 6th 291996 269.5 8th 341997 174.9 36th 221998 212.5 16th 22
STILL A TOUGH TICKET
Including the 1999 lottery figures, here are the 10-highest demanded games (based on total tickets requested by contributing alumni) in Notre Dame Stadium history:
Rk. Opponent Season Request 1. USC 1997 57,048 2. Michigan State 1997 47,681 3. Michigan 1998 47,233 4. USC 1999 46,658 5. Army 1998 46,547 6. West Virginia 1997 46,093 7. Ohio State 1996 45,225 8. Boston College 1997 43,442 9. Georgia Tech 1997 43,40810. Michigan 1994 42,705
Irish Sell Out for 34th Consecutive Year in 1998
The University of Notre Dame finished 11th nationally in attendance among all NCAA Division I-A football-playing institutions in 1998. The Irish averaged 80,012 fans (the full capacity of the expanded Notre Dame Stadium) for its six ’98 home games. The ’98 season marked the 34th consecutive season that every seat has been sold for every home game. Notre Dame also ranked eight nationally for 1997 season home attendance, with the average increase of 21,150 fans per game in ’97 compared to ’96 representing the second-highest increase nationally, behind Stanford’s 21,154 that was helped by the Oct. 4 crowd of 75,651 (compared to the average of 56,937) when the Irish played the Cardinal in Palo Alto. College football set an all-time attendance record in 1997, with 36.9 million fans viewing games, including a record 27.5 million in Division I-A.
Ticket Details
? All six ’98 Notre Dame home football games were sold out. That’s no surprise, considering 141 straight games at Notre Dame Stadium — and 189 of the last 190 back to ’64 — have been sellouts.
? The 1997-99 seasons have produced nine of the 10 highest number of ticket requests in Notre Dame history, thanks to the availability of nearly twice as many tickets through the alumni lottery (33,779 in ’98, 16,000 prior to ’97). The 1999 home game with USC attracted 46,658 requests from alumni, ranking fourth all-time (see chart at left). Contributing alumni are graduates who have contributed at least $100 to the University within the last calendar year.
? Ticket requests for ’97-the first year of the expanded Notre Dame Stadium-increased by 90,000 for six games, compared to the highest previous figure. Thousands more contributing alumni received tickets in ’97 and ’98 compared to any previous year. Additional tickets were made available to parents of current students, and an alumni family game was designated, providing alumni the chance to order more than the customary two tickets. All University staff also now have the opportunity to obtain tickets.
? The increase of nearly 21,000 seats provided 16,000 more to the lottery, 3,000 to faculty and staff and 2,000 to University allotments, including trustees, advisory councils, alumni board, alumni clubs, and major benefactors.
? The 80,225 capacity (80,012 for ’98) – and the six sellouts in ’97 – enabled Notre Dame to rank eighth nationally in Division 1-A attendance in ’97.
BIG CROWDS EVERYWHERE
Notre Dame has played in front of capacity crowds in 108 of its last 126 games (with a near-sellout on Nov. 28, 1998 at USC). Each of the first 10 regular-season games involving Notre Dame during the 1998 season was played in front of a sellout crowd.