Irish Wrap Up Regular Season Saturday At #5 USC

Nov. 25, 2008

Full Notes Package in PDF Format (recommended for easy reading and enhanced statistical data)

GAME 12: NOTRE DAME (6-5) vs. #5 USC (9-1)
DATE:
Saturday, November 29, 2008
TIME: 5:01 p.m. PT
SITE (CAPACITY): Los Angeles Coliseum (92,000); Los Angeles, Calif.

TICKETS: Saturday’s game is not sold out. Notre Dame has played in front of sellout crowds in 70 of its last 77 road games. The only non-sellouts include the 2001-07 games at Stanford, the 2004 game vs. Navy (The Meadowlands), the 2005 game at Washington and the 2006 game at Air Force.

TV: ESPN national telecast with Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analysis), Holly Rowe (sideline), Bo Garrett (producer) and Scott Johnson (director).

RADIO: ISP Sports is the exclusive national rights-holder for Irish football radio broadcasts. The Notre Dame-ISP relationship begins with the 2008 season — with ISP managing, producing and syndicating the Irish national football radio network. Notre Dame games will be broadcast by Don Criqui (play-by-play), former Irish great Allen Pinkett (analysis) and Jeff Jeffers providing pre-game, sideline and post-game reports. This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 159). All Notre Dame home games may be heard in South Bend on Sunny 101.5 FM and NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM. See page 12 of this PDF notes package for more information on Irish football radio and television shows.

WEB SITES: Notre Dame (und.com), USC (usctrojans.com).

REAL-TIME STATS: Live in-game statistics will be provided through CBS College Sports Gametracker via each school’s respective official athletic websites.

POLLS: USC is ranked fifth in both the Associated Press poll and USA Today coaches polls. Notre Dame is unranked in either poll.

SERIES INFO: This meeting will be the 80th all-time meeting in NCAA college football’s top intersectional rivalry. USC has captured each of the past six meetings and nine of 12 overall. Notre Dame did not lose to the Trojans over the previous 13 meetings (1983-95), including an 11-game winning streak. USC’s six-game winning streak is its longest in series history. The Trojans won five straight from 1978-82. (see All-Time Series Results on page 34 of the PDF notes package).

NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH Charlie Weis: A record combined win total for the first two seasons of any Notre Dame head football coach, consecutive Bowl Championship Series appearances for the first time in Irish history, and the two most accomplished passing seasons in Notre Dame football annals – those are the most notable by-products of the first three seasons of the Charlie Weis era in South Bend.

Weis, a 1978 Notre Dame graduate and owner of four Super Bowl-champion rings as products of a stellar 15-season career as a National Football League assistant coach, wasted no time putting his signature stamp on his alma mater’s program in his first two years as Irish head coach in 2005 and 2006.

Weis and his Irish followed up a 9-3 record in ’05 and BCS appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl with a 10-3 overall mark in ’06 and a second consecutive BCS invitation, this time to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Those 19 combined wins (including eight straight in the middle of the ’06 regular season) qualified as most in a two-year period by the Irish since they collected 21 in 1992-93. It was also the first time Notre Dame played in BCS games in successive years and the most prominent two-season bowl qualification since the Irish played in the Fiesta and Orange Bowls after the 1994 and ’95 campaigns. The only schools to play in BCS games after both the ’05 and ’06 seasons were Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC.

Notre Dame’s 10 regular-season wins in ’06 marked the ninth time that figure had been achieved in Irish history. Weis’ 19 combined wins in his first two seasons were the most by a ND head coach in his first two years (the previous high was 17 by both Terry Brennan in 1954-55 and Dan Devine in 1975-76). For the second straight year in ’06 Weis was one of three finalists for the George Munger Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club (of Philadelphia) to the college coach of the year.

The architect in ’05 and ’06 of the two most prolific passing seasons in Irish football history, Weis effectively transformed the ND offense into one of the most productive in the nation, as the Irish scored more points in `05 (440) than in any previous season in school history – and also qualified as the most improved offensive attack in the nation, jumping its total offense production (477.33 yards per game) a national-best 131.8 yards per game better than in ’04. The Irish followed that up with another strong passing attack in ’06, with Notre Dame’s average of 264.1 passing yards per contest ranking 13th nationally and second all-time in the Notre Dame record book (behind only the 330.3 mark from ’05). The Irish protected the football nearly as well as any team in the country in ’06, with their 14 overall turnovers in 13 games ranking tied for fourth of the 119 NCAA I-A teams.

On a combined basis in 2005 and ’06 under Weis, Notre Dame led the nation in interception avoidance with only 1.6 percent of Irish passes picked off over those two years. The Irish, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Brady Quinn, finished third in TD passes with 69 and sixth in passing yards per game (295.8) and passing rating (151.7). In ’05 and ’06 combined, compared to the previous two seasons, the Irish improved their points per game by 11.5, and their total yards per game by 90.9.

A WIN THIS WEEK WOULD…

• Make Notre Dame 7-5 on the season.
• Be the first victory for the Irish over a top 10 opponent since No. 3 Michigan (17-10) on Sept. 10, 2005.
• Be the first victory for Notre Dame over a top 10 opponent away from Notre Dame Stadium since No. 3 Michigan (17-10) on Sept. 10, 2005.
• Snap a five-game losing streak for the Irish against top 10 foes.
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record to 40-53-5 (.434) all-time against teams ranked in the top five.
• Improve the Irish to 12-22-1 (.357) all-time on the road against teams ranked in the top five.
• Snap USC’s six-game winning streak overall in the all-time series.
• Snap USC’s three-game winning streak at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
• Improve Notre Dame to 43-32-5 (.569) in the all-time series with the Trojans.
• Improve the Irish to 18-20-4 (.476) in the all-time series with USC in Los Angeles.
• Improve Weis’ Notre Dame record to 29-20 overall, 1-3 against USC and 9-3 against Pac-10 foes.
• Improve Weis’ record to 5-9 (.357) against teams ranked in the top 25.
• Improve Weis’ Notre Dame road record to 12-7 (.632).
• Improve Weis’ Notre Dame record to 12-6 (.667) in November games.
• Improve Weis’ Notre Dame record to 9-10 (.474) following a defeat.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad to 12-9-1 (.568) all-time against USC.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad to 6-6-1 (.500) all-time against the Trojans in Los Angeles.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad to 6-7-1 (.464) all-time against a ranked USC team.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad to 4-5-1 (.450) all-time against a ranked Trojans team in Los Angeles.
• Improve Weis’ record to 7-4 (.636) in night games.
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record to 831-281-42 (.738).
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record on the road to 291-140-22 (.689).
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record against the Pac-10 to 81-41-6 (.656).
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time road record against the Pac-10 to 33-24-1 (.578).
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record in the regular season finale to 65-43-12 (.592).

A LOSS THIS WEEK WOULD…

• Make Notre Dame 6-6 on the season.
• Deny the Irish their first victory over a top 10 opponent since No. 3 Michigan (17-10) on Sept. 10, 2005.
• Deny Notre Dame its first victory over a top 10 opponent away from Notre Dame Stadium since No. 3 Michigan (17-10) on Sept. 10, 2005.
• Give the Irish a six-game losing streak against top 10 foes.
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record to 39-54-5 (.423) all-time against teams ranked in the top five.
• Drop the Irish to 11-23-1 (.329) all-time on the road against teams ranked in the top five.
• Extend USC’s winning streak to seven games in the all-time series.
• Extend the Trojans winning streak to four games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
• Drop Notre Dame to 42-33-5 (.556) in the all-time series with the Trojans.
• Drop the Irish to 17-21-4 (.452) in the all-time series with USC in Los Angeles.
• Drop Weis’ Notre Dame record to 28-21 (.571) overall, 0-4 against USC and 8-4 against Pac-10 foes.
• Drop Weis’ record to 4-10 (.286) against teams ranked in the top 25.
• Drop Weis’ Notre Dame road record to 11-8 (.579).
• Drop Weis’ Notre Dame record to 11-7 (.611) in November games.
• Drop Weis’ Notre Dame record to 8-11 (.421) following a defeat.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad to 11-10-1 (.523) all-time against USC.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad to 5-7-1 (.423) all-time against the Trojans in Los Angeles.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad to 5-8-1 (.393) all-time against a ranked USC team.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad to 3-6-1 (.350) all-time against a ranked Trojans team in Los Angeles.
• Drop Weis’ record to 6-5 (.545) in night games.
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record to 830-282-42 (.737).
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record on the road to 290-141-22 (.687).
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record against the Pac-10 to 80-42-6 (.648).
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time road record against the Pac-10 to 32-25-1 (.560).
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record in the regular season finale to 64-44-12 (.583).

IRISH TEAM NOTES

IRISH DEFENSE STINGY OUT OF GATE

• Notre Dame surrendered just a field goal in last Saturday’s opening quarter against Syracuse. The Irish have not allowed a first quarter touchdown since Sept. 27 against Purdue.
• In fact, Notre Dame has allowed just nine points in the first quarter over its last six games.
• Syracuse took a 10-3 lead with 6:48 to go in the opening half on a one-yard touchdown run from Curtis Brinkley. The touchdown for the Orange was the third offensive score allowed by the Notre Dame defense in the opening half over its last seven games. The Irish defense has surrendered just 23 total first half points over the past five games.

SENIORS STELLAR ON SENIOR DAY

• Notre Dame got a number of great performances from seniors who made their final appearances at Notre Dame Stadium last Saturday against Syracuse.
• DT Pat Kuntz had a season-high seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
• DB Ray Herring had a season-high six tackles, including his first career sack.
• LB Scott Smith picked up his first career forced fumble that helped set up an Irish field goal.
• DB Mike Anello not only forced a fumble on a punt helping the Irish grab a 3-0 lead and also deflected a punt.
• WR David Grimes had a season-high tying seven receptions and a career-high 83 yards receiving, including a season-best 31-yard catch.

MORE, MORE BIG PLAYS

• Sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen failed to complete a pass of over 20 yards for the first time in a game two weeks ago against Navy, but rebounded with four last Saturday against Syracuse.
• Clausen now has 36 completions of over 20 yards on the season. He connected on just 13 in 10 games as a freshman a year ago.
• The Irish had six passing plays of at least 30 yards in the entire 2007 season. Not only does sophomore WR Golden Tate have more by himself (13), but Notre Dame has 22 as team though 11 games.
• Sophomore WR Golden Tate had a 42-yard punt return with 3:54 left in the 3rd quarter against Boston College, the longest of the season for both Tate and the Irish. It was the longest punt return for a Notre Dame player since Tom Zbikowski had a 60-yard punt return in the victory over Stanford in the 2007 season finale.

YOUNG PUPS

• Freshman DB Robert Blanton picked up his first career start against Navy. Blanton is the sixth different Irish rookie to start a game this season. Blanton joined WR Michael Floyd, TE Kyle Rudolph, OG Trevor Robinson, DE Ethan Johnson and LB Darius Fleming.
• The Irish started five freshmen against Boston College, a season-high. On offense, Notre Dame started with WR Michael Floyd (8th start), TE Kyle Rudolph (9th), and OG Trevor Robinson (1st). On the defensive side, DE Ethan Johnson (3rd start) and LB Darius Fleming (2nd) got the nod.
• The five freshmen starters are the most for the Irish since six rookies were in the starting lineup in the 2007 season finale at Stanford.
• Robinson became just the fifth freshman to start a game on the Irish offensive line at any point, joining an elite club that includes teammate junior OT Sam Young (the entire 2006 season), Ryan Harris (final eight games of 2003), Brad Williams (vs. Navy and Boston College in 1996) and Mike Rosenthal (vs. Ohio State, USC and Air Force in 1995).
• Notre Dame’s freshman duo of WR Michael Floyd and TE Kyle Rudolph each established school records for receptions and receiving yards by first year players at their respective positions. Floyd’s total is also a record for any position.
• Floyd not only holds the rookie records for receptions and receiving touchdowns, but he also surpassed Tony Hunter’s previous school record (690) for receiving yards by a freshman.
• The Irish played 53 different players against Pittsburgh and 22 have at least two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
• The Irish have scored 33 touchdowns already this season and 27 have come from either freshmen or sophomores, including both scores in last Saturday’s game against Syracuse. The only touchdowns scored this season by upper classmen were junior RB James Aldridge (3), senior WR David Grimes (2), and junior LB Toryan Smith.
• The 27 of 33 touchdowns by underclassmen does not include sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen, who has tossed 20 touchdown passes this season.
• Notre Dame not only started two freshmen against Washington, but also played a total of nine true freshmen in the game, including the first career appearance for TE Joseph Fauria.

SUPER SOPHOMORES

• Notre Dame’s 2007 recruiting class, which was widely considered one of the top classes in the country, experienced serious growing pains a year ago, but from the early returns from 2008 the experience was rewarding.
• The Irish have scored 33 touchdowns in 2008 and 17 have come from sophomores. WR Golden Tate leads Notre Dame with eight touchdowns (seven receiving, one rushing). RB Armando Allen has scored four touchdowns, while RB Robert Hughes has three. WR Duval Kamara and LB Brian Smith each have one touchdown. When you toss in freshman WR Michael Floyd, freshman TE Kyle Rudolph and freshman DB Robert Blanton, a first or second year player has scored 27 of Notre Dame’s 33 touchdowns.
• Sophomore Jimmy Clausen has thrown 20 touchdown passes.
• The top two running backs are both sophomores.
• Tate leads the Irish in total touchdowns (eight), receptions (50) and receiving yards (888). He is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns (seven). Tate also leads Notre Dame in all-purpose yards with 1,518 (138.0 per game).
• Allen leads the Irish in rushing yards (569), yards per rush (4.5, among backs with at least 10 carries) and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (three).
• Hughes is second on Notre Dame in rushing yards (320) and tied for the team-lead with three rushing touchdowns.
• Four of the top six players in scoring and six of the top 12 are all sophomores (three others are freshman).
• The top three players in total offense and five of the top seven are sophomores.
• The top two players and three of the top four in all-purpose yards are sophomores.
• Two of the top six and five of the top 18 tacklers on the Irish squad are sophomores (and three others are freshmen).

THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS

• Since the bye week (the previous four games before Syracuse), Notre Dame had limited its opponent to just 14-of-58 on third down (24.1%), but the Orange managed to convert 6-of-13 (46.2%) on third down.
• Notre Dame ranked 15th in the NCAA FBS in third down conversion percentage defense at 31.4% before last Saturday’s contest with Syracuse.
• The Irish slipped to 21st in the NCAA FBS in third down conversion percentage defense.
• Notre Dame’s defense had limited Navy to just 1-of-13 (7.7%). The Midshipmen did not convert a third down until its last drive of the game, which came with less than a minute remaining.
• The Irish were stellar on third down against Boston College. The Irish limited the Eagles to just 3-of-14 (21.4%).
• Over its three games entering Boston College, Notre Dame had made major improvements on third down. The Irish had converted 46.9% (23-of-49) on third down. Notre Dame had converted just 33.8% (22-of-65) over its first five games.
• However, Notre Dame struggled on third down in the loss to the Eagles. The Irish converted just 5-of-15 (33.3%). Notre Dame continued its struggles on third down last week in its victory over Navy. The Irish converted just 3-of-10.
• Notre Dame entered the North Carolina game converting on just 33.8% (22-of-65) on third down this season. The Irish proceeded to convert 6-of-8 on third down in the opening 30 minutes. In fact, North Carolina had allowed just 35.4% (28-of-79) on third down prior to the game. Notre Dame limited the Tar Heels to just 2-of-7 in the first half.
• The Irish finished the game against North Carolina 10-of-16 on third down conversions which is the most third down conversions by the Irish in the Weis era.

IRISH ON THE DEFENSE

• Notre Dame limited Syracuse to just 317 total yards, including only 147 yards in the air. The Orange also completed just 53.8% of their passes (14-of-26).
• The Irish, which ranked second in the NCAA FBS in pass defense a season ago, has really come together since a slow start. After four games this season, Notre Dame was allowing 251.25 passing yards per game, which ranked 101st in the country. The Irish have since risen to 22nd in the nation and allow just 176.73 per game.
• Notre Dame has allowed 22 passing plays of over 20 yards this year, but only eight since the bye week (last five games). In fact, the Irish have allowed just 42 such plays over the last two season combined. Notre Dame allowed 73 passing plays of over 20 yards combined in 2005 and 2006.
• Notre Dame forced Navy into a three-out on its opening possession of the game. The Midshipmen had scored on their opening drive in each of their first nine games this season.
• The Irish limited Navy to just one first down in the first quarter and 21 total yards on 12 plays. Navy had 21 yards on nine rushes and failed to complete a pass on three attempts.
• Navy did not register a first down (without benefit of penalty) until the 8:20 mark of the second quarter.
• Notre Dame did not allow Navy a rushing first down until the Midshipmen’s final drive of the opening half.
• The Midshipmen entered the game averaging 308.00 yards per game on the ground. Navy managed just 97 yards on the ground on 22 carries in the first half. In fact, 37 of those 97 yards came on two carries – a 15-yard rumble from fullback Eric Kettani and 22-yard touchdown run from Cory Finnerty.
• The Irish defense came out of the halftime lockeroom and dominated the Midshipmen in the third quarter. Notre Dame limited the Middies to just 33 total yards on 11 plays and only one first down. All 11 plays were rushes.
• In the first and third quarters combined, Notre Dame limited the Midshipmen to just a pair of first downs and one came on an Irish defensive penalty.
• Notre Dame held Navy to just 178 yards rushing on the day. It was the fewest rushing yards by the Midshipmen since Rutgers allowed just 113 on Oct. 14, 2006.
• The Irish held Navy to just 1-for-13 on third down. The Mids’ only third down conversion came on their final drive of the game.
• Notre Dame forced Navy into nine punts. The Midshipmen previous single-game high from this year was six punts against Wake Forest on Sept. 27. The nine punts were the most by the Midshipmen since they punted 11 times against Rutgers on Oct. 14, 2006.
• Navy’s 242 total yards are the fewest for the Midshipmen since that Rutgers game of 2006.
• Notre Dame, which allowed just 242 total yards against Navy, had allowed under 250 yards of total offense in two of the last three games. In fact, the Irish have allowed less than 250 yards of total offense in three of its last five games.
• The Irish defense forced three three-and-outs last week against Syracuse and nine over their last two games. Notre Dame has forced at least six three-and-outs in three of its last four games.
• Notre Dame has forced 24 three-and-outs in the last five games as compared to the 15 the Irish forced over their first six games. Notre Dame has also forced 35 punts in last five games as compared to 29 punts over its first six games.
• The 958 yards of total offense allowed by Notre Dame over the four games against Washington, Pittsburgh, Boston College and Navy was the fewest yards allowed by an Irish defense over any four-game span since the final four games of the 1996 season. Notre Dame allowed 924 yards against Boston College, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and USC.
• In the final 2007 NCAA stats, Notre Dame ranked 72nd in scoring defense (28.75), 39th in total defense (357.00) and 96th in rushing defense (195.42).
• The Notre Dame defense stepped up in adverse conditions to keep the Irish in the game against Boston College. Notre Dame held the Eagles to 3-of-14 on 3rd down conversion attempts while holding the Eagles to 246 yards.
• The Irish limited Boston College to just 10 offensive points. The Eagles other touchdown came on an interception return. The Eagles only touchdown drive, which covered just 48 yards, followed sophomore WR Golden Tate’s muffed punt.
• Notre Dame limited Boston College quarterback Chris Crane to just a completion percentage of 40.9% (9-of-22) and 79 yards — the fewest allowed this year by the Irish.
• Notre Dame forced six three-and-outs in the game and nine of Boston College’s 14 drives gained seven or fewer yards. In fact, the Irish have forced 15 three-and-outs in last three games.
• The Irish did not register a defensive penalty the entire game.
• Over the entire Washington game and the opening quarter against Pittsburgh, Notre Dame’s first team defense allowed 61 total yards on 47 plays – good for an average of 1.3 yard per play. In fact, the Irish forced eight three-and-outs on defense in 12 opponent drives.
• Pittsburgh did not convert a first down until the 11:50 of the second quarter.
• The Panthers had 11 possessions in regulation. Notre Dame forced Pittsburgh into a trio of three-and-outs before overtime. The Irish have now forced nine three-and-outs in their opponents last 20 drives in regulation.
• Simply put, Notre Dame registered its top defensive game in recent memory at Washington. The Irish limited the Huskies to only 124 total yards on 48 offensive plays (only 2.6 yards per play) — all Notre Dame bests since head coach Charlie Weis arrived in South Bend in 2005. In fact, the 124 total yards were the fewest for an Irish opponent since Rutgers managed only 43 in a 62-0 Notre Dame victory on Nov. 23, 1996.
• The Irish forced the Huskies to punt on each of their first nine possessions. Washington’s longest drive of the game (prior its final drive of the game) went for 14 yards. The Huskies did have a nine play drive that managed just nine yards.
• Notre Dame forced Washington into six three and outs over its first nine drives.
• Prior to that final Huskies’ drive, in which they marched 69 yards on 10 plays against Notre Dame’s third-team defense to avoid their first home shutout since 1976, Washington had only 55 total yards on 38 plays. The Huskies had not been held below 100 yards of total offense in nearly 60 years.
• Notre Dame held Washington to plays of two yards or less 30 times over its 48 plays. Notre Dame did not allow a play of longer than eight yards prior to that final drive. Washington finished the game with eight plays of over eight yards and five came on that final meaningless drive.
• While the Irish did not force a turnover, they did register four sacks against Washington. Notre Dame managed just one sack over its first four games, but the Irish have totaled 12 in their last four games.
• Notre Dame also limited the Huskies to just nine first downs, but five came on that final drive. The nine first downs allowed are the fewest under Weis and fewest by an Irish opponent since Pittsburgh managed just nine in a Notre Dame 20-14 victory on Oct. 11, 2003.
• Washington could only muster 26 yards rushing on 23 carries, just 1.1 yards per carry. The 26 yards rushing are the fewest for an Irish foe since UCLA had 26 in last season’s meeting. Notre Dame did not allow a rush of longer than eight yards all game.

ONLY THE BIG BOYS
Notre Dame is one of just five NCAA Division I-A programs that has never faced a non-Division I-A opponent since the current division setup was established in 1978 (the division’s names have undergone a change this year, but the setup is still the same). The four remaining schools that have yet to play a non-Division I-A opponent since the advent of the current format are Michigan State, USC, UCLA and Washington.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT BEST IN THE NATION

• Entering this weekend’s action, Notre Dame’s 125.66 yards-per-game improvement for the Irish offense this season is rated tops in the nation, ahead of a list that includes Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Georgia.
• The vast improvements are not exclusive to the offensive side of the ball. The Notre Dame defense has also made major leaps from a season ago.
• Notre Dame is the only school that is among the top 13 in most improved offense and scoring defense.

IRISH FINALLY PUNTS AGAINST NAVY

• Notre Dame was forced to punt against Navy for the first time since the 2004 meeting. The Irish had gone 247 plays against Navy without being forced to punt – dating back to a D.J. Fitzpatrick punt in the fourth quarter of the 27-9 Irish victory in 2004. The Irish ran 17 plays over three drives in last saturday’s game, 90 plays over nine drives in 2007, 62 plays over 10 drive in the 2006 and 70 plays over nine drives in 2005.

NOTRE DAME KEPT NAVY OFF THE FIELD

• The Irish won the time of possession battle against Navy 35:33 to 24:27. It was the smallest amount of time of possession for the Midshipmen since Oct. 22, 2005 against Rice when they managed just 22:20.

STEPPING UP ON THE SHORT FIELD

• Notre Dame defense held Boston College to a field goal in the first half, despite the fact the Eagles started three of their first four drives in Irish territory. On the three drives that began on the Notre Dame half of the field, Boston College failed to score.
• The Eagles eventually benefitted from a total of five drives that began inside Irish territory, but Notre Dame limited them to only one touchdown.
• Navy started two drives inside Notre Dame territory and the Irish limited the Mids to one score (a touchdown).
• Notre Dame’s opposition has started 17 different drives this season in Irish territory. The Irish defense has limited their opponent to just seven scores (six touchdowns, one field goal) on those 17 possessions. In fact, Notre Dame has allowed just 17 points (two touchdowns, field goal) on its opponents last nine drives that began inside the Irish 50-yard line.

LONG DAY AT THE STADIUM

• Notre Dame and Pittsburgh played the longest game in Irish history earlier this season. Notre Dame had never seen a game enter the fourth overtime. The Irish dropped a three-overtime game to Navy in 2007. In fact, the Irish have dropped their last three games that have entered overtime.
• The game lasted 4:01, which is longest in terms of time since the Michigan State game in 2005. In fact, no other game has ever gone longer since 2002 (when length of time was included on box scores).
• Notre Dame and Pittsburgh combined for 160 total plays in the game (the Panthers ran 77, while the Irish ran 83).
• The 83 plays for Notre Dame are the most this season and most since the Irish ran 90 last year against Navy.

TERRITORIAL DOMINANCE

• Washington ran 26 plays in the first half and not one inside the Irish 50-yard line. By contrast, 27 of Notre Dame’s 42 plays were run inside Huskies’ territory.
• Notre Dame’s average drive start was its own 43-yard line, while Washington’s was its own 20. When you take into consideration each team had six first half possessions, the Irish had an advantage of 138 hidden yards.
• Washington did not enter the Irish territory until 5:50 to go in the game.
• Washington ran a total of 48 plays in the game. Notre Dame ran a total of 49 plays in Washington territory alone.

NOTRE DAME AWAY FROM THE FRIENDLY CONFINES

• Notre Dame opened the 2008 season with a perfect 4-0 record inside Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish have not been able to replicate that success on the road. The Irish are 2-3 away from home and 1-3 on an opponent’s home field.
• The most obvious reason for the Irish lack of success on the road is simple — turnovers. Notre Dame has forced 18 turnovers in its six home games, but just two turnovers in games against Michigan State, North Carolina, Washington, Boston College and Navy. In fact, the Irish have a +12 turnover margin at home and -17 turnover margin away from home.

TURNOVERS

• Notre Dame’s turnover difficulties on the road continued against Navy. The Irish turned it over on their first two drives of the afternoon (interception and a fumble) and then again (interception) on its second-to-last drive of the first half.
• The Irish did, however, force a turnover late in the second quarter that set up the go-ahead Notre Dame field goal. It was the first forced turnover for Notre Dame on the road since the Michigan State game earlier in the season (a span of 15 quarters).
• Notre Dame added a fourth turnover deep in Navy territory with 4:54 to go in the game. The Irish had first and goal at the two-yard line leading 27-7 before freshman Jonas Gray fumbled.
• The Irish were charged with a fifth turnover (team fumble) on Navy’s first onside kick late in the fourth quarter.
• The Irish have a minus-17 turnover margin in their five games away from Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame has forced two turnovers (Michigan State, Navy), while the Irish have committed 19 turnovers along the way, including a trio of five turnover games (North Carolina, Boston College and Navy).
• The Irish were minus-five in turnover margin against Boston College, which was the identical spread Notre Dame found itself against North Carolina earlier this season. Notre Dame has registered a minus-five effort in the turnover department just three times since the start of the 2002 season and two have come in the last four games.
• Notre Dame has now registered five turnovers in a game three different times in 2008 (actually all in the last five games). Prior to this span of games, one must go back 110 games to find Notre Dame posting three seperate five turnover games.
• The Irish turned it over five different times (four interceptions and a fumble) at Boston College. That does not include a block punt that led to the Eagles only offensive touchdown.
• The Irish were minus-five in turnover margin against Boston College, which was the identical spread Notre Dame found itself against North Carolina earlier this season. Notre Dame has registered a minus-five effort in the turnover department just three times since the start of the 2002 season and two have come in the last five games.
• Notre Dame forced four Stanford turnovers in its victory on Oct. 4. Over their last five games, the Irish have forced four turnovers and three came against Pittsburgh. Notre Dame has not forced a single turnover in three of the five games.
• After failing to record a turnover in two games against Washington and North Carolina, Notre Dame picked off three passes against Pittsburgh. The Irish had a +3 advantage in turnover margin. In fact, Notre Dame had not lost a game when owning a +3 advantage in the turnover department since Sept. 4, 1999 when the Irish lost at Michigan, 26-22.
• Notre Dame did not force a turnover in the victory over Washington and did not force one in consecutive games (also included the North Carolina game). The Irish had not gone back-to-back games without forcing a turnover since meetings with North Carolina and Air Force in 2006 — a span of 20 games. Prior to this season’s matchup with the Tar Heels, Notre Dame had recorded seven interceptions and recovered seven fumbles in its first five games which ranked sixth-best in the NCAA FBS of schools that had played an equal number of games.
• Notre Dame entered the game against North Carolina with a +5 advantage in turnover margin and ranked tied for 20th in the NCAA FBS. In fact, Notre Dame had gone the two previous games (Purdue and Stanford) without committing a single turnover. The Irish had not gone two straight games without a turnover since the 2006 season when ironically enough Notre Dame went without turnovers in victories over the Boilermakers and Cardinal.
• The Irish committed five turnovers (two interceptions, three fumbles) against the Tar Heels, while North Carolina failed to commit one. The minus-five in turnover margin is the largest for Notre Dame in a game this season and largest turnover margin since Nov 2, 2002 in a 14-7 loss against Boston College.

NO RUNNING BACKS
Notre Dame opened the game against North Carolina with four wide receivers, one tight end and no running backs. The Irish had not opened five wide, no running backs, since Oct. 22, 2005 against BYU (just the second time under Weis and more than likely in Notre Dame school history). Notre Dame also opened that game with four WRs and one tight end. Brady Quinn proceeded to throw for 467 yards and a school record six touchdown passes that afternoon. Sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen set career-highs in completions (31), attempts (48) and yards (383) in the loss to the Tar Heels.

CHARLIE AND THE IRISH OFFENSIVE FACTORY

• Fourth-year head coach Charlie Weis came to Notre Dame with a tremendous reputation as one of the premier offensive minds in all of the NFL. The Irish saw immediate results in 2005, setting 11 school records, including passing yards (3,963), touchdown passes (32, bested in 2007), total offense yards (5,728) and total points (440). Notre Dame has surpassed the 40-point barrier on 11 different occasions in Weis’ 48 games as head coach. Prior to his arrival, Notre Dame had eclipsed 40 points just nine times in its previous 97 contests. In addition, the Irish had 83 separate 100-yard receiving games over its first 116 seasons of football, but Notre Dame has had 28 the past four years under Weis. To put those numbers in perspective, Notre Dame averaged a 100-yard receiving effort every 13 games. Under Weis, the Irish is recording a 100-yard receiving effort every other game.
• Freshman WR Michael Floyd and sophomore WR Golden Tate each surpassed 100 yards receiving against Pittsburgh. They are the first Irish tandem to eclipse 100 yards receiving in the same game since Jeff Samardzija and John Carlson both eclipsed the century mark against Michigan State in 2006.
• Notre Dame has recorded eight 100-yard receiving games from the wideout tandem of Floyd and Tate this season. The Irish had just one such game in 2007 (Tate against Purdue). Notre Dame had 19 combined in 2005 and 2006.

QUITE AN EARLY TURNAROUND

• Notre Dame opened the 2007 season with five straight losses for the first time in school history. The 2008 Irish opened the year at 4-1, nearly reversing that trend 180 degrees in one season. The four-game improvement over the first five games of a season is the greatest ever by a Notre Dame squad.
• In fact, it was the greatest turnaround through five games by an NCAA FBS school in 10 years since South Carolina opened the 2000 season with a 4-1 record. The Gamecocks were 0-5 after five games of the 1999 season.
• Interestingly enough, that 2000 South Carolina squad was under a second-year coach that underwent a similar type turnaround in South Bend. His name… Lou Holtz.
• Notre Dame now stands 6-5 on the season, which is still a four-game improvement from the same point of the season in 2007 when the Irish were 2-9.

NOT SO MANY NEW FACES

• Notre Dame had 28 different players (13 on defense, 15 on offense) register their first career start in 2007 (a total of 16 players made their first career starts in 2005 and 2006 combined). The Irish have had 11 more players (DB Robert Blanton, OG Trevor Robinson, LB Steve Quinn, DE Darius Fleming, DE Ethan Johnson, RG Chris Stewart, FS Sergio Brown, FS Harrison Smith, TE Kyle Rudolph, WR Michael Floyd) make their first start in 2008.
• Notre Dame started eight true freshmen in 2007, including HB Robert Hughes, QB Jimmy Clausen, HB Armando Allen, WR Golden Tate, WR Duval Kamara, OLB Kerry Neal, OLB Brian Smith and NT Ian Williams. In comparison, the Irish have started six freshmen in 2008 (DB Robert Blanton, OG Trevor Robinson, DE Darius Fleming, DE Ethan Johnson, TE Kyle Rudolph and WR Michael Floyd).

SPREADING THE WEALTH

• Sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen completed passes to seven different receivers in the victory over Navy . Clausen has now hooked up with at least six different receivers in 10 of Notre Dame’s 11 games this season. In fact, Clausen has connected with at least seven receivers in five of Notre Dames 11 games, including a season-high eight against San Diego State.
• Clausen completed passes to six different receivers in the victory over Washington (junior backup QB Evan Sharpley completed a pass to a seventh in the fourth quarter).
• Clausen completed passes to six different receivers in the first half alone against North Carolina, including four different receivers for multiple receptions. Clausen completed a pass to a seventh different receiver in the second half.

NOTRE DAME WINNING TIME-OF-POSSESSION BATTLE

• While Notre Dame’s offense has been piling up the yardage this season (averaging 367.9 yards per game), it also has won the time of possession battle in seven of 11 games this season. Not too much surprise, four of the five times the Irish have not held an advantage in time of possession came in losses (Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Boston College and Syracuse). Overall, Notre Dame averages 31:37 minutes per game with the ball, compared to 28:23 for its opponents.
• The Irish won the time of possession battle against Navy 35:33 to 24:27. It was the smallest amount of time of possession for the Mids since Oct. 22, 2005 against Rice when they managed just 22:20.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES

• Notre Dame lost both meetings with Big Ten rivals Michigan and Purdue in 2007. The Irish were outscored 71-19 in those games, including a 38-0 shutout at the hands of the Wolverines.
• Notre Dame upended both Michigan and the Boilermakers this season. They outscored the two longtime rivals, 73-38, in the meetings.
• The 35-17 rebound victory over the Wolverines is the fifth-greatest turnaround from one season to the next against the same opponent.
• Among Notre Dame’s six wins this season, three have come against teams they lost to last season, including Michigan, Purdue and Navy.

IN FRONT OF A FULL HOUSE
Notre Dame has played in front of sellout crowds in 212 of its previous 243 games, including 87 of its last 95 contests dating back to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the end of the 2000 season (the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 games at Stanford, the 2004 game vs. Navy at the Meadowlands, the 2005 game at Washington and the 2007 game at UCLA were not sellouts). At Michigan in 2003, the Irish and Wolverines attracted the largest crowd in NCAA history (111,726), marking the third time in the history of the series that an NCAA attendance record was set. Including the 2006 game at Georgia Tech, the Irish have been part of establishing a new stadium attendance record seven times since 2001. The list also includes: at Nebraska and Texas A&M in 2001, at Air Force and Florida State in 2002, home vs. Boston College in 2002, vs. Oregon State in the Insight Bowl in 2004 (the game set a Bank One Ballpark record for football configuration). Notre Dame and Michigan played before an over-capacity 111,386 at Michigan Stadium in September of 2005. At Purdue in `05, the Irish and Boilermakers played before 65,491 football fans, a Ross-Ade Stadium record (since the renovation of the facility in 2003). Penn State drew the second largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history for the meeting with the Irish last season.

FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

• Notre Dame has historically recruited from all across the country and 2008 is no different. A total of 29 different states are represented on the Irish roster. Among Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA), only Army has more states represented on its 2008 roster.

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