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Fighting Irish Football Faces USC Trojans Saturday

Oct. 14, 2001

The following is a partial excerpt from the Notre Dame football release. To view the complete release, please see the PDF version.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-3)
vs. USC Trojans (2-4)

The Date and Time: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001, at 1:30 p.m. EST.

The Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795/Natural Grass) in Notre Dame, Ind.

The Tickets: They’re all sold-with this game marking the 159th consecutive sellout in Notre Dame Stadium (the first 130 coming at the old 59,075 capacity). The USC game also marks the 207th home sellout in the last 208 games (back to 1964) and the 133rd sellout in the last 155 games involving Notre Dame, including the first 10 games of 1998, the first 11 in 99, the first five in 00 and the first six in ’01.

The TV Plans: NBC Sports national telecast with Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Pat Haden (analysis), Jim Gray (sideline) and Ed Feibischoff (producer).

The Radio Plans: For the 34th consecutive season, all Notre Dame football games are broadcast nationally on radio by Westwood One with Tony Roberts (play-by-play), former Irish running back Allen Pinkett (game analysis) and Paul Hornung (pregame/halftime analysis). The Westwood One Network includes more than 200 stations. A live broadcast from the Notre Dame student radio station, WVFI, is available through the Notre Dame athletic department web site at www.und.com. All Notre Dame football games are heard on WNDV-AM and -FM in South Bend and are also carried live in the Chicago market on ESPN Radio 1000 with on-site pre and post-game from all home games at Notre Dame Stadium featuring Dave Wills, Ed Farmer and former Irish great Dave Duerson.

Real-Time Stats: Live in-game statistics are available for the USC game, via the Notre Dame (www.und.com) and USC (www.usctrojans.com) athletic websites.

Websites: Notre Dame (www.und.com), USC (www.usctrojans.com).

The Head Coach
Fifth-year Irish head coach Bob Davie owns a 32-22 (.593) career record at Notre Dame. Davie was one of three finalists for the 2000 Football News Coach of the Year Award and was one of 10 finalists for the 1998 Walter Camp Foundation/Street and Smiths Coach of the Year Award. The 2001 season marks Davies eighth 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 University announced on Dec. 5, 2000, that Davie signed a five-year contract to continue coaching the Irish through the 2005 season.

The Injury Update (as of Oct. 14)
Out
Senior FL Arnaz Battle Fractured right fibula (leg) vs. Michigan State (out 4-6 weeks)
Senior OT John Teasdale Neck – preseason (out two weeks) Doubtful
Senior SS Ron Israel Hamstring injury Probable
Junior FS Glenn Earl Quadriceps injury vs. West Virginia
Senior TB Tony Fisher Hamstring injury vs. West Virginia
Junior TB Julius Jones Sprained arch (foot) vs. West Virginia
Junior SS Gerome Sapp Shoulder vs. Pittsburgh (DNP vs. West Virginia)

NOTRE DAME-USC SERIES NOTES
Saturday’s game marks the 56th consecutive meeting, and 73rd in the last 76 years between Notre Dame and USC. The Irish lead the all-time series with the Trojans, 41-26-5, including a 22-9-1 record against USC at Notre Dame Stadium.

For more on the Notre Dame-USC series, please see page 3 of this notes package.

IF NOTRE DAME WINS …

  • Notre Dame would win its third consecutive game against USC, the longest winning streak for the Irish against the Trojans since a series-long 11-game success run from 1983-93.
  • The Irish will claim their ninth win in the last 10 meetings with USC at Notre Dame Stadium.
  • Notre Dame will improve to 7-2 in the regular season against Pacific-10 Conference teams over the last four years.
  • The Irish will win their fifth consecutive home game against a Pacific-10 opponent. The last Pacific-10 foe to win at Notre Dame Stadium was USC, which claimed a 20-17 victory on Oct. 18, 1997.
  • Notre Dame will stretch its winning streak in the month of October to 16 games and move to 17-2 overall in October under head coach Bob Davie.
  • The Irish will put together a three-game winning streak for the fifth time in the Bob Davie era.

IF USC WINS …

  • The Trojans will pick up their first win over Notre Dame since a 10-0 upset of the ninth-ranked Irish on Nov. 28, 1998 in Los Angeles.
  • USC will earn just its second victory over the Irish in its last 10 visits to Notre Dame.
  • It will snap Notre Dames four-game winning streak against Pac-10 schools at Notre Dame Stadium and its 15-game winning streak in the month of October.
  • Notre Dame will lose its first game in the month of October since a last-minute 20-17 setback to USC on Oct. 18, 1997.

NOTRE DAME-USC SERIES HISTORY
Notre Dame holds a 41-26-5 series edge, including a 22-9-1 advantage in games played at Notre Dame Stadium.

The teams will meet for the 56th straight season (the only gap in the series came during World War II, from 1943-45) and the 73rd time in the last 76 years.

The series began in 1926, when Knute Rockne became one of the first Midwestern or Eastern coaches to take his team to the West Coast. The next four games then alternated between Soldier Field in Chicago and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the first game played at Notre Dame Stadium in 1931.

Notre Dames 41 wins over USC are the most by a Trojan opponent (12 more than Californias second-most 28). The Trojans 26 wins over the Irish are the most by a Notre Dame opponent (three more than Purdue and Michigan States second-most 23).

USC is tied with Purdue as the second-most common opponent in Irish football history, as Notre Dame will play both for the 73rd time this season. The Notre Dame-Navy series remains the longest in school history, with the 75th game in that rivalry to be played next month.

Prior to USC’s 27-20 overtime win over the Irish in 1996, Notre Dame had not lost in any of the previous 13 series meetings (11 straight Irish wins from 83-93, a tie in 94, then another Irish win in 95).

Since 1965, the ND-USC game has been nationally televised on 28 occasions (including the 2001 game).

USC’s last three visits to Notre Dame (including 2001) have resulted in three of the top 10 games in terms of alumni ticket demand in school history. Until the West Virginia game last week, the 1997 Notre Dame-USC affair ranked first all-time with 57,048 requests, but last weeks Irish win over WVU attracted 59,368 to supplant the old mark. This years Notre Dame-USC tilt ranks seventh with 47,127 alumni ticket requests, while the 1999 contest stands eighth with a total of 46,658 requests.

THE LAST TIME NOTRE DAME AND USC MET
Following a tie in 94 and losses in 96 and 98, Notre Dame (in 2000) picked up its first win over Southern California in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1992 with a 38-21 victory over the Trojans ensuring the Irish a spot in the Bowl Championship Series selection pool with their ninth win of the season. Notre Dame rushed for a season-high five touchdowns and pounded out a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took 6:09 and ended with a two-yard TD run by Julius Jones with 2:57 left to seal the victory. The first four Irish touchdowns were set up by Tony Driver and Glenn Earl interceptions, a near blocked punt by David Givens that went 14 yards and a Chad DeBolt blocked punt. Notre Dame led 21-14 at halftime on TD runs by Terrance Howard, Tony Fisher and Matt LoVecchio, while USC scored on a pair of TD passes. The Irish took a 28-14 lead in the third quarter when LoVecchio slipped into the end zone on a fourth-and-goal one-yard option run. Following a Trojan TD pass on fourth-and-one from the Irish 10-yard line, Notre Dame led 31-21 on a 39-yard field goal by Nicholas Setta with 12:09 left in the fourth quarter. Consecutive sacks by Anthony Denman and B.J. Scott forced USC to punt after entering Irish territory, setting up the game-clinching drive for the Irish. Notre Dame finished with 246 yards rushing, while holding USC to 78 yards the third time that season the Irish defense held an opponent under 100 yards rushing. Notre Dame controlled the ball for 10:24 of the fourth quarter to just 4:36 for USC.

THE SHILLELAGH TROPHY
The winner of the Notre Dame-USC game keeps a shillelagh (presented by the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles), with shamrocks representing Notre Dame victories and ruby Trojan heads standing for USC wins (each is engraved with the year and final score). The original foot-long shillelagh was flown from Ireland by Howard Hughes pilot, according to legend, and was introduced in 1952 (although the medallions date back to the start of the series in 1926). When the original shillelagh ran out of space after the 1989 game, it was retired and is permanently displayed at Notre Dame. A new shillelagh slightly larger than the original was commissioned by Jim Gillis, a former baseball player at both USC and Notre Dame and onetime president of the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles. The new trophy was handcrafted in 1997 in County Leitrum, Ireland, and contains medallions beginning with the 90 game.

NOTRE DAME-USC CONNECTIONS
USC fourth-year DL coach Ed Orgeron coached the defensive line at Syracuse from 1995-97, on a staff that included current Irish offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers and offensive tackles/tight ends coach Steve Addazio. Rogers was assistant head coach, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator for the Orangemen during the 1995-97 seasons while Addazio worked with the tight ends and offensive line.

Six Irish players hail from the state of California: walk-on freshman QB Pat Dillingham (Portola Valley/St. Francis HS), walk-on sophomore K Evan Driedger (Canoga Park/Cresti Carmelite HS), senior FB Mike McNair (Irvine/Mater Dei HS), walk-on senior FB Eric Nelson (Van Nuys/Cresti Carmelite HS), senior OT Kurt Vollers (Whittier/Servite HS) and senior CB Shane Walton (San Diego/Bishops School).

Several Notre Dame and USC players hail from the same hometown or attended the same high school:

McNair played at Mater Dei High School, as did three USC players: redshirt freshman S Matt Grootegoed (Huntington Beach), freshman QB Matt Leinart (Santa Ana) and redshirt sophomore C Lenny Vandermade (Santa Ana).

Vollers and USC redshirt freshman OT Joe McGuire (Anaheim) both attended Servite HS.

Dillingham, USC redshirt freshman CB Matt Lemos (Redwood City) and Trojan redshirt freshman WR Forrest Mozart (Los Altos Hills) all attended St. Francis HS in Mountain View, Calif.

Notre Dame junior FS Glenn Earl and USC senior WR Ryan Kaiser both attended Naperville North HS in Naperville, Ill.

Tenth-year Notre Dame womens volleyball head coach Debbie (Landreth) Brown was twice named the national player of the year while helping USC win the 1976 and 77 national championship in womens volleyball.

NOTRE DAME VS. PACIFIC-10 TEAMS
Notre Dame has won 66 percent of its games versus Pacific-10 Conference opponents, with a winning series record versus each of the Pac-10 teams that the Irish have played and an overall mark of 66-33-6 (.663) in 105 games against Pac-10 schools including the 1998 and 2000 wins over Stanford, the 98 and 99 wins over Arizona State and the 99 and 00 wins over USC. Nearly 70 percent of those games (71) have come versus USC (41-26-5) while another 15 have come against Stanford (10-5-0).

Notre Dame has played a handful of games vs. California (4-0), Washington (4-0), Arizona (2-1), Oregon (1-0-1) and UCLA (2-0). Notre Dame and Arizona State met for the first time in 1998, while the Irish met Oregon State for the first time in the 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Notre Dame has never played Washington State on the gridiron, although they are scheduled to meet on Sept. 6, 2003.

The Irish won at Washington in 95 (29-21) and beat the Huskies at Notre Dame Stadium in 96 (54-20), with the only other previous games in that series coming in 48 and 49. The most recent games vs. other Pac-10 teams are: a 16-13 home loss to Arizona in 82, a 41-8 home win over California in 67, a 13-13 tie at Oregon in 82 and a 24-0 home win over UCLA in 64.

Notre Dame is 11-6-1 (.639) in its last 18 games vs. Pacific-10 schools (3-3-1 vs. USC, 4-2 vs. Stanford, 2-0 vs. Washington, 2-0 vs. Arizona State, 0-1 vs. Oregon State), starting with a 92 victory over USC.

NOTRE DAME TO MEET ANOTHER FIRST-TIME COLLEGE COACH
For the second consecutive week, Notre Dame will face a team led by a first-year college head coach as Pete Carroll brings USC to Notre Dame Stadium. Carroll, a veteran NFL coach, is in his first season as a head coach at the college level. Last Saturday, the Irish picked up a 34-24 win over West Virginia and its first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.

IRISH STRONG IN OCTOBER
Notre Dame enters the USC game with a 15-game winning streak in October, dating back to a 20-17 loss to the Trojans in 1997. The Irish have a 16-2 (.889) mark in October under fifth-year head coach Bob Davie. Since the 1988 season, Notre Dame is 47-7 (.870) in October and was 32-7 (.821) in October in the 1990s.

IRISH MAJORING IN CLOCK MANAGEMENT
One of the keys in Notre Dames last two victories has been its ability to control the clock. For the second time in as many games, Notre Dame held the ball for more than 37 minutes, posting a season-high 37:54 time of possession against West Virginia. It was the highest time of possession by the Irish since they owned the pigskin for 38:30 at Rutgers on Nov. 18, 2000.

NOTRE DAME GROUND GAME ROLLS OVER WEST VIRGINIA
Notre Dame put together its best rushing performance of the season in a 34-24 win over West Virginia, amassing 345 yards on the ground on 69 carries. It was the highest rushing output by the Irish since they rolled up 380 yards against Boston College on Nov. 11, 2000. But perhaps more impressively, Notre Dames 69 carries were the most since Sept. 21, 1991, when it rushed 76 times in a 49-10 win over Michigan State.

LIKE NIGHT AND DAY
Notre Dame has appeared reborn in its last two games, rebounding from its 0-3 start with wins over Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Upon closer inspection, the Irish have improved in several categories over the last two weeks, when compared with the first three games of the season.

TWO SCORES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
Notre Dame tailbacks Julius Jones and Tony Fisher each rushed for two touchdowns in the win over West Virginia. It was the first time two Irish players had rushed for two TDs in the same game since Nov. 2, 1996, when Marc Edwards scored three times and Autry Denson carried for two scores in a 54-27 win over Navy at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. It was the third time in Jones career (and second in as many weeks) that he had rushed for two touchdowns in a game. Meanwhile, it was the fourth time in Fishers career that he ran for a pair of TDs.

NOTRE DAME STRIKES QUICKLY AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA
It didnt take long for Notre Dame to grab an early lead over West Virginia 75 seconds to be exact. TB Julius Jones capped a two-play, 46-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run with 13:45 left in the first quarter, the opening salvo in a back-and-forth contest that Notre Dame ultimately won, 34-24. Jones touchdown was the quickest score by the Irish since Nov. 29, 1997 at Hawaii, when Allen Rossum returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown with 14:42 left in the first period.

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
The Notre Dame defense came alive against Pittsburgh, forcing five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) in a 24-7 win over the Panthers. It was the most takeaways by the Irish since Nov. 18, 2000, when they came up with five turnovers in a 45-17 win at Rutgers. The main culprit against Pittsburgh was sophomore SS Abram Elam, who notched the first interception and fumble recovery of his career, the latter coming at the Pittsburgh one-yard line as the Panthers were driving for the go-ahead score. The five takeaways also helped the Irish limit Pittsburgh to just seven points, their best defensive performance since a 30-0 shutout of Navy on Nov. 14, 1998.

IRISH defense GETTING ITS POINT ACROSS
One of the strengths of this years Notre Dame squad has been its play on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish rank in the top 50 in the country in four defensive statistical categories, according to the latest NCAA rankings released Sunday. Notre Dame is seventh in pass defense (149.2 yards per game), 12th in total defense (282.8), 33rd in scoring defense (19.8 points per game), and 44th in rush defense (133.6). Individually, junior LB Courtney Watson ranked 17th in the nation at 12.67 tackles per game when the first of four individual NCAA defensive statistics reports were released Oct. 2 (the next update comes out Oct. 23).

RED ZONE REPORT
Over the last two seasons, Notre Dame has been particularly effective in the red zone. This year, the Irish are 10-of-13 (.769) inside their opponents 20-yard line, chalking up six touchdowns and four Nicholas Setta field goals. That follows on the heels of last seasons 33-of-35 (.943) performance in the red zone.

NOTRE DAME ON THE SMALL SCREEN
With the USC game slated to be shown on NBC, the Notre Dame football team will be playing its 106th consecutive game on one of four major networks (NBC, ABC, CBS or ESPN).Thats a streak that includes eight full seasons (1993-2000) as well as the first six games of the 2001 season. The last time the Irish didnt appear on one of those four networks was Oct. 31, 1992, when Notre Dame downed Navy, 38-7, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. That game was only shown locally in the South Bend area on WNDU-TV.

HOLIDAY AN EMERGING THREAT IN IRISH BACKFIELD
Although making just his third career start against West Virginia, sophomore QB Carlyle Holiday is looking more and more like a grizzled veteran, averaging 126 yards rushing on 19 carries over his last two games (both Notre Dame wins). That works out to an amazing 6.6 yards per carry for the Irish signal-caller, who had not seen action in a college game prior to this season.

Holiday was a key factor in the Irishs 34-24 win over WVU, rushing 19 times for 130 yards and teaming with TB Tony Fisher (119 yards) to produce Notre Dames first 100-yard rushing tandem since Fisher (140 yards) and Jarious Jackson (107 yards) did it against Oklahoma on Oct. 2, 1999. Behind Holiday, the Irish rushed for a season-high 345 yards, their best showing on the ground since a 380-yard outing against Boston College on Nov. 11, 2000. Holidays 130 yards rushing against WVU were the most by an Irish quarterback since Tony Rice ran for 141 yards at 17th-ranked Penn State on Nov. 18, 1989. Holiday also logged the most carries by a Notre Dame signal-caller since Jarious Jackson toted the pigskin 21 times against LSU on Nov. 21, 1998.

Holidays performance against West Virginia came on the heels of his effort the previous week against Pittsburgh, when he carried 19 times for 122 yards and a touchdown in Notre Dames 24-7 win. The highlight of Holidays performance against Pittsburgh came late in the third quarter when he raced 67 yards for a touchdown, the longest scoring run by an Irish quarterback since Arnaz Battle scampered 74 yards for a touchdown late in a 48-13 win over Kansas on Aug. 28, 1999.

IRISH REMAIN SOUND IN THE KICKING GAME
Junior K Nicholas Setta has been a mainstay for Notre Dame this season, converting all 15 of his kicks (six FG, nine PAT) this season and leading the Irish in scoring with 27 points. In addition, Setta has booted two of the longest field goals of his career in 2001, connecting from 43 yards out against Michigan State and matching his personal best with a 47-yarder at Texas A&M. All told, Setta has connected on at least one field goal in Notre Dames last eight games. The last time Setta didnt hit a field goal was Nov. 11, 2000 against Boston College, but he still managed to put points on the scoreboard, scurrying five yards for a touchdown on a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter.

Besides his field goal success this season, Setta has stretched his streak of consecutive extra points made to 41, the fourth-longest streak in school history. He has not missed an extra point since Oct. 7, 2000, versus Stanford, and now turns his sights on Mike Johnstons string of 53 straight PATs, which was set from Oct. 18, 1980 to Nov. 19, 1983. Craig Hentrich holds the school record with 136 consecutive extra points made from Sept. 30, 1989 to Sept. 26, 1992.

HILDBOLD KICKING UP A STORM
Junior P Joey Hildbold, a 2001 Ray Guy Award candidate, made an early statement to the award committee with his performances this season. Against Michigan State and Texas A&M, Hildbold averaged better than 50 yards per punt, including a career-high 50.5 yards on six punts at Texas A&M. In both cases, Hildbold narrowly missed the school record of 51.6 by Joe Restic against Air Force in 1975. Hildbolds season average of 43.9 (31 punts, 1,361 yards) is 18th in the nation in the latest NCAA rankings, and puts him within striking distance of the Irish single-season record currently held by Craig Hentrich (44.9 yards in 1990). It also bumps Hildbold into fourth place on Notre Dames career punting yardage list with 5,924 yards, passing Brian Doherty, who had 5,573 yards from 1971-73. And, Hildbolds three-year average of 40.9 yards per punt (5,924 yards on 145 punts) puts him in a tie for third place on the Notre Dame career list with Vince Phelan, with both players just behind Hunter Smith, who averaged 41.2 yards per punt from 1995-98.

JONES AN ALL-PURPOSE THREAT FOR THE IRISH
Junior TB Julius Jones has been one of Notre Dames top all-around threats this season, whether it be in the backfield or returning punt and kickoffs. The native of Big Stone Gap, Va., leads the Irish in all-purpose yardage at 138.6 yards per game, good for 23rd in the nation according to the latest NCAA statistical reports released Sunday. He has been a major threat as a kick returner, ranking 22nd in the country in punt returns (12.43 yards per game) and 26th in kickoff returns (26.0), highlighted by his 53-yard punt return against Michigan State and 58-yard kickoff return against West Virginia, both of which led to Notre Dame scores. Jones has also been solid in the Irish backfield, averaging 53.4 yards per game on the ground. He has been especially strong in Notre Dames last two games, averaging 80.5 yards rushing and scoring two touchdowns in each contest, leading the Irish to a pair of victories. For the season, Jones now stands second on the team with 24 points scored.

WATSON RANKS AMONG NATIONS TOP TACKLERS
Junior LB Courtney Watson is ranked 17th in total tackles per game with 12.67 (38 total) according to the latest NCAA defensive statistics released Oct. 2. He recorded double digits in tackles in each of his first three games this season after logging only 11 tackles in the first two years of his Notre Dame career. Watson also notched a career-high 18 tackles against Nebraska, earning Chevrolet Player of the Game honors. His 18 stops against the Huskers were the most by an Irish defensive player since Melvin Dansby also recorded 18 against Navy in 1997.

SCOUTING THE IRISH OFFENSE
Line
The Irish return three talented and experienced players on the offensive line in senior tackles Jordan Black and Kurt Vollers and junior center Jeff Faine. All three are viable candidates for postseason honors. Black is in his third season as the starter at the left tackle position, playing in 25 games and accumulating nearly 550 minutes of playing time. Vollers and Faine are starting for the second straight year on the offensive line, with Vollers splitting time between right guard and right tackle, and Faine toiling at center. Vollers has seen action in 29 games, starting 19, while Faine has played in 17 games, amassing more than 450 minutes of playing time.

The preseason question for the Irish came at the guard positions after the graduation of both Jim Jones and third-team The Sporting News All-American Mike Gandy, a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears. Senior Sean Mahan started at left guard and junior Sean Milligan at right guard against Nebraska, then Vollers moved in at right guard against Michigan State and Texas A&M before Milligan returned to the position against Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Mahan played in 11 games in 00, seeing increased playing time as the season progressed, while Milligan cracked the starting lineup against Nebraska, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Junior Brennan Curtin has also been a solid contributor on the line, making the first two starts of his career at right tackle against Michigan State and Texas A&M.

Backs
Sophomore Carlyle Holiday (49-29-259, 4 INT, 62 carries for 303 yards, 1 TD) made his first career start against Texas A&M, and has averaged 126 yards rushing in his last two outings against Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Sophomore Matt LoVecchio (58-29-245, 1 TD, 3 INT in 2001) began the season as the starting QB for the Irish after winning his first seven games as a starter for the Irish in 2000. LoVecchio posted impressive numbers last year, throwing 11 touchdown passes and only one interception, while smashing the Notre Dame record for interception avoidance percentage at .0080. Sophomore Jared Clark briefly saw action at Texas A&M and is also in the quarterback mix in a reserve capacity.

A trio of tailbacks seniors Tony Fisher (63-342, 3 TD) and Terrance Howard (7-11) and junior Julius Jones (76-267, 4 TD) gives the Irish a talented and diversified running attack. Fisher, a 2001 Doak Walker Award candidate, played all 11 games last year, running up 607 yards on 132 carries (4.6 yard avg.). Fisher also is a threat with his hands as he caught 12 passes, including three for touchdowns in 00. He rushed for two touchdowns against West Virginia, the fourth time he has rushed for two TDs in his career. Jones, a potential All-America candidate, returns as the teams leading rusher from 00 (657 yards on 162 carries) and has scored a pair of touchdowns in Notre Dames wins over Pittsburgh and West Virginia this year. Howard received a lot of work in the spring as both Fisher and Jones were held out of spring drills. He adds a combination of quickness and power, averaging 5.7 yards a carry in 00.

The fullback position includes seniors Tom Lopienski, Jason Murray and Mike McNair. Lopienski has played in 26 games in his career, carrying the ball 36 times and catching 10 passes, while Murray saw action in eight games in 00. McNair has fought through injuries the past two seasons, but after an impressive spring could make a significant contribution in 01.

Receivers
Even after the loss of Joey Getherall, these are the most competitive spots on the Irish depth chart. Senior flanker David Givens (15-140) was Notre Dames leading receiver in 2000, averaging 12.4 yards a catch. Givens also hauled in seven passes for 66 yards against Nebraska and added five catches for 39 yards against Pittsburgh. Senior split end Javin Hunter (24-227, 1 TD) is the Irish big-play threat, averaging 19.7 a catch in 00, and grabbing a career-high eight balls versus Texas A&M. Senior flanker Arnaz Battle (3-23) made his debut at flanker for the Irish against Nebraska, catching two balls, but he is out four to six weeks with a fractured right fibula (leg) suffered against Michigan State. Sophomore receivers Lorenzo Crawford, Omar Jenkins (6-64) and Ronnie Rodamer also could contribute, along with freshman Carlos Campbell. Jenkins logged a career-high four catches against Michigan State. The tight end position is a question mark for the Irish after the departures of All-Americans Jabari Holloway (fourth-round draft pick of New England Patriots) and Dan OLeary (sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills). Senior John Owens (2-18) and junior Gary Godsey have both been converted to the tight end position after playing defensive line and quarterback, respectively, in 2000. Both players are over 270 pounds, are excellent blockers and have good hands. Owens also picked up his first career reception against Texas A&M and added another catch against West Virginia.

SCOUTING THE IRISH DEFENSE
Line
The Irish defensive line is one of the most experienced and deepest units on the roster. An all-star candidate, senior captain and three-year starter at left end, Anthony Weaver (28 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks, one INT) has had impressive games this season against Nebraska (eight tackles, two for loss, one sack, one forced fumble), Pittsburgh (five tackles, three for loss, one sack, one INT) and West Virginia (seven tackles, two for loss). Junior Darrell Campbell (10 tackles, two for loss) took over the tackle position after the graduation of B.J. Scott, picking up four tackles, two for losses, against Pittsburgh, but a neck injury limited his playing time against WVU. Senior Andy Wisne (13 tackles, one for loss) has moved into the starting nose guard position this season and recorded a career-best six tackles against Michigan State. After making seven starts last season, senior end Ryan Roberts (11 tackles, one for loss) returned to the starting lineup in 01 for the Pittsburgh and WVU games. Senior captain Grant Irons (nine tackles, two for loss in 2001), who missed most of last season after suffering a shoulder injury against Nebraska, started the first three games of 2001, sat out the Pittsburgh game with a sprained ankle, before returning for the West Virginia game. Junior Cedric Hilliard (eight tackles, three for loss, one sack) contributes in a reserve role at nose guard, while sophomore Kyle Budinscak (five tackles) made the first career start at defensive tackle against West Virginia.

Linebackers
Two of three starters return among the Irish linebackers, seniors Rocky Boiman (third on the team in tackles with 58, including eight for loss in 00) and Tyreo Harrison (46 tackles and one fumble recovery last year). Boiman (25 tackles, six for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery in 01) anchors the outside spot, while Harrison (44 tackles, four for loss in 01) is in his second season starting at the inside linebacker position. Boiman recorded a career-high 11 tackles versus Texas A&M, while Harrison had a career-high 14 stops against the Aggies. Junior LB Courtney Watson (47 tackles, nine for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery), who came into the 01 season with 11 career tackles, recorded a team-high 18 tackles against the Huskers, earning Chevrolet Player of the Game honors for the Irish. He then added 10 tackles against Michigan State and Texas A&M and ranked 17th nationally at 12.67 tackles per game (as of Oct. 2). Sophomore Derek Curry (two tackles, one for loss) backs up Boiman on the outside, while junior Justin Thomas and sophomore Mike Goolsby play behind Watson and senior Carlos Pierre-Antoine (two tackles) spells Harrison.

Backs
Fifth-year strong safety Ron Israel (18 tackles, one for loss) and senior cornerback Shane Walton (16 tackles, one for loss, one INT, one forced fumble, one blocked kick) return to anchor the secondary. Israel logged a career-best nine tackles in the first two games of 01, missed the Pittsburgh game with a pulled hamstring before returning to the lineup against West Virginia. Walton is in his second season as the starting right cornerback after playing in 10 games in 00 and is one of Notre Dames most improved players considering he did not even play football his freshman season, instead starring on the Irish mens soccer team. Sophomore Vontez Duff (12 tackles) took over the starting right cornerback slot beginning with the Pittsburgh game, the first starting assignment of his career. The reserves include junior Jason Beckstrom (nine tackles), who made his first start of the season against West Virginia, senior Clifford Jefferson (10 tackles, two for loss), who started at right cornerback in the first three games of 01 (did not play vs. Pittsburgh and WVU) after starting all 12 games and recording 77 tackles with eight pass breakups in 99, and serving as Notre Dames top reserve (and starting two games) in 00, and sophomore Preston Jackson at left cornerback. Senior free safety Donald Dykes (29 tackles, one for loss, one fumble recovery) made his first start against Nebraska and had a career-high 13 tackles after recording only 18 stops all of last year. Key reserves include Jim Thorpe Award candidate junior SS Gerome Sapp (14 tackles), who is rated the 11th-best strong safety in the country by The Sporting News but missed the West Virginia game with a shoulder injury, junior FS Glenn Earl (six tackles), who was injured in the season opener against Nebraska, missed the Michigan State and Texas A&M games, but returned against Pittsburgh and West Virginia in a reserve role, and sophomore Abram Elam (15 tackles), who had an interception and fumble recovery against Pittsburgh, both the first of his carer.

SCOUTING THE IRISH SPECIAL TEAMS
P Joey Hildbold and K Nicholas Setta return, giving the Irish one of the best kicking tandems in the nation. Hildbold, a Ray Guy Award candidate, was voted one of the top three punters in the nation by Street and Smiths after averaging 40.9 yards a kick in 00, including 22 inside the 20. Hildbold is ninth in the nation at 43.9 yards per punt after averaging a career-best 50.5 per kick against Texas A&M. Setta continues to make improvements after going 8-for-14 in his first season as the Irish placekicker, converting all six of his field-goal attempts this season and matching his career long with a 47-yarder against Texas A&M. Setta also handles all kickoff duties this season. In the return game, junior All-American Julius Jones handles both kickoff (averages 26.0 yards a kick return this season) and punt return (27th in nation at 12.4 yards per return) duties for the Irish, ranking third in school history with 1,264 kickoff return yards. Sophomore cornerback Vontez Duff also returns kicks this season, along with seniors David Givens and Terrance Howard. After blocking four punts last season, Notre Dame was once again up to its old tricks when senior CB Shane Walton blocked a Nebraska punt at the beginning of the fourth quarter, eventually leading to Notre Dames only touchdown of the game.

THE 2001 CAPTAINS
OLB Rocky Boiman, FL David Givens, DE Grant Irons and DE Anthony Weaver serve as captains for the 2001 season. All are first-time captains, except Irons who becomes only the 13th two-time captain in Notre Dame history and the first since Ron Powlus did it for the 1996 and 97 seasons. Other multiple-time captains for the Irish include: Edward Prudhomme (1888-1889), Frank Keough (1893-1894), Jack Mullen (1897,1998 and 1899), Louis (Red) Salmon (1902-1903), Leonard Bahan (1918-1919), Pat Filley (1943-1944), Bob Olson (1968-1969), Bob Crable (1980-1981), Phil Carter (1981-1982), Ned Bolcar (1988-1989) and Ryan Leahy (1994-1995).

NUMBER CHANGES
The Irish made three number changes from the 2001 media guide rosters as senior special teams player Chad DeBolt has changed from No. 24 to No. 58, senior snapper John Crowther has switched from No. 56 to No. 53 and freshman TE Matt Root has gone from No. 89 to No. 83.

THE 2001 SCHEDULE
Notre Dame once again play one of the nations toughest schedules as it faces seven teams that appeared in bowl games in 2000 (Nebraska, Purdue, Texas A&M, Boston College, West Virginia, Tennessee and Pittsburgh).

Three of Notre Dames 2001 opponents are ranked in both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls (Nebraska – 3/3, Tennessee – 11/11 and Purdue – 24/24). Two other teams (Michigan State and Texas A&M) also received votes in one or both of the major polls this week.

Prior to the 2001 season, the Irish schedule was voted the sixth toughest out of 116 schools by Sports Illustrated (Seventh-ranked UCLA had the fifth toughest schedule according to SI, while Irish opponent USC had the toughest).

According to the latest NCAA rankings (as of Oct. 14), Notre Dame has the 17th toughest schedule in the nation. These rankings take into account the cumulative performance of teams the Irish have already played during the 2001 season.

2001 Notre Dame Opponent UPDATE
The following is a look at Notre Dame opponents upcoming games. Since 1977, when the NCAA started rating strength of schedule, Notre Dames schedule has been rated the most difficult five times in the last 22 years (1978, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1995) and during the preseason, Sports Illustrated rated the 2001 Irish schedule the sixth toughest in the nation. According to the latest NCAA rankings (as of Oct. 14), Notre Dames 2001 schedule ranks as the 17th toughest in the nation.

WEAVER, IRONS AND JONES EARN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Senior DE Anthony Weaver was a second-team preseason All-America choice by Athlon and junior TB Julius Jones also earned second-team recognition from Athlon as a kick returner. Street and Smiths rated Jones a second-team kickoff returner and senior Grant Irons a second-team defensive end. Weaver was also named the 13th best player in the country according to Mel Kipers top 30 players for the 2001 season.

FIVE EARN PRESEASON HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Street and Smiths listed senior Tony Fisher among running backs, senior Jordan Black among offensive linemen, senior Anthony Weaver among defensive linemen, senior Rocky Boiman among linebackers and junior Joey Hildbold among punters as preseason honorable mention All-America selections. Street & Smiths also rated Fisher as one of 11 candidates for the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in the country and Hildbold as one of three candidates for the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in the nation.

IRISH PLAYERS RANK HIGH IN LINDYS AND THE SPORTING NEWS
Lindys rated junior center Jeff Faine as the number-three center in the country, while The Sporting News had Faine seventh. Lindys rated Anthony Weaver 18th and Grant Irons 15th among defensive end, with The Sporting News putting Irons 10th and Weaver 16th. The Sporting News rated Julius Jones 15th among running backs, senior Tom Lopienski 12th among fullbacks, senior Jordan Black 14th among offensive tackles, senior Rocky Boiman 14th among outside linebackers and junior Gerome Sapp 11th among strong safeties.

POSITION UNITS AND FRESHMAN RANK NATIONALLY AS WELL
Athlon rated the Irish running backs as the fourth-best group in the nation. Lindys listed the Irish defensive line as eighth best. The Sporting News put Notre Dames offensive backfield seventh.

Athlon listed the Notre Dame freshman class as the 12th-best in the country, while Lindys had the Irish rookies 14th.

TB TONY FISHER NAMED TO DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST
For the second consecutive season, Irish TB Tony Fisher has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. The Doak Walker Award, named in honor of the late SMU running back, is given annually to the top running back in the nation.

GEROME SAPP NAMED TO THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST Junior SS Gerome Sapp was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list. The Thorpe Award is given annually to the nations top defensive back.

WEAVER AND FAINE NAMED TO LOMBARDI AWARD WATCH LIST, FAINE TO RIMINGTON TROPHY LIST DE Anthony Weaver and C Jeff Faine, along with 79 other players nationally, were named to the updated Rotary Lombardi Award watch list. Weaver made a strong case for the award against Nebraska with eight tackles, including two for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. The Lombardi Award is given annually to the nations top lineman or linebacker. Faine was also one of 15 players named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nations top center.

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 14-plus close games, the other top winning percentages in tight games belong to Elmer Layden (22-7-3, .734), Frank Leahy (17-5-8, .700), Ara Parseghian (13-6-4, .652), Dan Devine (15-9-1, .620), Bob Davie (14-10, .583) and Lou Holtz (20-18-2, .525).

TICKET UPDATE All six of Notre Dames home football games for 2001 are sold out, with demand for tickets to the Oct. 13 Notre Dame-West Virginia game ranking highest in the history of Notre Dame Stadium. The sellouts are based on demand from contributing alumni (contributions to the University of $100 or more in the previous calendar year earn alumni the ability to apply for two tickets to any home or away contests), with approximately 33,000 tickets per home game available via a game-by-game lottery system.

The Notre Dame ticket office received requests for 59,368 tickets for the West Virginia game, breaking the record of 57,048 from the 1997 Notre Dame-USC game in the first year of the expanded Notre Dame Stadium.

Demand for the 2001 West Virginia game was based on parents of current Notre Dame students being guaranteed four tickets for that contest — plus contributing alumni having the opportunity to apply for four tickets instead of the usual two, based on its designation as an alumni family game.

Other high demand games for 2001 included Michigan State (48,404 requests based on senior alumni designation that guarantees two tickets to all alumni out of school 35 or more years which made it third all-time in terms of demand), USC (47,127 requested, making it seventh all-time) and Tennessee (43,843 requests).

There also were nearly 17,000 requests for tickets to the Sept. 8 road game at Nebraska. Notre Dame received 4,000 tickets for that contest, which attracted a Memorial Stadium-record 78,118 fans.

The six guaranteed sellouts for 2001 mean the final home game in 01 on Nov. 17 against Navy will mark the 161st consecutive sellout at Notre Dame Stadium and the 209th in the last 210 home games.

BIG CROWDS Notre Dame has played in front of capacity crowds in 132 of its previous 154 games. Each of the first 10 regular-season games involving Notre Dame during the 98 seasonand the first 11 in 99was played in front of a sellout crowd. The first five games of 2000 were played before capacity crowds and nine of 12 overall, and the first five contests in 01 have all been sold out.

Besides being sellouts, all five of Notre Dames games this season have come before stadium record crowds. The Irish played in front of 78,118 fans at Nebraska, welcomed Notre Dame Stadium-record crowds of 80,795 for the Michigan State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia games, and took the field before 87,206 at Texas A&M, setting a Kyle Field, Big 12 Conference and state of Texas record in the process.

NOTRE DAME EXCELS IN ACADEMICS AS WELL AS ON THE FIELD Notre Dame will receive the 2001 American Football Coaches Associations Academic Achievement Award, which is presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Memphis.

Notre Dame recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of its football squad when all 20 members of its freshman class of 1995 earned a degree. Vanderbilt also recorded a 100 percent rate to share the 2001 award with Notre Dame.

Notre Dame won the award for the sixth time (previously in 1982,1983, 1984-tie, 1988, 1991). Notre Dames six awards are second most behind the 10 won by Duke University. Notre Dame has earned honorable mention status 14 times.

The 2001 AFCA Academic Achievement Award will be presented to Notre Dame and Vanderbilt at the AFCA Kickoff Luncheon during the Associations 2002 convention in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to the 2001 AFCA Academic Achievement Award, the 2000 Notre Dame football squad had its most successful semesters in the classroom in the history of the program, based on final grades from the 2001 spring semester and the 2000 fall semester. In the spring, Notre Dame finished with a combined team grade-point average of 2.75, the highest combined GPA on record, besting the previous high of 2.67 set during the 2000 fall semester.

TWO-SPORT STANDOUTS Notre Dame has three athletes who are two-sport standouts with the Irish:

Cornerback Shane Walton is less than three years removed from earning all-BIG EAST honors as a freshman forward on the 98 Irish mens soccer team. Walton entered the 2000 season as Notre Dames starter at right cornerback and finished with 29 tackles, one tackle for a loss, two interceptions including a 60-yard INT return for a touchdown against Purdues Drew Brees and three passes deflected. Walton joined the Irish football squad in the spring of 99 and saw action in three games in the secondary during the 99 season. He played in nine games overall with 61 appearances on special teams, earning his second Notre Dame monogram in as many years and in as many sports. This season, Walton blocked a punt against Nebraska to set up an Irish TD, and picked off a pass against Pittsburgh to help keep the high-powered Panther offense in check.

Walk-on Chad DeBolt made 72 special teams appearances in 00 including a season-high 13 vs. USC and was one of just four walkons on the usual travel list. He recovered a blocked punt vs. Rutgers and blocked a punt vs. USC both of which led to Irish TDs. This season, he has made 40 special teams appearances and also charted one tackle in Notre Dames wins over Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

DeBolt also stars for the Notre Dame mens lacrosse team which advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2001. The Waterloo, N.Y., native played in all 16 games for the Irish in 01 recording one goal, while scooping up 60 ground balls. For his career, he has one goal and 118 ground balls.

Kicker Nicholas Setta, who finished sixth at the Illinois state track and field meet in the high jump and was the top hurdler in the state, competed for Irish head coach Joe Piane and the Notre Dame track and field program last winter. Setta ran middle distance for the Irish and competed at the 2001 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships. On the gridiron, Setta has connected on all 15 of his kicks this season (six FG, nine PATs), stretching his streak of consecutive PATs made to 41, the fourth-longest in school history. He also tied his career best with a 47-yard field goal at Texas A&M.

FORMER IRISH GREAT DAVE DUERSON Former Notre Dame football All-American Dave Duerson is still extremely involved with the University in a number of capacities. A former team captain, Duerson was named to the Notre Dame Board of Trustees in 2001, and was the winner of the 2001 Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., Award from the Notre Dame Alumni Association. The Sorin Award is presented annually to a graduate who has embodied the values of Our Ladys University in his service to the community. The president of Fair Oaks Farms, Inc., a Wisconsin-based international meat supplier that in 1999 was ranked 64th among Black Enterprise 100 companies, Duerson previously served as a member of the advisory council for the Universitys Mendoza College of Business and currently is first vice president of the Notre Dame National Monogram Club (he will serve as president from June 2003-June 2005). He also is a member of the athletic departments student development mentoring program.

NOTRE DAME RECEIVES A GRACIOUS COMMITMENT The University of Notre Dame has received a commitment of $300,000 from Jim and Billy Carroll of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to endow athletic grants-in-aid at the University. Jim Carroll is the current president of Notre Dames national Monogram Club.

The Carrolls gift will help further the Universitys goal of providing each Olympic sport with the full number of grants-in-aid permitted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

We aspire to excellence in everything we do, both in academics and athletics. Our aims for this grants-in-aid initiative are to give every sport at Notre Dame the means to excel and to place our athletic program among the contenders for the annual Sears Directors Cup, which recognizes overall athletic achievement, said William P. Sexton, vice president for University relations, in acknowledging the commitment. The Carrolls gift is a most generous contribution toward this effort, and we greatly appreciate this leadership support from our Monogram Club president.

Notre Dames 11th place finish in the 2000-01 Sears Directors Cup matched its previous best performance in the competition. Stanford University, a perennial top finisher, won the cup.

Billy and Jim Carroll both are graduates of Marist High School in Atlanta, Ga. Jim Carroll went on to become captain of the 1964 Notre Dame football team, the first coached by Ara Parseghian. Playing inside linebacker, he was named to several All-America teams. After being graduated from the University in 1965, he played professional football with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins.

The Carroll brothers have been in the automobile dealership business in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida since 1967. They own insurance and real-estate holding companies and a restaurant in Cooper City, Fla.

Athletic grants-in-aid are the financial awards provided to student-athletes under NCAA regulations. The grants cover tuition, room and board, and books.

2000-01 NOTRE DAME ATHLETIC RESUME HIGHLIGHTS Notre Dame experienced its most successful season as an athletic department in 2000-01 highlighted with an 11th place Sears Directors Cup finish and its fifth consecutive BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Trophy. Here are some highlights from the 2000-01 season:

Women’s basketball 2001 NCAA Champions, track and fields Ryan Shay won the 10,000 meters at the 2001 NCAA Track and Field Championships, fencing was third at NCAAs and two other teams (women’s soccer and mens lacrosse) advance to the NCAA Final Four

Four teams ranked number one at some point in season women’s soccer, womens basketball, men’s fencing and baseball

31 athletic All-Americans

Sixteen of possible 22 teams achieved national rankings (no polls for mens and womens indoor or outdoor track) and ten teams achieved highest ranking in history of program

Top NCAA finishes include 1st in womens basketball, 3rd in mens and womens fencing combined, national semifinals in womens soccer and mens lacrosse, 9th in mens cross country

Three national players of the year Anne Makinen in womens soccer, Ruth Riley in womens basketball, Michelle Dasso in womens tennis

IRISH FINISH 11th IN SEARS DIRECTORS CUP Notre Dame finished 11th in the final set of sports standings released in the 2000-2001 Sears Directors Cup all-sports competition, matching its highest finish ever. Spring NCAA competition earned the Irish points based on their semifinal appearance in mens lacrosse (75 points), a third-round appearance in womens tennis (50 points), a second-round showing in mens tennis (30 points), regional appearances in both softball and baseball (50 and 30 points respectively), and a 21st-place finish in mens track and field (63 points), giving Notre Dame 764.5 total points for 2000-2001. Winter sports points came from Notre Dames NCAA championship in womens basketball (100 points), a third-place finish in fencing (80 points), a second-round finish in mens basketball (30 points), a 37th-place finish in womens swimming (31 points) and a 58th place finish in womens indoor track and field (23.5 points). Notre Dame earned 202 points during the fall sports season, thanks to the Irish womens soccer teams NCAA semifinal finish, the mens cross country team finishing ninth at the NCAA championships, the football teams final ranking of 16, plus the volleyball team advancing to the NCAAs . Stanford (1,359 points) won the competition, followed by UCLA, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona. In previous years in which the Sears Directors Cup competition has been held, Notre Dame has finished 11th in 1993-94, 30th in 94-95, 11th in 95-96, 14th in 96-97, tied for 31st in 97-98, 25th in 98-99 and 21st in 1999-2000.

NOTRE DAME ONCE AGAIN A FAN FAVORITE Notre Dame ranked first and Florida State second in ESPNs College Sports Fan Favorite Football Team Poll. The Irish pulled in top billing with 7.1 percent, followed by Florida State at 5.4 percent. Michigan (4.7%), Penn State (4.3%) and Ohio State (3.8%) rounded out the top five. Notre Dame and Florida State also were the only two schools named in all four regions listed in the poll.

FRIDAY FOOTBALL KICKOFF LUNCHEONS Tickets are available for the 2001 Notre Dame Football Kickoff Luncheons in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse (north dome). The luncheons will be held the same day and time (Friday at noon EST) before every Irish home football game this season. The 2001 Notre Dame Football Luncheons are sponsored by the Notre Dame Athletic Department and the speaking program each week includes a combination of special guests, head coach Bob Davie, members of the coaching staff and members of the Irish squad, in addition to video features. Tickets are $18 each (plus $3 handling charge per order) and are available by calling (219) 272-2870.

PEP RALLIES All 2001 football pep rallies will be held on Fridays prior to home games in the Joyce Center Arena (south dome), with planned start times of 7:00 p.m.

BOSTON COLLEGE GAME SLATED FOR EVENING KICKOFF The Oct. 27 game between Notre Dame and Boston College at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., will be a night game based on partial television plans announced last week by the BIG EAST Conference and ESPN. The game will be televised nationally by either ESPN or espn2. If ESPN televises the game, kickoff will be at 7:45 p.m. EDT (6:45 p.m. EST in South Bend) and if espn2 carries the game, kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. EST in South Bend). The television origination and exact kickoff time will be announced sometime within a window of six to 13 days before the game.

TENNESSEE KICKOFF TIME CHANGES TO 2:30 P.M. Kickoff for the Nov. 3 Notre Dame-Tennessee game at Notre Dame Stadium has been changed to 2:30 p.m. EST. Tickets and most schedules list it at its original 1:30 p.m. start.

LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2002 AND 2004 NOTRE DAME-NAVY GAMES The Naval Academy announced Oct. 10 that PSINet Stadium in Baltimore will play host to the 2002 Notre Dame-Navy game, and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., will play host to the 2004 Notre Dame-Navy contest. It will be the first time the series will be played at PSINet Stadium, home of the NFLs Baltimore Ravens. Notre Dame and Navy have played five times at Giants Stadium, with the Irish winning all five encounters, including a 38-7 win in their most recent visit in 1992. The Notre Dame-Navy matchup is the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country the two teams will square off for the 75th time this season on Nov. 17 at Notre Dame Stadium.

ORDER YOUR MEDIA GUIDES AND YEARBOOKS TODAY The 2001 edition of the Notre Dame Media Guide is available for $10 (plus postage and handling) by calling the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore at 219-631-6316. This years edition features 480 pages of facts, figures and historical notes about Notre Dame football. The 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 versions of the media guide were voted best in the nation by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

This season marks the eighth edition of the Notre Dame Football Yearbookan official publication by the University of Notre Dame athletic department. The 1994, 95, 96, 97 and 98 and 2000 editions were voted best in the nation in the special publications competition sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The yearbook, published with Host Communications, numbers more than 150 pages, including game action shots of returning Irish players and coaches, plus photo coverage of the Irish award winners and campus scenes. Its a collectors item thats perfect for autographs with an emphasis on outstanding color photography unavailable in any other publication. The yearbook is priced at $8 (plus $4 for postage and handling) and can be ordered by calling 1-800-313-4678 or by writing to: Notre Dame Programs, 904 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY 40505.

NOTRE DAME TO RECOGNIZE 1966 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM Notre Dame will honor the 1966 national championship team at its game with USC on Saturday. The 66 team, led by third-year head coach Ara Parseghian, went 9-0-1 and shut out six of 10 opponents on its way to the eighth national championship in school history. Approximately 70 players and coaches from that squad are expected to return to campus for the festivities.

IN OTHER NOTRE DAME HOME SPORTS ACTION THIS WEEKEND… In addition to the Notre Dame football game against USC on Saturday, several other Irish athletic teams will be in action on campus this weekend. Like their football counterparts, the Notre Dame mens and womens tennis teams will play host to USC on Friday at the Courtney Tennis Center. The Irish womens swimming squad welcomes Michigan State to town for a dual meet Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Rolfs Aquatic Center. And, the Notre Dame mens soccer team will play host to Boston College in a BIG EAST Conference match Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST at Alumni Field.