Nov. 30, 2001
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The following is a partial excerpt from the Notre Dame football release. To view the complete release, please see the PDF version.
THE HEAD COACH
Fifth-year Irish head coach Bob Davie owns a 34-25 (.576) 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 Smith’s Coach of the Year Award. The 2001 season marks Davie’s 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 coor- dinator 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 Date and Time:
Saturday, Dec.1, 2001, at 4:35 p.m. EST.
The Site:
Ross-Ade Stadium (67,332/Prescription Athletic Turf) in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Tickets:
They’re all sold with this being the 137th sellout in the last 160 games involving Notre Dame. Notre Dame received an allotment of 5,000 tickets.
The TV Plans:
ABC Sports telecast with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (analysis), Leslie Gudel (sideline) and Bruce Clark (producer). The game will be a split national telecast with the Oregon-Oregon State game scheduled for the same time slot.
The Radio Plans:
For the 34th consecutive season, all Notre Dame football games are broadcast na- tionally 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.
Real-Time Stats:
Live in-game statistics are available for the Purdue game, via the Notre Dame (www.und.com) and Boilermakers athletic website (www.purduesports.com). Websites: Notre Dame (www.und.com), Purdue (www.purduesports.com).
NOTRE DAME-PURDUE SERIES NOTES
- Saturday’s game marks the 73rd meeting between the Irish and Boilers. Notre Dame leads the series 47-23-2 with a 22-12-2 record at Purdue and a 17-10 mark at Ross-Ade Stadium.
- Notre Dame has won 13 of the last 15 games between the two schools, although the teams have split their last four encounters going back to 1997 (the first year at the helm for both Irish head coach Bob Davie and Purdue head coach Joe Tiller).
- Notre Dame and Purdue have played every season since 1946, with this season marking the 56th consecutive season the teams have met. It matches the USC rivalry as Notre Dame’s second longest current continuous series behind Navy which started in 1927.
- The Irish have 47 series wins over the Boilers, the second most against any opponent 65 against Navy remains the highest.
IF NOTRE DAME WINS …
- The Irish will earn their first victory at Purdue since a 35-28 win on Sept. 9, 1995.
- Notre Dame will log its first win at a Big Ten stadium since its victory at Purdue in 1995.
- The Irish will improve to 206-100-15 against the Big Ten, extending their record for the most victories against one conference.
- The Irish will record their 48th series win over Purdue, the second most victories against one oppo- nent behind their 65 wins over Navy.
- Notre Dame will claim back-to-back wins over the Boilers for the first time since it put together a series-record 11-game winning streak from 1986 to 1996.
IF PURDUE WINS …
- The Boilers will notch their third consecutive victory over Notre Dame at Ross-Ade Stadium, marking their longest home success string over the Irish since winning four consecutive games in West Lafayette (1961, ’63, ’65, ’67).
- Purdue will earn its 24th series win over Notre Dame, the second most by an Irish opponent after USC’s 26 victories.
NOTRE DAME-PURDUE SERIES HISTORY
- Notre Dame leads the all-time series (47-23-2), including 25-10 at home, 22-12-2 in all games at Purdue and 17-10 at Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue also won the neutral-site 1984 game at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis).
- The Irish have won 13 of the last 15 games in the series, outscoring Purdue 529-230 in those games (just 164-135 over the past five seasons).
- Notre Dame and Purdue met for the first time in 1896, a 28-22 win for the Boilermakers at Notre Dame. The teams played seven times from 1899-1907 before a 11-year break (the longest break in the history of the series). The teams resumed play in 1918 and met every year until 1923 before a 10- year break in the series. The teams then met in 1933, ’34 and ’39 and the series has been continuous since 1946, tying with the USC rivalry for Notre Dame’s second-longest continuous series (Notre Dame and Navy have played every year since 1927).
- Notre Dame has experienced nearly equal success versus Purdue at home (25-10) and on the road (22-12-2).
- The winner of the Notre Dame-Purdue series receives the Shillelagh trophy, donated by the late Joe McLaughlin (a merchant seaman and Notre Dame fan who brought the club from Ireland).
- The 2001 game marks the first since 1985 and ’86 that neither team is ranked.
NOTRE DAME-PURDUE CONNECTIONS
- Purdue defensive ends coach Gary Emanuel coached with Irish offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers at Syracuse from 1991-93.
- Notre Dame senior CB Clifford Jefferson and Purdue junior SS Ralph Turner played in the same secondary at Dallas Carter High School, while Notre Dame senior PK David Miller and freshman DL Jeff Thompson played at Penn High School in Granger, Ind., with Purdue sophomore WR Jim Guidos.
- Notre Dame head athletic trainer Jim Russ?now in his 16th season at Notre Dame?served as an assistant athletic trainer at Purdue, from 1977-82 (when Purdue went 2-4 versus the Irish).
- Notre Dame director of golf George Thomas is a 1950 Purdue graduate and was a member of the Boilermaker golf team that finished second at the 1950 NCAA Championship.
- Third-year Notre Dame assistant athletic trainer Doug Boersma is a 1997 Purdue graduate and worked with the Boiler football team as an undergraduate.
THE UPSETS
- The series has produced 46 previous games in which at least one team was ranked in the AP poll, but the higher-ranked team is just 28-18 in those games.
- Purdue has been the beneficiary in 15 of the series’ 18 upsets of the higher-ranked teams, including four times in which the Boilers knocked off the top-rated Irish: 1950 (28-14) and 1954 (27-14) at Notre Dame Stadium, and 1965 (25-21) and 1967 (28-21) at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue was unranked in 1950, No. 19 in ’54, No. 6 in ’65 and No. 10 in ’67.
- Unranked Purdue teams also have beaten ranked Irish teams in 1956, ’59, ’60, ’74 (31-20, when ND was No. 2), ’81, ’84 and ’97 while lower-ranked Purdue teams also have beaten higher-ranked ND teams in ’58, ’69, ’79 and ’99.
- Lower-ranked Notre Dame teams have upset a higher-ranked Purdue squad three times including last season at Notre Dame Stadium when Notre Dame’s Nicholas Setta connected on a 39-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the 23rd-ranked Irish a 23-21 victory over the 13th-ranked Boilers. Other Irish upsets include at Ross-Ade Stadium in 1952, when the unranked Irish knocked off No. 9 Purdue (26-14), and at Notre Dame Stadium in 1980, when the No. 11 Irish topped the ninth-ranked Boilers (31-10).
COMMONPLACE
Purdue is tied with USC as the second-most common opponent in Irish football history (both play Notre Dame for the 73rd time this season), trailing one other ’01 foe: Navy (75th meeting in ’01).
FAINE, HARRISON AND WEAVER EARN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Junior center Jeff Faine and seniors Tyreo Harrison and Anthony Weaver were named Football News honorable mention All-Americans for the 2001 season. Faine has been Notre Dame’s leader in the trenches in 2001 protecting young quarterbacks Carlyle Holiday and Matt LoVecchio. Ranked as the third-best center nationally by Lindy’s before the start of the 2001 season, Faine leads the Irish in minutes played with 290:54, heading into this weekend’s contest versus Purdue. Starting all 10 games for the Irish in ’01, Faine also is the lead blocker for the Irish rushing attack, which ranks 27th in the nation this week. Harrison has been a force in the middle for the Irish in 2001. The linebacker leads the Irish with 91 tackles in ?01, including a team-leading and career-high 15 versus Stanford (including 10 solos) last weekend. Weaver is currently third on the team in tackles with 53, including 17 for loss and six sacks.
Faine, Harrison and Weaver, in addition to senior offensive guard Jordan Black, senior outside linebacker Rocky Boiman and junior placekicker Nicholas Setta were all named to the Football News all-independent team. Black has started all 10 games at either left tackle or right guard for the Irish in 2001. Black is currently third on the Irish in minutes played at 258:49 and was named a preseason honorable mention all-independent team member by Football News. Boiman has battled a foot injury most of the season, playing all 10 games for the Irish in 2001. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native and co- captain ranks fourth on the Irish with 41 tackles, including 10 for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Boiman was also a member of the Football News preseason all-independent team.
IRISH DEFENSE GETTING ITS POINT ACROSS
One of the strengths of this year’s Notre Dame squad has been its play on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish rank in the top 45 in the country in four defensive statistical categories, according to the latest NCAA rankings released Sunday. Notre Dame is eighth in pass defense (164.10 yards per game), 14th in total defense (302.20), 23rd in scoring defense (19.70 points per game), and 45th in rush defense (138.10). Against Stanford, the Irish held the Cardinal to three points in the first half, marking the first time Stanford had been held to three points or less in the first half since the Irish did it in 2000.
HARRISON CLOGGING UP THE MIDDLE
Senior ILB Tyreo Harrison has been a force in the middle for the Irish this season. Harrison leads the team with 91 tackles in 2001, including a team-leading and career-high 15 vs. Stanford (including 10 solos). The Stanford game marked the fourth time this season in which Harrison has recorded double- digit tackles and was the eighth time he was the leading tackler in the game for the Irish. Harrison’s 91 tackles are the most for an Irish defensive player since A’Jani Sanders had 91 at the conclusion of the 1999 season. In 1998, Bobbie Howard had 118 tackles.
BOBBIN’ AND WEAVIN’
Senior DE Anthony Weaver is having an All-America season for the Irish. A ’01 captain, Weaver is currently third on the team in tackles with 53, including 17 for loss and six sacks. Weaver also has an interception, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles on the year in leading the Irish defense that ranks 14th nationally in total defense and 23rd nationally in scoring defense. He ranked 29th nationally in tackles for loss released by the NCAA for the period ending Oct. 20.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS FOR NOTRE DAME
Not only have the Irish had success with their kicking game, but they have also done well returning kicks this season. Notre Dame ranks 39th in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging a solid 21.72 yards per return, and 40th in the land in punt returns with a healthy 10.40 yards per runback. Junior KR Julius Jones has been the primary return specialist for the Irish this season, ranking in the top 35 in the country in punt returns. Sophomore Vontez Duff has also stepped in on kick returns, averaging 23.2 yards per runback this year, with five of his 10 returns for at least 30 yards.
JONES AN ALL-PURPOSE THREAT FOR THE IRISH
Junior TB Julius Jones has been one of Notre Dame’s top all-around threats this season, whether it be in the backfield or returning punt and kickoffs. Despite suffering from an Achilles injury the last five games, the native of Big Stone Gap, Va., continues to lead the Irish in all-purpose yardage at 136.50 yards per game, good for 20th in the nation according to the latest NCAA statistical reports released Sunday. He has been a major threat as a kick returner, ranking 35th in the country in punt returns (10.88 yards per game) and 60th in kickoff returns (22.50), 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 also has been solid in the Irish backfield, ranking first on the team with 718 yards this season on a team-high 168 carries. He has been especially strong in Notre Dame last seven games, recording his first 100-yard game of the 2001 season vs. Navy (117 yards) and following that effort with 106 yards in the first half against Stanford before having to leave the game with a sprained ankle. During those seven games, Jones is averaging 78.85 yards rushing and has scored seven touchdowns (six rushing, one receiving), leading the Irish to four wins. For the season, Jones stands second on the team with 42 points scored.
HUNTER PROVING TO BE RELIABLE OPTION FOR NOTRE DAME
Senior SE Javin Hunter has turned out to be a dependable outlet for Notre Dame this season, aver- aging more than three catches per game through the first 10 games of the 2001 campaign. All to- gether, he has 34 catches this season, six more than he had in his first three years with the Irish combined. Also, he came up with at least three receptions in Notre Dame’s first seven games this season, becoming the first Irish wideout in four years to have three-or-more catches in the first seven games of a campaign. Malcolm Johnson also turned the trick during the ’97 season.
HOLIDAY AN EMERGING THREAT IN IRISH BACKFIELD
Sophomore QB Carlyle Holiday has made only eight starts in his Notre Dame career, but already he is taking on the look of a grizzled veteran. He is 4-4 as a starter, guiding the Irish to wins over Pitts- burgh, West Virginia, USC and Navy, while directing a Notre Dame attack which has averaged nearly 325 yards of total offense over the last eight games.
Holiday has done much of his damage with his legs, he has reeled off four runs of 30 yards or more, including a 67-yard touchdown scamper against Pittsburgh, the longest scoring run by an Irish quar- terback since Arnaz Battle raced 74 yards late in a 48-13 win over Kansas on Aug. 28, 1999. Holiday also has posted three 100-yard games in his last seven starts, including back-to-back 100- yard outings against Pittsburgh (122 yards) and West Virginia (130 yards), becoming the first Irish quarterback since 1980 to top the century mark in consecutive games. He later added 109 yards in a loss to Boston College. By contrast, Notre Dame’s top two career rushing leaders among quarter- backs Tony Rice and Jarious Jackson each ran for over 100 yards only twice in their careers. Holiday nearly made it four straight 100-yard games against USC, finishing with 98 yards on 18 carries against the Trojans.
For the season, Holiday is second on the team with 615 yards rushing on 137 carries, good for third on the school’s single-season QB rushing chart. He also ranks among the top 10 rushing quarter-backs in the country this season. Here’s a look at the other players on that list (sorted by yards per