Jonas Gray (25) is tackled by Utah  linebacker J.J. Williams (13) and cornerback Brian Blechen (2)

Irish Set to Take on Army at Yankee Stadium

Nov. 15, 2010

TIME
– Pre-game is 7:00 p.m. ET o Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET

SITE (CAPACITY)
– Yankee Stadium (52,325); New York, N.Y.

TICKETS
– Notre Dame has played before a sellout in 76 of its last 87 games away from the friendly confines of Notre Dame Stadium. In fact, the Irish have played in front of sellout crowds in 227 of their previous 261 games, including 102 of their last 113 dating back to the 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

TELEVISION
– NBC national telecast with Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (analysis), Alex Flanagan (sideline), Rob Hyland (producer) and David Michaels (director). NBC’s Sunday Night Football team of Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Dan Patrick will be on location for the halftime show.

RADIO
– ISP Sports is the exclusive national rights-holder for Irish football radio broadcasts. ISP manages, produces and syndicates the Irish national football radio network. Notre Dame games will be broadcast by Don Criqui (play-by-play) and former Irish great Allen Pinkett (analysis). This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 159) and XM Satellite Radio (channel 117).
– All Notre Dame home games may be heard in South Bend on Sunny 101.5 FM and NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM.

WEB SITES
– Notre Dame (und.com), Army (goarmysports.com)

POLLS
– Neither Notre Dame nor Army are ranked in either the Associated Press or USA Today Coaches’ poll.

REAL-TIME STATS
– Live in-game statistics will be provided through CBS College Sports Gametracker via und.com.

SERIES INFO
– Saturday’s game marks the 50th meeting between Notre Dame and Army, with the Irish holding a 37-8-4 series lead. The Irish also own a 22-5-3 (.783) record against the Black Knights in neutral site venues, including a 14-5-3 (.705) mark at the old Yankee Stadium (more on the series history on pages 39-43).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR SATURDAY
– Notre Dame and Army – two staples of the national sports scene when they met 21 times between 1925 and 1946 at the original Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees – will renew that historic collegiate rivalry for the 50th time this weekend when the Fighting Irish and Cadets meet in the first football game to be played at the new Yankee Stadium in New York, N.Y.

ON THIS DATE
– Notre Dame has played 14 previous games in its history on Nov. 20. The Irish are 9-5-0 (.643) all-time on this date. The Irish were ranked in the top 25 entering eight of those contests.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

Nov. 20, 1920: Fans were unsuspecting to know that this would be Notre Dame legend George Gipp’s last game. Gipp came into the Northwestern game ill and hurting from a shoulder injury he sustained during a game against Indiana. After entering the game to 20,000 fans cheering for him to play, Gipp promptly made a difference on the game by throwing a touchdown pass. Gipp’s efforts led the Irish to a 33-7 victory on a cold and dreary day. Only three weeks later, Gipp would pass away at the age of 25.

Nov. 20, 1943: Notre Dame defeated Iowa Preflight, 14-13. Iowa Preflight, a school that represented the United States Navy during World War II, participated in intercollegiate football for three seasons during the war (1942-44). The Navy commissioned other pre-flight schools at the University of Georgia, University of North Carolina and at Saint Mary’s College of California. The schools trained over 20,000 cadets in the skills needed to be successful combat pilots in “The Big One.”

Nov. 20, 1962: New York Yankee legend Mickey Mantle was named the American League MVP for the third time.

Nov. 20, 1990: Army graduate Colonel Charles Gemar returns home from STS-38, a NASA mission aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, in which the crew was carrying a classified payload for the Department of Defense.

BIRTHDAYS
– Sophomore OT Zack Martin celebrates his 21st birthday.
– Freshman TE Alex Welch celebrates his 19th birthday.
– Two time All-star selection, 1981 world champion and former New York Yankee Rick Monday celebrates his 65th birthday.

NOTRE DAME IN NOVEMBER
– The Irish are 310-121-27 (.706) all-time in November.
– Notre Dame is 145-44-7 (.758) in November home games.
– The Irish are 114-65-16 (.626) in road games during November.
– Notre Dame is 51-12-4 (.791) in November neutral games.
– The Irish are 19-6-4 (.724) against Army all-time in the month of November.

A WIN THIS WEEK …
– Gives Notre Dame a record of 6-5 for the third consecutive year.
– Improves the Irish to 16-6-3 (.700) all-time at Yankee Stadium (first meeting in New Yankee Stadium).
– Improve Kelly’s record to 177-62-2 (.739) overall, 59-27 (.686) at the FBS level and 39-11 (.780) over the last four seasons.
– Improves Notre Dame to 38-8-4 (.800) in the all-time series with Army.
– Improves the Irish to 23-5-3 (.790) in the all-time series with the Black Knights on a neutral field.
– Improves Notre Dame to 20-5-3 (.768) in the all-time series with Army in the New York Metropolitan area.
– Improves the Irish to 15-5-3 (.717) in the all-time series with the Black Knights at Yankee Stadium (first meeting in New Yankee Stadium).
– Improves an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1936) to 4-0-0 (1.000) all-time against Army.
– Improves an unranked Irish squad (post 1936) to 3-0-0 (1.000) all-time against the Black Knights on a neutral field.
– Improves an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1936) to 3-0-0 (1.000) all-time against an unranked Army squad.
– Improves an unranked Irish squad (post 1936) to 3-0-0 (1.000) all-time against the Black Knights when also unranked on a neutral field.
– Improves Notre Dame to 131-26-5 (.824) all-time against the Service Academies (Army, Air Force and Navy).
– Improves the Irish to 68-12-4 (.833) all-time against the Service Academies on a neutral field.
– Improves Notre Dame to 87-16-5 (.829) all-time against the Service Academies away from South Bend, Ind.
– Improves the Irish to 843-295-42 (.732) all-time in school history.
– Improves Notre Dame to 109-36-6 (.742) all-time in neutral site games.

A LOSS THIS WEEK …
– Gives Notre Dame a record of 5-6 for the first time since 2003.
– Drops the Irish to 15-7-3 (.660) all-time at Yankee Stadium (first meeting in New Yankee Stadium).
– Drops Kelly’s record to 176-63-2 (.734) overall, 58-28 (.674) at the FBS level and 38-12 (.760) over the last four seasons.
– Drops Notre Dame to 37-9-4 (.780) in the all-time series with Army.
– Drops the Irish to 22-6-3 (.758) in the all-time series with the Black Knights on a neutral field.
– Drops Notre Dame to 19-6-3 (.732) in the all-time series with Army in the New York Metropolitan area.
– Drops the Irish to 14-6-3 (.674) in the all-time series with the Black Knights at Yankee Stadium (first meeting in New Yankee Stadium).
– Drops an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1936) to 3-1-0 (.750) all-time against Army.
– Drops an unranked Irish squad (post 1936) to 2-1-0 (.667) all-time against the Black Knights on a neutral field.
– Drops an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1936) to 2-1-0 (.667) all-time against an unranked Army squad.
– Drops an unranked Irish squad (post 1936) to 2-1-0 (.667) all-time against the Black Knights when also unranked on a neutral field.
– Drops Notre Dame to 130-27-5 (.818) all-time against the Service Academies (Army, Air Force and Navy).
– Drops the Irish to 67-13-4 (.821) all-time against the Service Academies on a neutral field.
– Drops Notre Dame to 86-17-5 (.819) all-time against the Service Academies away from South Bend, Ind.
– Drops the Irish to 842-296-42 (.731) all-time in school history.
– Drops Notre Dame to 108-37-6 (.735) all-time in neutral site games.

IRISH IN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND BIG CITY, TWICE
– Notre Dame will play a pair of games in the greater New York City metropolitan area in 2010. The Irish traveled to the $1.3 billion dollar New Meadowlands Stadium on Oct. 23 to face Navy. Notre Dame and the Midshipmen met five times in the previous Meadowlands Stadium, including 2004. The Irish will also participate in the first football game inside the New Yankee Stadium on Nov. 20 against Army. Notre Dame and the Cadets have a long history of playing in New York. They met 22 times at old Yankee Stadium, facing each other annually from 1925-46, except for 1930, and again in 1969 in the 100th anniversary of college football. They also played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn (1923), the Polo Grounds in Manhattan (1924) and Shea Stadium in Queens (1965).
– Notre Dame has never played multiple games in the NYC area in the same season.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
– The relationship between Notre Dame and New York City actually began just weeks before the University was even established by Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., in 1842. Sorin and his six Holy Cross Brothers, came by boat to the United States from France and arrived in New York Harbor about two months before heading for Indiana to begin laying the roots for Sorin’s vision of a faith-based school and the best university in the United States.
– Sorin actually said his first mass in the United States at St. Peter’s Church, the oldest Catholic Parish in New York City, in downtown Manhattan, not far from Ground Zero. A plaque inside the vestibule of the church commemorates the event. Sorin and his companions spent three days in New York City before embarking on the 24-day journey to Indiana.
– In the early days of the University, only a handful of New Yorkers could boast being Notre Dame alumni. But as travel became more convenient and the reputation of Notre Dame blossomed, the number quickly grew. Helping to fuel the active presence Notre Dame holds in the Big Apple is the Notre Dame Club of New York. The organization underwent steady growth through the early 1900s and under the leadership of then club president Monsignor Luke J. Evers (ND 1878), the organization became strong enough to attract Notre Dame president Rev. John W. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., to Manhattan in 1915 as the guest of honor and speaker for a banquet of alumni, dignitaries, city and state officials and educators.
– Notre Dame and Navy was the second college football game to be played in the new Meadowlands Stadium. The Irish last played in the old Meadowlands Stadium in 2004, when Notre Dame downed Navy, 27-9.
– The Irish posted a perfect 11-0 record in the previous facility that served as the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets. Notre Dame’s victories in the facility included six over Navy (1980, 1982, 1984, 1990, 1992 and 2004), three over Army (1977, 1983 and 1995) and one each over Virginia (1989) and Maryland (2002).
– Other New York-area Notre Dame football appearances came at the Polo Grounds in 1921 (versus Rutgers) — and at Giants Stadium in 1980, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’92 and 2004 (all against Navy), in ’89 against Virginia and in 2002 against Maryland (both in the Kickoff Classic). The Irish also played at Rutgers in 2000.

COULD BE A LONG WALK FROM THE BASILICA
– One of the many iconic traditions surrounding a Notre Dame home game is the walk by the team from the Basilica to Notre Dame Stadium. The team will not walk the 706 miles from the Basilica to Yankee Stadium prior to the game despite this weekend’s contest being a home game for the Irish.
– The game will be the second of a series of “off-site” home football games for Notre Dame in which the Irish are taking games that could be played at Notre Dame Stadium and moving them to venues around the country. The first of those took place Oct. 31, 2009, when Notre Dame routed Washington State, 40-14, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Notre Dame and Arizona State are slated to meet in 2013 at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium in Arlington, Texas.
– Notre Dame has over 8,261 alumni in the New York City metropolitan area, most as part of alumni clubs in New York City , Mid-Hudson Valley (Stormville, N.Y.), Long Island, Staten Island, Northern New Jersey (Rutherford, N.J.), Jersey Shore (Bradley Beach, N.J.), Fairfield County (Fairfield, Conn.) and New Haven (New Haven, Conn.).

NOTRE DAME-ARMY RIVALRY RENEWS AS FIRST FOOTBALL GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM
– Notre Dame and Army will be the first football game, college or professional, to be played in the new Yankee Stadium. The Irish last played in the old Yankee Stadium on Oct. 11, 1969 when Notre Dame blanked Army, 45-0.
– While Notre Dame and Army have met on 49 previous occasions, the heyday of the rivalry came in the mid-1940s. Over four straight seasons from 1943 through 1946, both Notre Dame and Army came into their Yankee Stadium matchup ranked fifth or higher in that week’s Associated Press poll. The Irish came into the ’43 game ranked number one, then Army brought the top ranking into the contest in ’44, ’45 and ’46. Top-ranked Notre Dame defeated #3 Army 26-0 in ’43. Top-rated Army vanquished #5 Notre Dame 59-0 in ’44 and #2 Notre Dame 48-0 in ’45. Then, in ’46, came the famous 0-0 tie between #1 Army and #2 Notre Dame – made legendary by John Lujack’s well-chronicled saving tackle of Cadet star running back Doc Blanchard late in the game.
– In the 1940s alone, Notre Dame claimed consensus national titles in ’43, ’46, ’47 and ’49 – while Army won national titles in ’44 and ’45. In that same decade of the `40s, Notre Dame produced three Heisman Trophy winners in Angelo Bertelli (’43), Lujack (’47) and Leon Hart (’49), while Army produced two in Blanchard (’45) and Glenn Davis (’46). The Notre Dame-Army matchups at New York’s Yankee Stadium had much to do with creating the term “subway alumni” for Notre Dame alumni and fans that utilized that mode of transportation to attend the games.
– Notre Dame leads the all-time series with Army 37-8-4 – including a 14-5-3 record at the original Yankee Stadium. Previous Yankee Stadium games between the Irish and Cadets came in 1925-29, 1931-46, and 1969 (the 100th anniversary of college football).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– The teams first met in a historic 35-13 Irish victory in 1913 at West Point. Notre Dame holds an 8-1 edge in meetings at Notre Dame Stadium, the most recent in 2006. The rivalry also has featured one game each at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn (1923), the Polo Grounds (a 13-7 Irish victory in ’24 at which Grantland Rice coined the Four Horsemen nickname), Soldier Field in Chicago (’30), in Philadelphia (’57), Shea Stadium in New York (’65) — and three at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands (’77, ’83 and ’95).
– Notre Dame also played at the original Yankee Stadium in 1949 against North Carolina (a 42-6 Irish victory) and in 1963 versus Syracuse (a 14-7 Orange win). Those contests, combined with the matchups against Army, give the Irish an overall 15-6-3 mark in previous Yankee Stadium games.

ONLY THE BIG BOYS
– Notre Dame is one of just four NCAA FBS programs to have not faced a non-FBS opponent since the current setup was established in 1978. The three other remaining schools that have yet to play a non-FBS opponent are USC, UCLA and Washington.

THE 2010 CAPTAINS
– Notre Dame reinstated an old tradition in 2010, designating captains on a game-by-game basis for only the third time in school history. Back in 1946, legendary head coach Frank Leahy elected to choose captains for each game – the result was an 8-0-1 record and the fifth of Notre Dame’s 11 national championships. The Irish also designated captains on a game-by-game basis from 2002-04 as well, but the team voted on season captains following the regular season. The 2010 captains have been as follows:

Purdue: Michael Floyd, Darrin Walls Michigan: Armando Allen Jr., Ethan Johnson Michigan State: Kyle Rudolph, Ian Williams Stanford: Chris Stewart, Ian Williams Boston College: Armando Allen Jr., Harrison Smith Pittsburgh: Kerry Neal, Trevor Robinson Western Michigan: Dayne Crist, Gary Gray Navy: Robert Blanton, Zack Martin Tulsa: Michael Floyd, Manti Te’o Utah: Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith

– Junior WR Michael Floyd leads all Irish players with three selections. Senior S Harrison Smith, senior RB Armando Allen Jr. and senior NG Ian Williams have been chosen on two separate occasions.

NOTRE DAME’S MASH UNIT
– The Irish have been beset by injuries in 2010. Notre Dame has undergone season-ending injuries to senior C Dan Wenger (before the season), junior QB Dayne Crist following the Tulsa game, junior TE Kyle Rudolph following the Pittsburgh game, senior RB Armando Allen Jr. following the Navy game, senior NG Ian Williams following the Navy game and possibly sophomore WR Theo Riddick following the Western Michigan game. The Irish also lost the services of junior WR Michael Floyd (Navy), junior RB Jonas Gray (Boston College, Pittsburgh, Western Michigan, Navy and Tulsa), sophomore ILB Carlo Calabrese (Tulsa and Utah), senior OT Taylor Dever (Boston College and Pittsburgh) and junior S Jamoris Slaughter (Michigan and Navy). Notre Dame even lost its starting short snapper for the remainder of the season when senior Bill Flavin suffered a broken ankle against Tulsa.
– It has been 44 years since Notre Dame lost both its No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 running back to an injury prior to the end of the regular season. The 2010 duo of Crist and Allen Jr. are the first since 1966, when quarterback Terry Hanratty and running back Nick Eddy were sidelined from playing in the season finale at USC. The Irish still won 51-0 over the Trojans to capture the national title. While the ’66 Notre Dame squad had the luxury of missing the tandem for just one game, the ’10 Irish squad will play the final four games without Crist and Allen Jr.
– On the offensive side of the ball against Utah alone, Notre Dame played without Allen Jr., Crist, freshman WR TJ Jones, Riddick, Rudolph and Wenger.
– Riddick (38 rec., 406 yards, 3 TD), Rudolph (28 rec., 328 yards, 3 TD), Jones (22 rec., 287 yards, 3 TD) and Allen (17 rec., 138 yards) entered last week’s game against the Utes as four of the top five receivers for the Irish on the year. They have combined for 105 receptions, 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. Rudolph has missed four games, Riddick has missed three games, Jones has missed one game and Allen has missed two complete games and the majority of a third.
– Allen underwent season-ending surgery on a hip flexor. He leads the Irish in rushing with 514 yards on 107 carries and two touchdowns.
– Crist, who was lost for the season with a torn patella tendon just seven plays into the game against Tulsa, had thrown for 2,033 yards and 15 touchdowns prior to the injury.
– In all, Notre Dame’s starting offense has lost a total of 14 games to injury this season (does not include Wenger).

2010 NOTRE DAME OPPONENT UPDATE
– Notre Dame has played three opponents that rank in this week’s AP top 25, including No. 7 Stanford, No. 11 Michigan State and No. 25 Utah. The Irish will also close the regular season at No. 20 USC.
– Notre Dame was one of only two Football Bowl Subdivision schools to have played teams from a BCS conference in each of the first six weeks (LSU was the other).
– The Irish hope to see continued dividends from playing one of the more difficult football schedules in the country to date. Notre Dame’s past opposition is rated fifth nationally by NCAA in degree of difficulty with a combined 51-29 record for a .638 percentage (rating includes opponent’s record against only FBS schools and excludes result in meeting with the Irish). The five teams that have beaten Notre Dame to date are a combined 39-11 – with No. 10 Michigan State 9-1 (only loss coming on the road against No. 13 Iowa), No. 7 Stanford 9-1 (only loss coming on the road against unbeaten and top-ranked Oregon), Michigan (7-3), Navy (7-3) and Tulsa (7-3).
– According to the NCAA, only two FBS schools have played a tougher schedule based on opposition win-loss percentage. Notre Dame’s 2010 opponents have a combined record of 63-36 (.636). The Irish currently rank third according to the NCAA’s toughest schedule standings. NCAA ratings includes opponent’s record against only FBS schools and excludes result in meeting with the Irish.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– The following is a list of 2010 Notre Dame opponents and how they fared last week:

See attached PDF for detailed tables

LOOKING BACK TO UTAH
– Notre Dame has opened each of its 10 games this season with the football.
– Captains for the game were junior WR Michael Floyd and senior S Harrison Smith.
– Official attendance was 80,795.
– Saturday was the 219th straight sellout at Notre Dame Stadium. Since 1966, every home game for the Irish has been a sellout except one – a 1973 Thanksgiving Day game vs. Air Force. Notre Dame has played in front of sellouts in 267 of its last 268 home games.
– The Irish managed just 95 yards in the first half (52 on the ground and 43 in the air). Notre Dame nearly bested all three totals in the third quarter alone. The Irish recorded 37 yards on the ground and 79 in the air for a total of 116 total yards.
– Junior CB Robert Blanton blocked a punt and returned it six yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to give the Irish a 7-3 lead. Blanton was the first Irish player to block a punt since Sergio Brown on Dec. 24, 2008, against Hawai’i in the Hawai’i Bowl. He was also the first Notre Dame player to return a blocked punt for a touchdown since Toryan Smith (14 yards) on Nov. 15, 2008, against Navy.
– The touchdown was the second of Blanton’s career. He registered a 47-yard interception return for touchdown against Purdue on Sept. 27, 2008.
– Junior WR Michael Floyd hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from freshman QB Tommy Rees to give Notre Dame a 14-3 lead with 12:25 remaining before halftime. Floyd now has 25 career receiving touchdowns in just 27 games for Notre Dame. He ranks third on the all-time Notre Dame receiving touchdowns list.
– Floyd moved past Rhema McKnight (2,277, 2002-06) into sixth place on the Notre Dame career receiving yards list. He now has 2,281 yards receiving and trails Tom Gatewood (2,283, 1969-71) by just three yards for sole possession of fifth place.
– Floyd has nine touchdown receptions this season, which ranks tied for eighth on the single-season list. Floyd is the third wideout in Notre Dame history to have two separate seasons rank in the top 10 for receiving touchdowns in a single season (joined Golden Tate and Jeff Samardzija).
– Floyd has also caught a touchdown pass in four consecutive games. He has totaled seven touchdown receptions in the four game span.
– Junior RB Jonas Gray, who missed each of the last five games with a knee injury, raced 36 yards to help setup a Notre Dame touchdown to give the Irish a 14-3 lead. The 36-yard run was the second longest for Notre Dame this season. The 36-yard run was the longest of Gray’s career.
– Senior WR Duval Kamara, who entered the game with only seven receptions on the season, grabbed a 26-yard touchdown pass to give Notre Dame a 21-3 lead with 14:47 left in the third quarter. Kamara added a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Irish a 28-3 lead with 9:09 to go in the third quarter. The touchdown catch was his second of the game, second of the season and eighth of his career. Kamara had not recorded a touchdown catch prior to this afternoon since Oct. 31, 2009, against Washington State. The two-touchdown game was the second multi-TD game of his career. Kamara had a pair of touchdown catches against Navy on Nov. 3, 2007.
– Freshman QB Tommy Rees has already thrown seven touchdown passes in his career, all of which have come in the last two games. He is the first Notre Dame freshman quarterback to ever throw three touchdowns in his first career start. Rees has thrown for at least three touchdown passes in each of the last two games. In fact, he has thrown for the fifth-most touchdown passes over a two-game stretch in school history. Only former All-American Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen have ever thrown more touchdown passes in two consecutive games. Quinn had nine touchdown passes over back-to-back games in 2006, Clausen had nine touchdown passes in consecutive games in 2008-09 and Quinn twice recorded eight touchdown passes in consecutive games in 2006.
– Rees’ total of seven touchdown passes already ranks tied for the third-most in a single season by an Irish freshman quarterback. Matt LoVecchio set the school record with 11 touchdown passes in 2000 and Quinn tossed nine touchdown passes in 2003. Jimmy Clausen registered seven touchdown passes in 2007.
– Rees spotted junior WR Michael Floyd for a three-yard touchdown pass to give Notre Dame a 14-3 lead with 12:25 remaining before halftime. Rees then found senior WR Duval Kamara open for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Irish a 21-3 lead with 14:47 left in the third quarter. He connected with Kamara again, this time from 12 yards out to give Notre Dame a 28-3 advantage with 9:09 remaining in the third quarter.
– Rees was 8 of 13 for 43 yards and one touchdown in the first half, but connected on his first four passes of the third quarter for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
– Senior S Harrison Smith registered his third interception of the season (also third of his career) midway through the first quarter.

NOTRE DAME AND TOP-RANKED FOES
– The Irish have now registered 133 victories in school history over opponents ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll, including 23 when Notre Dame entered the game unranked as they did last weekend against No. 15 Utah. Nine of those 23 victories when the Irish were unranked have occurred at Notre Dame Stadium. Prior to Utah, Notre Dame’s last victory over a top 20 opponent when unranked came on Nov. 6, 2004 at No. 7 Tennessee (17-13). The last victory for the Irish over a top 20 opponent when unranked at home came on Sept. 11, 2004 against No. 8 Michigan (28-20).
– Notre Dame’s margin of victory (25 points) over No. 15 Utah was the largest in a game against an AP top 20 opponent since Oct. 12, 1996 against Washington. Under the direction of head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish defeated the No. 16 Huskies, 54-20.
– Notre Dame’s victory was the program’s 21st in school history over an AP top 20 foe by 25 or more points.
– The three points allowed by Notre Dame against No. 15 Utah were the fewest allowed by the Irish against an AP top 20 foe since Jan. 1, 1993. Notre Dame defeated No. 4 Texas A&M, 28-3, in the Cotton Bowl.
– The three points allowed by the Irish marked the 34th time in school history that the Notre Dame held a top 20 opponent to seven points or less and the 20th time to three points or less.
– Last Saturday’s victory over No. 15 Utah was the highest ranked opponent that Notre Dame has defeated since Sept. 10, 2005 when the Irish upended No. 3 Michigan, 17-10.
– Notre Dame now owns an all-time record of 133-124-10 (.517) against teams ranked in the top 20 of the AP poll, including a 60-52-3 (.535) mark in Notre Dame Stadium.

DEFENSE CARRIES IRISH TO VICTORY
– Notre Dame limited No. 15 Utah well below almost all of its season averages in numerous offense categories. The Utes came into the contest averaging 175.89 yards on the ground (36th in the FBS), 245.89 yards in the air (41st in the FBS) and 421.78 yards of total offense (30th in the FBS). Utah was ranked among the top 20 in the FBS in scoring offense (9th, 41.00) and passing efficiency offense (12th, 158.65). The Utes had eclipsed 56 points in four of their first nine games in 2010, including 68 at Iowa State. Here is a comparison between Utah’s season averages entering the game with the Irish and its totals from the game against Notre Dame.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Notre Dame held No. 15 Utah without an offensive touchdown and three points. The Utes, who kicked a field goal on their opening drive of the game, were held scoreless over their final 11 drives and 60 plays. Utah had not been held to three points or less since Sept. 22, 2007 — a span of 45 games.
– Notre Dame did not allow the Utes to register a drive of longer than 24 yards over their first nine drives of the game. Utah did drive 65 and 61 yards on back-to-back drives in the third and fourth quarter, but the Utes needed 12 plays for each drive and both ended when the Irish stopped Utah on fourth down. In all, Utah was stifled to nine drives of less than 24 yards, including eight of 20 yards or less.
– Utah had eclipsed 400 yards of total offense in six of its first nine games, including 593 at Iowa State. Notre Dame limited the Utes to 265 total yards, 194 in the air and 71 on the ground. The 265 total yards were the fewest allowed by an Irish opponent all season (previous low total was 270 total yards at Boston College). The 71 rushing yards were the third-fewest for an Irish opponent on the season (season-low total was five yards at Boston College). The 194 yards in the air were the second-fewest by a Notre Dame foe this season (previous low total was 71 passing yards vs. Navy).
– The 265 yards of total offense by Utah were the fewest allowed by Notre Dame since Oct. 31, 2009 when Washington State managed just 206 total yards in a 40-14 victory by the Irish.
– The Irish defense limited the Utah offense to 118 total yards (56 on the ground and 62 in the air) in the first half.
– Notre Dame finished the game with eight quarterback hurries, the most for the Irish in any home game this season (stat is tracked in Notre Dame home games only). The previous single-game high was five quarterback hurries on Oct. 16, 2010, against Western Michigan. The Irish registered seven quarterback hurries, an interception and two pass breakups in the opening half alone.

SPECIAL TEAM UNITS DELIVER
– Notre Dame blocked its first punt of the 2010 season when junior CB Robert Blanton raced untouched and blocked Sean Sellwood’s effort. Blanton scooped up the ball and scampered six yards for a touchdown. It was the first blocked punt for the Irish since the 2008 Hawai’i Bowl (Sergio Brown) and first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since the Nov. 15, 2008, game vs. Navy (Toryan Smith, 14 yards).
– Notre Dame forced a Utah fumble on the opening kickoff of the second-half. The Irish then followed one play later with a 26-yard touchdown pass from freshman QB Tommy Rees to senior WR Duval Kamara.
– The fumble was forced by freshman WR Austin Collinsworth and recovered by freshman WR Daniel Smith.

NOTRE DAME & SENIOR DAY
– The Irish honored its 36 seniors last week with a 28-3 victory over No. 15 Utah.
– Notre Dame now owns an all-time record of 92-24-4 (.783) in home finales. The Irish are 61-19-1 (.759) in home finales in Notre Dame Stadium.
– Utah was the highest ranked opponent to travel to Notre Dame Stadium on “Senior Day” since Tennessee on Nov. 9, 1991. The Volunteers were ranked No. 13 and slipped past the fifth-ranked Irish, 35-34.
– Utah is the highest ranked opponent Notre Dame has defeated on “Senior Day” since Nov. 14, 1987 when the Irish bested No. 10 Alabama.
– The Irish are 16-11 (.593) all-time against ranked opponents on “Senior Day.”

NO TURNOVERS = VICTORY (USUALLY)
– Notre Dame is 56-4-1 since 1985 when it does not commit a turnover. The Irish had an amazing 41-game unbeaten streak (40-0-1) in games without a turnover snapped in 2004 against USC. Prior to that game, the last time a Notre Dame team lost a game without committing a turnover was a 34-30 loss at Penn State on Nov. 12, 1983.
– The Irish did not commit a turnover in their 28-3 rout of No. 15 Utah. It was the second turnover-free contest of the season. Notre Dame failed to commit a turnover against Pittsburgh earlier in the year as well. It was the first turnover-free contest for the Irish in 10 games, dating back to the 40-14 victory against Washington State on Oct. 31, 2009.
– Two of Notre Dame’s six victories in 2009 were keynoted by errorless outings in the turnover department as the Irish collected wins over Nevada (35-0) and Boston College (20-16) while not losing the ball via a turnover.

KELLY’S WINNING WAYS
– Notre Dame first-year head coach Brian Kelly ranks as the seventh most successful active NCAA FBS coach. Here is a look at the top 10 winningest active coaches in the FBS (min. five years completed as FBS head coach, record at four-year colleges only):

See attached PDF for detailed tables

TRIO HONORED FOR ACADEMICS
– Senior OG Chris Stewart, senior PK David Ruffer and senior CB Barry Gallup Jr. were each named to the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for District 5. Stewart and Gallup are each taking graduate level courses, while Ruffer is an economics major. All three will get placed on the national ballot for the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees. Stewart, the only player in Notre Dame’s storied football history to tackle football and law school simultaneously, graduated with a degree from the College of Arts and Letters in history. He finished his undergraduate studies in only three and a half years with a 3.536 cumulative grade-point average. Stewart was a 2009 ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District selection. Stewart was a member of the History Honors Program and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta honors society. Ruffer has accumulated a 3.90 GPA while studying economics. He has excelled on the field as well. Ruffer has been named a semifinalist for the 2010 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Discover Orange Bowl. Gallup is one of three fifth-year seniors on the Irish roster, joining Stewart and center Dan Wenger. He has appeared in 27 games at Notre Dame, totaled 163 yards on nine kickoff returns in 2009 and has three career tackles, including one for loss. Gallup graduated from the Mendoza College of Business with a finance degree in just three years with an undergraduate GPA of 3.465. He was then accepted into Notre Dame’s one-year MBA program, but deferred entry. Gallup is currently enrolled in the graduate studies program.

IRISH AGAIN RANKS NUMBER ONE IN 2010 NCAA GSR COMPARISONS
– University of Notre Dame athletic programs again rank among the best in the country in graduation rates, based on Graduation Success Rate (GSR) figures released by the NCAA – including a first-place rating in football. Among the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision institutions, Notre Dame had the highest percentage of its sports with 100 percent scores (for the fifth time in six years), with a .863 figure (19 of 22). In football, Notre Dame achieved a 96 GSR rating for the highest figure among FBS schools. Here are the FBS institutions with scores of 80 or higher in that category:

See attached PDF for detailed tables

IRISH GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
– Since the start of the 2008 season, Notre Dame has played 19 games that have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Irish are 7-12 in those games including a 28-27 defeat to Tulsa.
– Notre Dame has played four games in 2010 decided by seven points or less. In fact, 14 of the last 22 games for the Irish have been decided by a touchdown or less.
– Ten of Notre Dame’s 12 games in 2009 were decided in the fourth quarter. The Irish won four games decided by a touchdown or less and lost six times by seven or less.
– The Irish snapped a six-game losing streak in games decided by a touchdown or less. The 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh was the first since defeating Boston College (20-16) on Oct. 24, 2009. The Irish concluded last year by losing to Navy (23-21), Pitt (27-22), Connecticut (33-30 in overtime) and Stanford (45-38), and fell to Michigan (28-24) and Michigan State (34-31 in overtime) this season.

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE, DEFENSE QUARTER BY QUARTER BREAKDOWN
– Notre Dame totaled just nine total yards (six rushing, three passing) in the first quarter against Utah. The six yards rushing in the opening quarter were the second-fewest in any first quarter this season and sixth-fewest any quarter this season. The three yards passing and nine total yards in the first quarter were both the fewest in any quarter this year, but the Irish led 7-3 entering the second quarter in large part to junior CB Robert Blanton’s blocked punt for touchdown.
– Notre Dame managed just 256 total yards in the contest, the fewest in a victory since Oct. 6, 2007 when the Irish totaled 140 yards in a 20-6 victory over UCLA. The 129 yards passing were the fewest in a victory since Nov. 15, 2008 when Notre Dame threw for just 110 yards in a 27-21 triumph over Navy.
– Notre Dame limited Utah to minus-three yards rushing in the fourth quarter and 16 yards on the ground in the second-half of its 28-3 victory over the Utes. In fact, the Irish allowed 36 yards on the ground over the game’s final three quarters after Utah rushed for 35 yards in the opening quarter.
– Notre Dame rushed for minus-four yards on 10 carries in the opening half against Western Michigan (the fewest total of any half this season). The Irish responded with a dominant ground attack after halftime. Notre Dame galloped for 153 yards on 24 carries in the second half, which was the most yards rushing in any half this season.
– The Irish offense single-game highs by quarters are as follows: rushing (86, 4th quarter vs. Western Michigan), passing (171, 4th quarter vs. Stanford) and total yards (180, 4th quarter vs. Stanford).
– The Notre Dame defense single-game lows by quarters are as follows: rushing (minus-16, 3rd quarter at Boston College), passing (17, 3rd quarter at Boston College) and total yards (1, 3rd quarter at Boston College).
– Notre Dame has outgained its opponent in three of the four quarters this season.
– The Irish have outgained six of their 10 opponents in the fourth quarter.
– Here is a interesting look at quarter-by-quarter breakdown of rushing, passing and total yards allowed and gained.

Notre Dame Opponents Quarter-by-Quarter Yardage Breakdown

See attached PDF for detailed tables

Notre Dame Quarter-by-Quarter Yardage Breakdown

See attached PDF for detailed tables

NEARLY PENALTY FREE, AGAIN!
– Notre Dame was called for one penalty in the loss to Navy. It marked the third time this season that the Irish were whistled for two penalties or less. Notre Dame was called for two penalties in victories over Boston College (Oct. 2) and Purdue (Sept. 4). The Irish had not completed a game with one penalty since Nov. 26, 2005 (a 38-31 victory at Stanford). Notre Dame has not gone a complete game without a penalty since Nov. 15, 1997 at LSU.
– Notre Dame ranks tied for 15th in the FBS in penalties per game (4.90) and tied for 27th in penalty yards per game (44.60). The Irish ranked 69th and 73rd, respectively, in the same categories in 2009.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

FILER FILLS THE LANE ON SPECIAL TEAMS
– Notre Dame junior LB Steve Filer leads the Irish with 10 special teams tackles this season. He has recorded eight on kickoff return and two on punt return. Filer leads the team in tackles in all three categories (kick return, punt return and total special teams). He also led the Irish in total special teams tackles in 2009 as well. Filer had 11 special teams tackles last season, including 10 on kickoff and one on punt.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

THE JACKSON FIVE
– Freshman WR Bennett Jackson has registered seven tackles on special teams, including six on kickoff return. The seven total special teams tackles ranks second-best on the team (only Steve Filer has more with 10). Jackson’s six kickoff return tackles is tied with junior CB Robert Blanton for second to Filer’s eight.
– He recorded four solo stops in his Irish debut against Purdue and added another tackle against Michigan.
– Jackson raced 43 yards on his first career kickoff return, the longest return of the season for Notre Dame, against Boston College. He finished the game with 111 yards on four kickoff returns, good for a 27.8 yard average.
– Jackson ran 20 yards on a fake punt to help setup Notre Dame’s touchdown that gave the Irish a 20-12 lead over Tulsa in the second quarter. The rush was the first of his career.
– Jackson took the opening kickoff against No. 15 Utah and returned it 35 yards.

David Ruffer 18 IS ENOUGH
– Senior walk-on PK David Ruffer has converted 18 consecutive field goals. The 18 straight field goals is the longest streak in school history, but even more amazing is the fact that the streak has opened Ruffer’s collegiate kicking career. He is a perfect 18 of 18 on field goals since attempting his first career field goal against Pittsburgh last season.
– The 18 consecutive field goals to open a career is also a school record. Mike Johnston made the first 13 field goal attempts in his career (was the school record for consecutive field goals until sophomore PK Nick Tausch broke in 2009) during the 1982 season.
– Ironically enough, Johnston was also a senior walk-on.
– Ruffer has been named a semifinalist for the 2010 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Discover Orange Bowl.
– Ruffer’s 18 straight field goals is the longest active streak in the FBS. The NCAA record for consecutive field goals converted is 30 by Chuck Nelson of Washington in 1981-82. He also holds the NCAA record for consecutive field goals made in a single season (25, 1982).
– Ruffer is the only kicker in the FBS still perfect through at least nine field goal attempts.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Ruffer connected on a field goal in 11 straight games, each game in which he has served as the Irish place kicker (dating back to the Pittsburgh contest in 2009), before the streak came to an end against Tulsa. The 11 consecutive games with a field goal was the longest streak by a Notre Dame kicker since Nicholas Setta set the school record with a field goal in 16 straight games (2000-02).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Ruffer’s 13 field goals rank as the eighth-most in single-season school history. He is on pace for 16 field goals in 2010, which would rank fifth-best in single-season school history.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Ruffer’s 50-yard field goal is tied for the sixth-longest in school history. It was the longest field goal by an Irish player since D.J. Fitzpatrick booted a 50-yarder against Syracuse on Dec. 6, 2003. Ruffer became the sixth place kicker in school history to connect on a field goal of 50 yards or longer.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Ruffer connected on a 45-yard field goal with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter to cut the Navy lead to 7-3.
– Ruffer connected on a 33-yard field goal with 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Irish a 44-17 lead over Western Michigan.
– Ruffer connected on a 32-yard field goal with 3:22 remaining in the first half to give the Irish a 17-3 lead. He drilled a career-long 50-yard field goal with 12:11 to go in the third quarter to give Notre Dame a 20-3 lead. Ruffer connected on a 31-yard field goal with 9:06 left in the game to extend the Irish lead to 23-10.
– Ruffer connected on a 37-yard field goal with 5:22 remaining in the first half to give the Irish a 24-13 lead over Boston College.
– Ruffer connected on all three field goal attempts in the victory over Purdue, including a career-long kick of 46 yards. He added a 24-yard field goal in the loss to Michigan.
– Ruffer converted a 22-yard field goal with 8:11 to go in the first quarter against Stanford to give the Irish a 3-0 lead. He added a 40-yard field with 13:22 remaining in the second quarter to cut the Cardinal lead to 10-6.
– Ruffer was true from 33 yards in overtime against Michigan State.

REES PIECES TOGETHER WIN FOR IRISH
– Freshman QB Tommy Rees was the ninth freshman quarterback to start for the Irish in the last 60 seasons (1951-present), joining Ralph Guglielmi (1951), Blair Kiel (1980), Steve Beuerlein (1983), Kent Graham (1987), Paul Failla (1991), Matt LoVecchio (2000), Quinn (2003) and Clausen (2007) in that elite club. Rees was the first freshman quarterback to start for Notre Dame since Jimmy Clausen got the call against Stanford on Nov. 24, 2007.
– Notre Dame is 7-2 since 1951 when a freshman quarterback makes his first-ever start for the Irish. Rees got the nod in game 10 of 2010 (vs. Utah) following the season-ending injury to junior QB Dayne Crist. Clausen’s start against the Nittany Lions came in the second game of the year, which was the earliest start into a season for an Irish freshman quarterback since 1951.
– Rees became the first Irish freshman quarterback to knock off a top 20 opponent since Blair Kiel helped Notre Dame get past No. 13 Miami, Fla., 32-14. Rees threw for the most touchdown passes, three, by a freshman in his first career start in school history. Rees also threw for the fourth-most yards ever by an Irish quarterback in his first start (second-most ever by a Notre Dame rookie quarterback in a victory).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Rees’ total of seven touchdown passes already ranks tied for the third-most in a single season by an Irish freshman quarterback. Matt LoVecchio set the school record with 11 touchdown passes in 2000 and Quinn tossed nine touchdown passes in 2003. Jimmy Clausen registered seven touchdown passes in 2007.
– Rees already ranks in the top five in the following Irish freshman quarterback single-game and season records:

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Rees has already thrown seven touchdown passes in his career, all of which have come in the last two games. He has thrown for at least three touchdown passes in each of the last two games. In fact, he has thrown for the third-most touchdown passes over a two-game stretch in school history. Only former All-American Brady Quinn has ever thrown more touchdown passes in two consecutive games. Quinn had nine touchdown passes over back-to-back games in 2009 and twice had eight touchdown passes in consecutive games in 2006.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Rees was 8 of 13 for 43 yards and one touchdown in the first half against Utah, but connected on his first four passes of the third quarter for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
– Rees was the first Irish freshman quarterback to ever throw four touchdown passes in a single game. The four touchdown passes against Tulsa is tied with numerous others for the sixth-most in single-game school history. Rees completed 33 of 54 passes for 334 yards – the most ever by a quarterback that did not start the game. His 300-yard game was the 35th in school history and second-ever by a Notre Dame freshman. Brady Quinn is the only other freshman signal caller to throw for at least 300 yards in a single game (350, Oct. 25, 2003 at Boston College).
– The 33 completions are tied for the second-most in school history. The 54 attempts are the fifth-most in school history.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

REES/CRIST REKINDLE QUARTERBACK FIRST-START MAGIC
– Freshman QB Tommy Rees extended Notre Dame’s winning streak under first-time starting quarterbacks to two games following Notre Dame’s 28-3 rout of No. 15 Utah.
– Since 1975, the Irish are now 19-10 under a first-time starting quarterback. Interestingly enough, Notre Dame is 13-4 under a first-time starting quarterback when playing in Notre Dame Stadium (also since 1975).
– Rees completed 13 of 20 passes for 129 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was the second quarterback to throw three touchdown passes or more in his first career start and first since Ron Powlus tossed four against Northwestern on Sept. 3, 1994. Rees’ completion percentage of 65.0% was the third-highest of any first-time starting quarterback with more than eight pass attempts since 1975.
– Junior QB Dayne Crist snapped Notre Dame’s four-game losing streak with a first-time starting quarterback under center.
– Crist’s completion percentage of 73.1% was the second-highest of any first-time starting quarterback with more than eight pass attempts since 1975. Ron Powlus completed 75.0% (18 of 24) of his passes against the Wildcats in 1994.
– Crist’s 19 completions are the second-most by a first-time starting Irish quarterback since 1975. Brady Quinn completed 29 passes against Purdue on Sept. 23, 2003. His 205 yards passing are the third-most by a first-time starting signal caller since 1985. Quinn threw for 297 yards against Purdue on Sept. 27, 2003 and Ron Powlus had 291 yards against Northwestern on Sept. 3, 1994.
– Crist was the first junior quarterback to make his starting debut since Arnaz Battle in 2000.
– From 1985-98, Notre Dame was victorious in nine straight games in which an Irish quarterback was making his first career start, including four coming in a season opener. Those openers were won by Rick Mirer (No. 1 Notre Dame def. No. 4 Michigan 28-24 in ’90), Kevin McDougal (No. 7 Notre Dame def. Northwestern 27-12 in ’93), Ron Powlus (No. 3 Notre Dame def. Northwestern 42-12 in ’95) and Jarious Jackson (No. 22 Notre Dame def. No. 5 Michigan 36-20 in ’98).
– Notre Dame’s nine-game, first-start winning streak ended in the 10-0 loss at USC on Nov. 28, 1998, when Eric Chappell started in place of the injured starter Jackson (then-freshman Arnaz Battle also played a large chunk of that game).
– Following the snap of the nine-game winning streak under first-time starters, the Irish won three consecutive games under first-time signal callers. In fact, all three came during the same season, 2000, and occurred over the year’s first five contests. Arnaz Battle (Notre Dame def. No. 24 Texas A&M, 24-10), Gary Godsey (Notre Dame def. Purdue, 23-21) and Matt LoVecchio (No. 25 Notre Dame def. Stanford, 20-14).
– Carlyle Holiday dropped his first career start on Sept. 29, 2001 against Texas A&M, but senior walk-on Pat Dillingham was victorious against Stanford on Oct. 5, 2002.
– Notre Dame used a trio of first-time signal callers in 2007, including one in each of the first two games of the season. Demetrius Jones (Georgia Tech def. Notre Dame, 33-3), Jimmy Clausen (No. 14 Penn State def. Notre Dame, 31-10) and Evan Sharpley (No. 13 USC def. Notre Dame, 38-0) all failed to walk away with a victory.

Last 29 starting debut games by Irish QBs (Notre Dame is 19-10 in those contests).
– Tommy Rees, freshman (Notre Dame vs. No. 15 Utah, Nov. 13, 2010, 10th game of season) … win, 28-3 … 13 of 20 passing, 129 yards, 3 TDs.
Dayne Crist, junior (Notre Dame vs. Purdue, Sept. 4, 2010, first game of season) … win, 23-12 … 19 of 26 passing, 205 yards, 1 TD.
– Evan Sharpley, sophomore (Notre Dame vs. No. 13 USC, Oct. 20, 2007, eighth game of season) … loss, 38-0 … 17 of 33 passing, 117 yards, 1 INT.
– Jimmy Clausen, freshman (Notre Dame at No. 14 Penn State, Sept. 8, 2007, second game of season) … loss, 31-10 … 17 of 32 passing, 144 yards, 1 INT.
– Demetrius Jones, sophomore (Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech, Sept. 1, 2007, first game of season) … loss, 33-3 … 1 of 3 passing, 4 yards, 2 fumbles … 12 rushes for 28 yards.
– Brady Quinn, freshman (Notre Dame at No. 22 Purdue, Sept. 27, 2003, fourth game of season) … loss, 23-10 … 29 of 59 passing, 297 yards, 4 INT, TD … 8 rushes for 25 yards.
– Pat Dillingham, sophomore (Notre Dame vs. Stanford, Oct. 5, 2002, fifth game of season) … win, 31-7 … 14 of 27 passing, 129 yards, 2 TDs.
– Carlyle Holiday, sophomore (Notre Dame at Texas A&M, Sept. 29, 2001, third game of season) … loss, 24-3 … 6 of 13 passing, 73 yards, 2 INT … 12 rushes for 23 yards.
– Matt LoVecchio, freshman (No. 25 Notre Dame vs. Stanford, Oct. 7, 2000, fifth game of season) … win, 20-14 … 10 of 18 passing, 100 yards, 2 TDs … 13 rushes for 36 yards, TD.
– Gary Godsey, sophomore (Notre Dame vs. Purdue, Sept. 16, 2000, 3rd game of season) … win, 23-21 … 14 of 25 passing, 158 yards, INT … 7 rushes for 3 yards, TD.
– Arnaz Battle, junior (Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Texas A&M, Sept. 2, 2000, 1st game of season) … win, 24-10 … 10 of 16 passing, 133 yards … 12 rushes for 50 yards.
– Eric Chappell, junior (No. 9 Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 28, 1998, 11th game of season) … loss, 10-0 … 0 of 3 passing, 2 INT … 7 rushes for 33 yards.
– Jarious Jackson, senior (Notre Dame vs. No. 5 Michigan, Sept. 5, 1998, 1st game of season) … win, 36-20 … 4 of 10 passing, 96 yards, 2 TDs, INT … 16 rushes for 62 yards.
– Tom Krug, junior (No. 8 Notre Dame at Air Force, Nov. 18, 1995, 11th game of season) … win, 44-14 … 8 of 13 passing, INT … 3 rushes for 13 yards … started due to Powlus’ collarbone injury, in previous week versus Navy.
– Ron Powlus, sophomore (No. 3 Notre Dame at Northwestern, Sept. 3, 1994, 1st game of season) … win, 42-15 … 18 of 24 passing, 291 yards, 4 TD … 2 rushes for 6 yards.
– Kevin McDougal, senior (No. 7 Notre Dame vs. Northwestern, Sept. 4, 1993, 1st game of season) … win, 27-12 … 6 of 8 passing, 135 yards … 5 rushes for -16 yards.
– Paul Failla, freshman (No. 8 Notre Dame at Purdue, Sept. 28, 1991, 4th game of season) … win, 45-20 … 1 of 1 passing, 10 yards … 2 rushes for 11 yards … started in place of Mirer due to team policy of “no practice, no start” (Mirer had pulled rib cartilage during the week) … Mirer replaced Failla beginning with the second series.
– Rick Mirer, sophomore (No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Michigan, Sept. 15, 1990, 1st game of season) … win, 28-24 … 14 of 23 passing, 165 yards, TD, INT … 10 rushes for 12 yards, TD.
– Kent Graham, freshman (No. 9 Notre Dame vs. Boston College, Nov. 7, 1987, 8th game of season) … win, 32-25 … 6 of 8 passing, 11 yards, INT … 3 rushes for 7 yards.
– Tony Rice, sophomore (No. 11 Notre Dame at Air Force, Oct. 17, 1987, 5th game of season) … win, 35-14 … 1 of 5 passing, 10 yards, INT … 9 rushes for 70 yards, 2 TD … played due to Andrysiak’s broken collarbone injury, in previous game at Pittsburgh.
– Terry Andrysiak, sophomore (Notre Dame vs. Mississippi, Nov. 9, 1985, 8th game of season) … win, 37-14 … 4 of 8 passing, 60 yards, TD … 2 rushes for -7 yards.
– Rick Slager, senior (#9 Notre Dame vs. Boston College, @Foxboro, Sept. 15, 1975, 1st game of season) … win, 17-3 … 7 of 12 passing, 72 yards.
– Joe Montana, sophomore (#8 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State, Oct. 4, 1975, 4th game of season) … loss, 10-3 … 2 of 5 passing, 19 yards, 1 INT.
– Rusty Lisch, sophomore (#3 Notre Dame vs. Miami, Nov. 20, 1976, 10th game of season) … win, 40-27 … 5 of 11 passing, 102 yards, 1 TD … 15 rushes for 9 yards, 3 TD.
– Tim Koegel, sophomore (#5 Notre Dame at #17 Purdue, Sept. 22, 1979, 2nd game of season) … loss, 28-22 … 6 of 18 passing, 81 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT … four rushes for 0 yards.
– Blair Kiel, freshman (#7 Notre Dame vs. #13 Miami, Oct. 11, 1980, 4th game of season) … win, 32-14 … 4 of 17 passing, 35 yards … 11 rushes for 28 yards, 1 TD.
– Ken Karcher, sophomore … (Notre Dame at #1 Pittsburgh, Nov. 6, 1982, 8th game of season) … loss, 31-16 … 2 of 4 passing, 21 yards, 1 INT … 1 rush for -10 yards … replaced by senior Jim O’Hara in second quarter.
– Steve Beurelein, freshman (Notre Dame vs. Colorado, Oct. 1, 1983, 4th game of season) … win, 27-3 … 8 of 12 passing, 133 yards.
– Scott Grooms, senior (Notre Dame vs. Air Force, Oct. 13, 1984, 6th game of season) … loss, 21-7 … 12 of 35 passing, 117 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT … 12 rushes for -9 yards.

FLOYD IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
– Junior WR Michael Floyd, who missed the game against Navy, is listed on the NCAA FBS active career charts in receiving yards, receiving yards per game, receptions per game and receiving touchdowns. Floyd’s 84.5 yards receiving per game ranks fourth in the nation among active players, while his 5.6 catches per game ranks sixth. He also ranks ninth on the active career chart for receiving touchdowns with 25 and 19th in career receiving yards with 2,281.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from freshman QB Tommy Rees to give Notre Dame a 14-3 lead against No. 15 Utah with 12:25 remaining before halftime. Floyd now has 25 career receiving touchdowns in just 27 games for Notre Dame. He ranks third on the all-time Notre Dame receiving touchdowns list.
– Floyd has nine touchdown receptions this season, which ranks tied for eighth on the single-season list. Floyd is the third wideout in Notre Dame history to have two separate seasons rank in the top 10 for receiving touchdowns in a single season (joined Golden Tate and Jeff Samardzija).
– Floyd has also caught a touchdown pass in four consecutive games. He has totaled seven touchdown receptions in the four game span.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd continues his climb up the Irish all-time receiving lists. He recently moved past Jim Seymour (138, 1966-68) into fifth place on the all-time Irish receptions list (147). Floyd, who already became the ninth Notre Dame wideout to ever register 2,000 career receiving yards, moved past Rhema McKnight (2,277, 2002-06) into sixth place on the Notre Dame career receiving yards list. He now has 2,281 yards receiving and trails Tom Gatewood (2,283, 1969-71) by just three yards for fifth place.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd recorded a career-high 11 receptions for 104 yards against Tulsa. It marked his third career outing with at least 10 catches in a game. He is the third Notre Dame wideout joining Jim Seymour (1966-68) and Tom Gatewood (1969-71) to ever register three or more games with at least 10 catches.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark three times this season and 12 times in his career (which ranks third all-time). He trails only Golden Tate (15, 2007-09) and Tom Gatewood (13, 1969-71).
– Floyd has played in 27 career games, and in two of them (at Navy in 2008 and vs. Michigan State in 2009), he missed most of the action following an injury. Yet, Floyd has 12 career 100-yard receiving games over the other 25 games played.

Games with 100 Yards – Season Games with 100 Yards – Career 1. Golden Tate, Jr. 9 (2009) 1. Golden Tate 15 (2007-09) 2. Tom Gatewood, Jr. 8 (1970) 2. Tom Gatewood 13 (1969-71) 3. Maurice Stovall, Sr. 6 (2005) 3. Michael Floyd 12 (2008-) 4. Michael Floyd, So. 5 (2009) 4. Derrick Mayes 9 (1992-95) Golden Tate, So. 5 (2008) Jeff Samardzija 9 (2003-06) Jeff Samardzija, Jr. 5 (2005) 6. Maurice Stovall 7 (2002-05) 7. Michael Floyd, Fr. 4 (2008) 7. Jim Seymour 6 (1966-68) Jeff Samardzija, Sr. 4 (2006) Tim Brown 6 (1984-87) Tom Gatewood, So. 4 (1969)

– Floyd recorded nine receptions for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over Western Michigan.
– Floyd recorded three touchdown receptions for the second time in his career. He had three touchdown catches against Nevada on Sept. 5, 2009. Floyd has caught two or more touchdown passes in three games this season and six times in his career. He is the third Notre Dame wideout to have three or more touchdown receptions in multiple games (Maurice Stovall, 2005; Golden Tate, 2009).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd hooked up with freshman QB Tommy Rees on a 10-yard touchdown reception with 6:13 to go in the first quarter to cut the Tulsa lead to 7-6. He then hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Rees with 8:10 to go in the second quarter to give the Irish a 20-12 lead.
– Floyd hauled in an 80-yard touchdown reception on Notre Dame’s first offensive play from scrimmage against Western Michigan. He was the first player in school history to register a touchdown catch of at least 80 yards more than once in his career. Floyd also had an 88-yard scoring catch on Sept. 5, 2009 against Nevada. He has actually recorded three touchdown catches of at least 70 yards. Floyd also registered a 70-yard touchdown reception in that game against the Wolf Pack .
– Floyd hooked up with junior QB Dayne Crist on a one-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 to go in the first quarter to give the Irish a 7-3 lead against Pittsburgh.
– Floyd has now recorded a reception in 15 straight games (excluding games he missed due to injury). Floyd has a reception in 24 of the 25 games he has suited up for the Irish. The only game he failed to make a reception came against Navy in 2008 when he was injured early in the first quarter blocking down field.
– Floyd finished the game against Stanford with eight catches for 110 yards.
– Floyd has registered a touchdown pass against Michigan State in each of the last three years. He registered a 24-yard touchdown reception with 13:20 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Irish a 28-21 lead. He hauled in a seven-yard touchdown reception from Crist with 5:28 left in first quarter to give Irish a 7-0 lead.
– Floyd had five catches for 66 yards in the loss to Michigan.
– Floyd had five receptions for 82 yards in the victory over Purdue.
– Had Floyd met the NCAA requirement of playing in 75 percent of the team’s games in 2009 his 113.6 yards per game would have ranked sixth nationally. Floyd and Golden Tate would have been the only receiving tandem to rank top 10 nationally in that statistic. His 18.1 yards per catch would have also earned him 12th place on the NCAA season leader list as well.
– Floyd led all FBS wideouts in the nation with a 29.09 yards per catch average and was tied for the nation’s lead in receiving touchdowns with four (among NCAA qualifying receivers) before suffering a broken collarbone in the second quarter of Notre Dame’s 33-30 victory over Michigan State in 2009.
– Floyd recorded four catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-0 rout of Nevada in last season’s opener. He averaged 47.3 yards per reception, which broke the previous school record of 41.6 yards per catch by Jim Morse against USC on Nov. 26, 1955.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd set a career-high for longest reception when he raced 88 yards for a touchdown with 10:12 left in the third quarter against Nevada in 2009. The 88-yard reception is the fourth-longest in Notre Dame football history and was the longest since Nov. 7, 1981 when Blair Kiel found Joe Howard for a school record 96 yards.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Floyd not only became the first Irish freshman to register a touchdown catch in a season opener (2008), but also became the first freshman to register Notre Dame’s first points of a season by TD. Floyd had 48 receptions for 719 yards last year. He established new school records for receptions (48), receiving yards (719) and receiving touchdowns (7) by an Irish freshman. He also set a freshman record with 10 receptions against Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, 2008.
– Floyd was the fourth different rookie in the last 20 years whose first career catch was a TD. The others were Raghib “Rocket” Ismail and Derek Brown in 1988 and Derrick Mayes in 1992 – mighty impressive company for Floyd to join.

Chris Stewart MAN OF THE LAW
– Senior OG Chris Stewart will attempt the rarest of double duties this fall by playing college football while also undertaking the rigors of life as a law school student. He is believed to be the first football player in Irish history to suit-up for games on Saturday and attend graduate law classes during the week. According to a survey of FBS sports information directors, Stewart, who graduated cum laude in December ’09 with a degree in history and two internships in immigration and labor law, is one of two FBS football players who will be enrolled in law school this fall (Michael Cklamovski, PK, Northern Illinois).
– Stewart is enrolled in Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Legal Writing I.
– Stewart, along with senior PK David Ruffer and senior DB Barry Gallup, were named ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for District 5.
– Stewart has been selected a 2010 National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation. As a National Scholar-Athlete, Stewart receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and is one of 16 finalists for the 21st William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation and often referred to as “The Academic Heisman.” Renamed last fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship. A total distribution of $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening
– Stewart is the 16th Notre Dame football player to receive the scholarship and second in the past four years. Only Nebraska (20) and Ohio State (19) have had more players selected since the program began in 1959.
– A 2009 ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District selection, Stewart finished his undergraduate studies in History in only three and a half years. He was a member of the History Honors Program and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta honor fraternity.
– Stewart has started more career games (31) than any other Irish player on the offensive side of the ball. He also carries a 23-game starting streak into this weekend’s contest with Utah. Stewart helped the Irish finish last season as the eighth-best offense in the country, averaging 451.8 yards per game, and is helping the Notre Dame passing attack outgain opponents 288.6-228.6 yards per game this season.
– Actively involved in numerous outreach efforts, Stewart journeyed to Haiti during his 2009 spring break to help with the relief efforts following the deadliest earthquake in the nation’s history. He volunteered all last summer at the South Bend Youth Center and has participated in a fine arts initiative for area children. Stewart has also visited local children’s hospitals and raised funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

TJ Jones MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
– Freshman WR TJ Jones was the first Irish freshman wideout in school history to catch touchdown passes in each of his first two career games.
– Jones connected with junior QB Dayne Crist on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 6:07 left in the second quarter to bring Notre Dame within a field goal, 14-10, against Navy. The TD reception was Jones’ third of his career. He finished with a career-best five receptions.
– Jones hooked up with junior QB Dayne Crist for 37 yards to help set up a Notre Dame field goal in the second quarter against Pittsburgh. The 37-yard grab was the second longest of Jones’ brief career. He had a 53-yard touchdown catch against Michigan on Sept. 11.
– Jones hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Crist with 12:42 to go in the third quarter against Michigan to bring the Irish with seven points, 21-14. He recorded a five-yard touchdown reception with 10:20 left in the third quarter against Purdue to give Notre Dame a 20-3 lead.
– Jones had already became the second freshman wideout in Notre Dame history to register a touchdown in the Irish season opener.

Armando Allen JR., JACK OF ALL TRADES
– Notre Dame senior RB Armando Allen Jr. has been one of the most versatile running backs in Irish history, but will miss the rest of the season following surgery to repair torn cartilage in both hip flexors. Allen Jr. has not only rushed for 2,144 yards in his career, but hauled in 119 receptions for 833 yards, added 1,247 yards on kickoff returns and another 113 yards on punt returns. In all, Allen Jr. has totaled 4,337 all-purpose yards in his career.
– Allen Jr. also ranks in the top 20 among all active players in all-purpose running plays (12th, 651), all-purpose running yards per play (17th, 6.66) and all-purpose running yards (19th, 4,337). He is also tied for 19th in two-point conversions made with two.
– Allen Jr. moved past Raghib Ismail (4,187; 1988-90) into fifth-place on the all-time Notre Dame all-purpose yards list following a six-yard run early in the first quarter against Pittsburgh. He only trails Julius Jones (5,462; 1999-2003), Autry Denson (5,327; 1995-98), Allen Pinkett (5,259; 1982-85) and Tim Brown (5,024; 1984-87).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Allen Jr. rushed for a team-high 66 yards on 11 carries in the loss to Navy (which likely turned out to be his final game in an Irish uniform). He not only averaged 6.0 yards per rush, but also added two receptions for 24 yards. Allen moved into fourth on the all-time receiving yards list by an Irish running back. He trails Jim Morse (902, 1954-56), Bob Gladieux (947, 1966-68) and Joseph Heap (1,137, 1951-54).

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– Allen Jr. led the Irish in rushing in each of their first six games, but failed to do so against Western Michigan (an injury limited him to no yards rushing on three carries). He did lead Notre Dame in rushing against Navy.
– Allen Jr. now ranks tied for 10th all-time in Notre Dame history in career carries (469). He needed just 131 yards rushing to move into the top 10 all-time at Notre Dame in career rushing.

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– Allen Jr. registered a career-long 30-yard run on Notre Dame’s opening touchdown drive against Boston College.
– Allen Jr. registered a six-yard rush before fumbling, but the yards moved him past Golden Tate (2007-09) on the all-time Notre Dame all-purpose yards list.
– Allen Jr. scored from two yards out to give Notre Dame a 31-13 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown rush was Allen’s second of the season and eighth of his career.
– Allen Jr. totaled 141 all-purpose yards against Michigan State. He rushed 13 times for 71 yards (5.5/carry) and collected six catches for 70 yards. Allen became the eighth player in the history of Notre Dame football to eclipse 4,000 career all-purpose yards.
– With his sixth reception against Michigan State, Allen moved into first place all-time on the Irish receptions list for running backs with 110 career catches. He bested the previous school record of 109 held by Darius Walker (2004-06). Allen’s 18-yard reception in the first quarter was also his longest of the season.
– Allen Jr. recorded a then career-best 29-yard run in the third quarter against Michigan. It bested his previous career-long rush of 26 yards against Connecticut on Nov. 21, 2009.
– Allen Jr. rushed for a team-high 89 yards on 15 carries in the loss to Michigan. He added a nine-yard reception and nine-yard punt return.
– Allen Jr. rushed for a game-high 93 yards on 18 carries in the victory over Purdue. He also added a career-best 38-yard punt return.
– Allen Jr. did not participate in enough games in 2009 to qualify (missed the Purdue, Washington State, Navy and Stanford games due to an ankle injury), but would have ranked among the top FBS running backs in the nation in rushing yards per game (87.1, 41st) and yards per rush (4.91, t-66th). He would have also ranked 70th in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (114.1).
– Allen Jr. became the second running back in Notre Dame history to eclipse 100 career receptions. His 117 career receptions rank atop the all-time list for Notre Dame running backs. He eclipsed Darius Walker’s (109, 2004-06) previous school record. Allen Jr. also ranks tied for fifth all-time in career receiving yards by an Irish running back.

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CRIST ESTABLISHED HIMSELF DESPITE LIMITED ACTION
– Junior QB Dayne Crist has made only nine career starts, all this season, and he entered the year following reconstructive knee surgery. Unfortunately, Crist was lost for the season after rupturing his patella tendon against Tulsa on Oct. 30. The injury occurred exactly one-day shy of the one-year anniversary of his torn ACL. Crist underwent surgery on Oct. 31 and may miss six months.
– The signal caller completed 59.2% of his passes (174 of 294) for 2,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. Crist registered a passing efficiency of 129.3. He was ranked among the top 30 FBS quarterbacks in total passing yards (14th, 2,033), passing (22nd, 21.75 completions/game) and passing yards per game (27th, 254.13/game) prior to the injury.
– Here was a comparison between Crist and the more notable quarterbacks in Notre Dame history over their first eight career starts.

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– Only one quarterback in the FBS (Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State) was ranked ahead of Crist in total passing yards that had started fewer career games prior to his season-ending injury against Tulsa. Weeden had thrown for 2,249 yards and started seven career games.
– There were only four quarterbacks (Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State, Corey Robinson of Troy, Alex Carder of Western Michigan and Dan Persa of Northwestern) in the FBS that were ranked ahead of Crist in passing yards per game that had started fewer contests prior to his season-ending injury against Tulsa.
– There were only five quarterbacks (Carder, Weeden, Robinson, Persa and Matt Schilz of Bowling Green) in the FBS that were ranked ahead of Crist in passing that had started fewer games prior to his season-ending injury against Tulsa.
– There were only nine quarterbacks in the FBS ranked ahead of Crist in passing efficiency that had started fewer games than the Notre Dame junior (Robinson, Persa, Weeden, Carder, Tino Sunseri of Pittsburgh, Darron Thomas of Oregon, Geno Smith of West Virginia, Taylor Martinez of Nebraska and Ryan Katz of Oregon State) prior to his season-ending injury against Tulsa.
– Crist had thrown a touchdown pass in all eight of Notre Dame’s games this season and each of his last nine games in an Irish uniform (which includes the 2009 game against Washington State) before his season-ending injury against Tulsa (Crist played just one series). He had registered at least two touchdown passes in four of Notre Dame’s first eight games this season. Crist had also thrown three or more touchdown passes in two games this season.
– Crist connected with junior WR Michael Floyd on an 80-yard touchdown reception on Notre Dame’s first offensive play from scrimmage against Western Michigan. The 80-yard touchdown pass was the second-longest of Crist’s career. He hooked up with junior TE Kyle Rudolph for 95 yards against Michigan earlier this season.
– Crist scampered in from nine yards out for a touchdown with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter to give the Irish a 20-7 lead against Western Michigan. The touchdown run was Crist’s fourth of the season and career. In fact, the four touchdown runs are the most by an Irish quarterback in a single season since Jarious Jackson had seven in 1999.
– Crist hooked up with sophomore TE Tyler Eifert on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 2:19 remaining before halftime to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 27-10 over the Broncos. He then spotted Floyd for a two-yard touchdown pass with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 41-17.
– Crist connected with junior WR Michael Floyd on a one-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 to go in the first quarter to give the Irish a 7-3 lead against Pittsburgh. He scampered 10 yards with 8:25 remaining in the first half to give Notre Dame a 14-3 lead.
– Crist recorded a career-best 12 consecutive completions against the Panthers. The 12 straight completions was tied for the third-longest in school history. It was the longest streak by a Notre Dame quarterback since Brady Quinn connected on 14 straight passes against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 2006.

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– Crist raced seven yards for a rushing touchdown to give the Irish a 7-0 lead with 13:12 remaining in the first quarter against Boston College. He added a two-yard touchdown pass to junior TE Kyle Rudolph with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter to push the Irish lead to 14-0 over the Eagles. Crist connected with sophomore WR Theo Riddick for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:19 remaining in the first quarter to give Notre Dame a 21-0 lead.
– Crist accounted for three touchdowns in the 31-13 victory over Boston College. He rushed for one score and threw two more.
– Crist surpassed the 300-yard passing barrier in consecutive weeks against Michigan State and Stanford. He completed for 25 of 44 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinal.
– Crist set career-highs in completions (32), attempts (55), passing yards (369) and touchdown passes (four) against Michigan State. No Irish quarterback has ever thrown for more touchdown passes in his first career start on the road. Crist’s 32 completions, 55 attempts and four touchdown passes rank tied for fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in Notre Dame single-game history.
– Crist registered a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Michael Floyd with 13:20 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Irish a 28-21 lead over Michigan State. The touchdown pass was Crist’s fourth of the game.
– Crist eclipsed 300 yards passing for the first time in his career against the Spartans. He went 12 for 14 for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter alone. Crist registered a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore WR Theo Riddick with 1:29 to go in the third quarter to tie the score, 21-21. He was 7 of 8 for 75 yards on the scoring drive.
– Crist connected on a 10-yard TD pass to junior TE Kyle Rudolph with 12:25 to go in the third quarter to tie the score, 14-14. He was 5 for 6 for 74 yards and a touchdown on the opening scoring drive of the first half. Crist connected on a seven-yard TD pass to Floyd with 5:28 left in the first quarter to give Notre Dame a 7-0 lead. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown in the opening 15 minutes.
– Crist hooked up with freshman WR TJ Jones for 53 yards with 12:42 to go in the third quarter against Michigan to bring the Irish with seven points, 21-14.
– The 53-yard completion was the longest of the season for Notre Dame until junior TE Kyle Rudolph’s 95-yard grab late in the fourth quarter.
– Crist served as the quarterback for nine of Notre Dame’s 17 possessions in the game against Michigan. The Irish offense totaled 363 of their 535 yards in those series. Notre Dame also scored all 24 points of the contest in those series and averaged 8.9 yards per play compared to zero points and 4.8 yards per play in other eight series without Crist.
– Crist passed for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in slightly more than one half of football against the Wolverines.

CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
– Sophomore WR Theo Riddick, who has missed the last two games with an injury, started out his Irish career as a running back. He rushed for 160 yards on 29 attempts as a rookie in 2009, but first-year head coach Brian Kelly liked the idea of moving Riddick to the slot in his spread offense. Riddick was somewhat slow in his progression at wideout over Notre Dame’s first two games of 2010. He managed just four catches for 52 yards against Purdue and Michigan, but the wide receiver found his form over a four-game stretch against Michigan State, Stanford, Boston College and Pittsburgh. Riddick totaled 33 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns (all team-highs over the four-game stretch). He managed just one catch against Western Michigan before he was sidelined by an injury.
– Riddick hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Dayne Crist with 2:19 remaining in the first quarter to give the Irish a 21-0 lead over Boston College. The touchdown reception was Riddick’s third of the season and career. Riddick registered a touchdown catch in three consecutive weeks (Michigan State, Stanford and Boston College).
– Riddick entered the Michigan State game with four receptions for 52 yards, but finished the contest with a career-high 10 catches for 128 yards and one touchdown. He registered his first career 100-yard receiving game. Riddick posted two grabs for 42 yards on Notre Dame’s opening scoring drive of the second half (an 18- and 24-yard grab). He hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Crist with 1:29 to go in the third quarter to tie the score, 21-21.
– Riddick’s 10 receptions against Michigan State are tied for the ninth-most in single-game school history. In fact, his output is tied for the third-most ever by an Irish sophomore wideout. Notre Dame junior WR Michael Floyd also hauled in 10 catches against Navy on Nov. 7, 2009. Jim Seymour, who was a first-year player, but a sophomore elgibility wise, has the two highest outputs. He had games with 13 and 11 catches in 1966.

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RETURN OF THE MACK (EY) AWARD SEMIFINALIST
– Junior TE Kyle Rudolph’s return for the 2010 season made him the only member of the eight announced semifinalist’s for the 2009 Mackey Award to come back for another year. Rudolph was not only named John Mackey Tight End of the Week on Sept. 15 following his record-setting performance against Michigan, but was also named a semifinalist for the award despite being lost for the year with an injury.
– Rudolph underwent surgery on a torn hamstring on Oct. 15. Prior to the injury, Rudolph had 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns this season.
– Rudolph was on pace to break Ken MacAfee’s single-season school record for receptions by a tight end. Rudolph had 28 catches over Notre Dame’s first six games in 2010 and was on pace for 56. MacAfee recorded 54 receptions in 1977. Rudolph also had 328 yards receiving through the halfway point of the season. He was on pace for 656 yards receiving, which would have been the second-most in school history for a tight end.
– Rudolph became the fourth Irish tight end to ever eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving barrier following a nine-yard catch in the first quarter against Pittsburgh.

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– Rudolph hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Dayne Crist with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter against Boston College to push the Irish lead to 14-0. The touchdown catch was Rudolph’s third of the season and eighth of his career.
– Rudolph backed up his record setting day against Michigan with another top-notch effort at Michigan State. He matched his career-high of eight catches (established the week prior) for 80 yards and one touchdown.
– Rudolph ranked among the top five tight ends in the FBS in overall receptions, receiving yards, yards per reception, receiving yards per game and receptions per game before being sidelined for the rest of the 2010 season.

FBS TE Reception Leaders FBS TE Receiving Yards Leaders 1. Michael Egnew, Missouri 39 1. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin 391 2. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 28 2. Michael Egnew, Missouri 350 3. Zack Pianalto, North Carolina 27 3. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 328 4. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin 25 4. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic 294 Colin Franklin, Iowa State 25 5. Colin Franklin, Iowa State 279 FBS TE Yards/Reception Leaders FBS TE Receiving Yards/Game Leaders 1. Lance Kendrick, Wiconsin 15.64 1. Michael Egnew, Missouri 70.0 2. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic 13.36 2. Lance Kendrick, Wiconsin 65.2 3. D.J. Williams, Arkansas 11.77 3. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic 58.8 4. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 11.71 4. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 54.7 5. Colin Franklin, Iowa State 11.16 5. D.J. Williams, Arkansas 51.8 FBS TE Reception/Game Leaders 1. Michael Egnew, Missouri 7.8 2. Zack Pianalto, North Carolina 5.4 3. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 4.7 4. Rob Housler, Florida Atlantic 4.4 D.J. Williams, Arkansas 4.4 Note: All of the stats listed above reflect the first six weeks of this season.

– Rudolph hooked up with junior QB Dayne Crist for a 17-yard reception in the first quarter against Michigan State. He moved past Dean Masztak (1978-81) into fourth place on the all-time receiving list for Irish tight ends on the grab. Rudolph hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Crist with 12:25 to go in the third quarter to tie the game, 14-14.
– Rudolph’s 95-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter against Michigan was the second-longest reception in Notre Dame history. The school record pass play was a Blair Kiel to Joe Howard connection against Georgia Tech in 1981. It also was the longest by a Notre Dame tight end, breaking the previous mark of 78 by Mike Creaney versus Pitt in 1970.
– Rudolph equaled his career single-game high in receptions with eight and receiving yards with 164 against the Wolverines. He set a single-game school record for receiving yards by a tight end and fell one catch shy of the tight end record for catches in a game. Rudolph’s total surpassed Anthony Fasano’s previous mark of 155 yards in a 41-16 loss to Purdue in 2004. Ken MacAfee’s nine catches (114 yards) in a 1977 victory at Purdue is still the Irish single-game record among tight ends.

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– Rudolph recorded three receptions on Notre Dame’s opening scoring drive against Michigan alone and two resulted in first downs. In fact, both first down grabs came on critical third down conversions.
– Rudolph hauled in five catches for 43 yards in the victory over Purdue. Three of his receptions gave Notre Dame a first down.
– Last season, Rudolph had racked up 364 yards and three touchdowns on 33 receptions before suffering a shoulder injury against Navy and not recording a catch in the team’s final three games (only one of which he suited up for).

TE’O PACKS A HAWAIIAN PUNCH
– Notre Dame sophomore LB Manti Te’o leads the Irish in total tackles (109), tackles on running plays (74), tackles on passing plays (32), solo tackles (54) and assisted tackles (55). He also leads the team in tackles for loss (8.5). Te’o has already been named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Dick Butkus Award.
– Te’o is on pace to become the first Notre Dame defender to eclipse 100 total tackles and lead the team in tackles for loss since Melvin Dansby in 1997. He is also on pace to become the first Irish defender to lead the team in total tackles and tackles for loss since Brandon Hoyte in 2005.
– Te’o ranks ninth in the FBS in tackles per game (10.9), 10th in total tackles (109), tied for 17th in assisted tackles (55) and tied for 22nd in solo stops (54).

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– Te’o has registered 10 or more tackles in six of the 10 games this season. He has only failed to reach double digits in tackles in four games this season (vs. Purdue in the season opener, Pittsburgh, Tulsa and Utah). Te’o finished with nine tackles against the Boilermakers, nine tackles against the Utes and eight versus the Golden Hurricane. He has recorded 10 or more tackles in a game eight times over his brief career.
– Te’o established a career-high in tackles with 21 against Stanford. He was the first player in the FBS this season to eclipse the 20-tackle barrier. In fact, no player in the FBS has had more tackles in one game against a BCS conference foe since Durell Mapp of North Carolina had 23 stops against North Carolina State on Nov. 10, 2007. In fact, it was the most tackles by a sophomore against a BCS opponent since Austin Thomas of Indiana had 22 against Michigan State on Oct. 13, 2007 before Luke Kuechly totaled 21 on Nov. 13, 2010 against Duke.

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– It was the most tackles by a Notre Dame player since Chinedum Ndukwe had 22 in a victory over Air Force on Nov. 11, 2006. Te’o’s 21 tackles against Stanford not only rank as the sixth-most in single-game school history, but also the second-most ever by an Irish sophomore. Bob Crable was a sophomore when he tied the school record with 26 stops against Clemson on Nov. 17, 1979. His previous career-high for tackles in a game was 13 set earlier this year against Michigan.
– With two games remaining in the 2010 regular season, Te’o could be headed towards one of the best tackle seasons in Irish history. He is on pace for 131 total tackles, which would rank just outside the top 10 all-time and most since Tony Furjanic had 147 in 1985. The total would also rank as the third most ever by a Notre Dame sophomore. Crable’s school record total of 187 in 1979 and Furjanic’s total of 142 in 1983 came during each of their second year in an Irish uniform.

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– Te’o has already accounted for 172 career tackles in just 22 games in an Irish uniform, good for an average of 7.8 tackles per game.
– Since becoming a full-time starter in the fifth game of the 2009 season, Te’o has started 19 consecutive games. In that time, he has totaled 167 tackles (8.8 tackles per game).
– Te’o registered 63 tackles in 2009, the third most tackles ever by a Notre Dame freshman. The only two players to register more tackles in their rookie campaign were future All-Americans Bob Golic (82, 1975) and Ross Browner (68, 1973).

JOHNSON, FLEMING ENJOYING THEIR SACK LUNCHES
– Notre Dame junior LB Darius Fleming (6.0, 11.5) and junior DE Ethan Johnson (5.0, 12.5) have combined for 11.0 sacks this season and 24.0 for their career.
– The duo rank tied for 58th and tied for 70th respectively in the FBS.
– Fleming and Johnson are each gaining ground on both the season and career sack totals at Notre Dame. Sacks did not become an officially recognized statistics until 1982.

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WILLIAMS (ALMOST), NEAL IN INK
– Senior LB Kerry Neal played in his 47th career game last week. He is the only Irish players to see action in every game since 2007.
– Senior NG Ian Williams had played in 45 consecutive games before missing the Tulsa and Utah games with an injury he suffered against Navy.

WALLS QUITE STURDY
– Irish senior CB Darrin Walls has registered three pass break-ups this season. He now has 19 career PBUs, which ranks tied for seventh all-time in Notre Dame history. He is tied with Thomas O’Leary (1965-67).

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Harrison Smith A RARE COMMODITY IN THE IRISH SECONDARY
– Irish senior S Harrison Smith has played in 35 games for the Irish and started at both safety spots and outside linebacker over his career. He is the lone player in Notre Dame history to register more than 200 career tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 15 pass break-ups. Smith has recorded 201 tackles, including 119 solo stops, added 16 pass break-ups and 15.0 tackles for loss.

Prince Shembo STARTING TO MAKE A ROYAL IMPRESSION
– Freshman LB Prince Shembo had just three tackles, including half a tackle for loss, in Notre Dame’s first four games of the season. The rookie linebacker then recorded 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and quarterback hurry in the two games against Boston College and Pittsburgh.
– Shembo picked up his first career sack and forced fumble on the same play late in the third quarter against Boston College. He added a second sack in the fourth quarter.
– Shembo registered a quarterback hurry and half sack in the victory over Pittsburgh.
– Shembo recorded a career-high five tackles, including two solo, and one sack in the victory over No. 15 Utah. He now has 3.5 sacks this season.

IRISH DEFENSE REAPING IMMEDIATE REWARDS FROM NEW SYSTEM
– Notre Dame registered only 20.0 sacks in the entire 2009 season, which ranked 89th in the FBS.
– The Irish have already recorded 26.0 sacks over their first 10 games of 2010, which ranks tied for 19th in the FBS. Notre Dame is on pace for 31.0 sacks this season (based on a 12-game regular season). It would be the most sacks for an Irish defense since 2006 when Notre Dame had 31.0 on the year.
– Sacks became official by the NCAA prior to the 1982 season. Here are Notre Dame’s top 10 single-season sack totals and where the 2010 defense might project.

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– Utah entered its matchup with Notre Dame on Nov. 13 having allowed just four sacks over its first nine games of the season. The Irish registered two sacks against the Utes.
– The Irish tied their season-best total of five sacks in a game against Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane entered the contest having allowed only nine sacks in the previous seven games.
– Notre Dame has registered at least 4.0 sacks in five of its 10 games in 2010. The Irish have not posted five games with 4.0 or more sacks in the same season since 2002. In fact, a Notre Dame defense has not had more 4.0+ sack games in a single season since 1996 when the Irish had six.
– Notre Dame sacked Boston College five times in its 31-13 victory on Oct. 2. It was the most sacks by the Irish since they picked up 5.0 against Washington State on Oct. 31, 2009. In fact, a Notre Dame defense has not had more sacks in a single game season since Dec. 24, 2008 when the Irish had eight against Hawai’i.
– Notre Dame registered 4.0 sacks in the season-opening victory over Purdue. The 4.0 sacks ranked eighth-best by an NCAA FBS school in the opening week. In fact, only three of the seven schools that finished with more sacks than Notre Dame in its opener faced an FBS opponent and only two played a BCS conference foe.
– Notre Dame blanked Boston College in the second half. The last time the Irish shutout an opponent in second half was the 2009 season opener against Nevada (W, 35-0).
– Notre Dame limited Boston College to 13 first downs in the game and only two first downs on the ground. It was the fewest rushing first downs by an Irish opponent since UCLA managed only two on Oct. 26, 2006. In fact, a Notre Dame defense has not allowed fewer rushing first downs in a single game since Vanderbilt registered just one rushing first down on Sept. 5, 1996.
– The Irish limited Boston College to minus-21 yards rushing in the second half.
– Boston College had 17 possessions in the game and 11 went for 10 yards or less, including six drives for five yards or less.
– Notre Dame forced the Eagles into nine drives that were three plays and out. The Irish also forced Boston College into 11 punts. Notre Dame has not forced an opponent into as many punts since Rutgers punted 11 times on Nov. 23, 1996. In fact, the Irish have not forced an opponent into more punts since Oct. 20, 1973 against Army when the Cadets punted 12 times in a 62-3 Notre Dame rout.
– Notre Dame registered 5.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. The 11.0 tackles for loss were the most by Notre Dame since Nov. 19, 2005 when the Irish had 12.0 against Syracuse.

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– Notre Dame limited Boston College to a total of one yard on 14 plays in the third quarter.
– Boston College finished the game with 270 total yards, 93 yards came on the Eagles final two drives which predominantly came against the Irish second-team defense. The Eagles averaged 3.9 yards per play for the game. Ironically, it was the fewest yards per play allowed by Notre Dame since posting the same exact number in its last trip to Boston College. The Irish defense has not posted a better yard per play average since Washington managed only 2.6 yards against the Irish on Oct. 25, 2008.
– If you take away the 58-yard touchdown pass play, Boston College managed 212 yards on its other 69 plays or 3.1 yards per play.
– The 13 points allowed by the Irish were the fewest against Boston College since 1995 when Notre Dame was victorious 20-10.
– Notre Dame registered 4.0 sacks against Michigan State, the second time in the first three games that the Irish recorded 4.0 or more sacks. Notre Dame also picked up 8.0 tackles for loss against the Spartans. It was the highest single-game total for the Irish against Michigan State since they registered 9.0 in the 2005 meeting. Notre Dame also forced the Spartans into four three-and-outs.
– The Irish won the battle on third down in each of their first three contests against Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State. Notre Dame limited the Spartans to 6 of 17 on third down, including denying Michigan State on each of its final five third-down plays. Even more impressive, the Spartans average length on its 17 third down plays was nine yards.
– The Irish limited their first three opponents (Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State) to just 28% on third down (14 for 50). In fact, Notre Dame’s third down defense held the Spartans and Wolverines to a combined 27% (9 of 23).
– Notre Dame limited Purdue’s offense to only 10 points and allowed just 3.2 yards per carry. The Irish forced Purdue into a trio of three-and-outs. The Boilermakers completed 31 passes on the afternoon, but the longest went for just 16 yards. Purdue averaged just 5.2 yards passing per attempt and 7.1 yards per completion. Notre Dame also limited the Boilermakers to 4.4 yards of total offense (322 yards on 74 plays) per play.
– Notre Dame held Purdue to three points in the opening half. It was the fewest points allowed by the Irish against Purdue in a half since the opening 30 minutes of the 2005 contest (Notre Dame led 28-0 at intermission). The 23 points by Notre Dame were the fewest by the winning team in the Irish-Boilermaker series since 2003 when Notre Dame beat Purdue, 20-14.
– Purdue finished with 12 points, which is the fewest for the Boilermakers in the series with Notre Dame since 1996 when the Irish blanked Purdue, 35-0.

NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE MAKING SERIOUS STRIDES
– Notre Dame’s run defense was victimized over its first three games against Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State. The trio averaged 197.7 yards per game and 5.1 yards per rush, but the Irish improved drastically over their four games against Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Western Michigan. Notre Dame limited the quartet to 318 total yards on the ground or 79.5 rushing yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry.

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– Notre Dame limited Boston College, Pittsburgh and Western Michigan to five, 110 and 37 yards on the ground respectively. It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by an Irish defense over a three-game span since surrendering only 97 yards on the ground in three consecutive games during the 1982 season (Sept. 25 vs. Purdue, 11; Oct. 2 vs. Michigan State, 19; Oct. 9 vs. Miami, Fla., 67).

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Notre Dame actually limited Michigan State, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Western Michigan and Utah to 98.7 yards per game and 3.0 yards per rush. The Cardinal (17th), Spartans (39th), Boilermakers (40th) and Utes (45th) each average over 165 yards rushing per game and rank among the top 50 rushing offenses in the FBS.
– Pittsburgh entered the game with the Irish ranked 52nd in the FBS in rushing yards per game (169.8). Pittsburgh also averaged 5.0 yards per rush. Ray Graham was ranked third in the FBS in yards per game at 164.0. Notre Dame limited the Panthers to a total of 110 yards on 31 carries, just 3.5 per carry. Graham collected only 44 yards on eight carries. Dion Lewis, who ran for 1,799 yards as a freshman in 2009, including 154 on 21 carries against the Irish, posted 64 yards on 13 rushes in this year’s meeting.
– The Irish held the Eagles to five yards rushing on 23 carries (0.2 yards per rush). It was the fewest yards rushing allowed by Notre Dame since the Irish held Stanford to minus-11 yards on the ground on Nov. 26, 2005. In fact, it was the fewest yards rushing allowed by Notre Dame on the road since the same game. It was also the third fewest yards rushing by an Irish foe since the start of the 1996 season. Notre Dame limited Vanderbilt (Sept. 5) and Rutgers (Nov. 23) to two yards and minus-six yards rushing, respectively, that year.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

– Notre Dame has limited Purdue, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Western Michigan and Utah on the ground to significant worst numbers than those teams average against everyone else on the 2010 schedule.

See attached PDF for detailed tables

2010: YEAR ONE FOR HEAD COACH Brian Kelly
– As Brian Kelly continues his first season with the Irish, here are a few notes on Notre Dame’s head coaches in their inaugural year.
– The previous 28 head football coaches in Notre Dame history have combined to amass a 177-63-12 (.726) record in their first year at the helm. Since 1913, Jesse Harper’s first season, Irish coaches have compiled a 112-44-5 (.711) in their initial campaign, including interim coaches Hugh Devore and Ed McKeever.
– Since Notre Dame Stadium was opened in 1930, six Notre Dame coaches – Hunk Anderson, McKeever, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis – have opened away from home in their first season – going 6-0 in those games.
– Since 1913, five Notre Dame coaches – Layden, Parseghian, Holtz, Willingham and Weis – have taken over a program the year after his predecessor turned in a .500 or worse record. All but Holtz, who went 5-6 in 1986, posted a winning record in his first season and the quintet had a combined 39-16 (.709) record in such seasons. The 2009 Irish went 6-6 under Weis.
– Kelly was the first Irish coach to begin his Notre Dame tenure with the first two games inside Notre Dame Stadium since Terry Brennan in 1954 (21-0 victory vs. No. 4 Texas, 27-14 loss vs. No. 19 Purdue). Elmer Layden (1934) and Frank Leahy (1941) also opened their respective Notre Dame coaching careers with back-to-back home games. Layden split contests against Texas and Purdue, while Leahy upended Arizona and Indiana. Jesse Harper (1913) also opened his career with consecutive home games (87-0 rout vs. Ohio Northern, 20-7 victory over South Dakota).
– The last Notre Dame coach to post a winning record in his first season with the Irish was Weis, who went 9-3 in 2005. The last Irish coach to turn in a sub – .500 season in his first year was Lou Holtz, whose 1986 team finished 5-6.
– The longest winning streak for a Notre Dame head coach to begin his career with the Irish is nine games, by Harper (1913-14) and Parseghian (1964).
– Kelly was the first Notre Dame coach to face Purdue at home in his first game with the Irish.

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACHES OPEN STRONG
– When Notre Dame defeated Purdue in its season opener Sept. 4, head coach Brian Kelly continued a long trend of success among Irish mentors. Dating back to 1896, Irish skippers are 26-3 (.897) in their debut contests. Only Frank E. Hering in 1896 (4-0 loss to Chicago Physicians & Surgeons), Elmer Layden in 1934 (7-6 loss to Texas) and Lou Holtz in 1986 (24-23 loss to Michigan) failed to win their first game at Notre Dame. This record includes two wins by interim head coaches — Ed McKeever in 1944 (58-0 win at Pittsburgh) and Hugh Devore in 1945 (7-0 win over Illinois) spelled Frank Leahy while he was off serving his country in World War II.

IRISH DEFENSE FULL OF YOUTHFUL ENERGY
– Notre Dame first-year defensive coordinator Bob Diaco entered the 2010 season as one of the youngest coordinators in FBS football. Diaco, who was born Feb. 19, 1973, opened the campaign at 37. He ranks as the 24th-youngest coordinator in all of the FBS and eighth-youngest coordinator from a BCS conference institution.
– There are only six defensive coordinators in the FBS that are younger than Diaco. Of those six, only one (Kirby Smart, Alabama) coaches at a BCS conference school.

IRISH DEFENSE SWITCHES TO 3-4
– Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco have 18 returning monogram winners on defense to work with in their first season and, of those 18, 13 players have starting experience for the Irish. Ten returning players started at least seven games in 2009 — and nine players have started at least 10 games in their Notre Dame careers.
– The Irish switch back to a 3-4 defense, featuring three down linemen, in 2010. That means players who made the transition to a 4-3 last year will resort back to the defensive front used in 2007 and 2008. Notre Dame will start a nose guard sandwiched between two defensive ends, but it won’t be uncommon to see at least one outside linebacker walk up to the line of scrimmage, giving the Irish four or five players along the line.

OPENERS AN INDICATOR?
– Notre Dame is 102-15-5 in season openers, but have they been foretelling of the season ahead? Take a look:
– The 101 seasons Notre Dame has won its opener, the Irish went on to post winning records 92 times (91.1%), with four losing seasons and five .500 records.
– The 15 seasons the Irish lost their opener, the Irish posted winning records six times and a losing mark eight times (with one .500 season).
– The five seasons Notre Dame registered a tie in its opener, the Irish had four winning records and one losing record.

WALK-ON PLAYERS JOIN THE IRISH SQUAD THIS FALL
– Eight walk-ons were added to the 2010 fall roster: junior P Mike Grieco (Glen Ellyn, Ill./St. Ignatius HS), junior S Chris Salvi (Lake Forest, Ill./Carmel Catholic HS), senior LS/DL John Belcher (Cheyenne, Wy./Cheyenne Central HS), sophomore DE Joe Marek (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham HS), sophomore OL Matt Tansey (Berkely Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston HS), junior LB Jonathan Frantz (Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS), sophomore WR Nick Fitzpatrick (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian HS) and freshman DB Joe Romano (River Forest, Ill./Fenwick HS).

ROSTER CHANGES
– Eight returning veterans have changed jersey numbers for the 2010 season. Junior DE Ethan Johnson will don No. 90, sophomore WR Robby Toma will sport No. 19, junior DE Hafis Williams will wear No. 94, sophomore WR Theo Riddick will don No. 6, senior TE/FB Bobby Burger will sport No. 41 and senior K Brandon Walker will wear No. 96.
– Junior S Chris Salvi changed to the No. 24 prior to the Pittsburgh game. He had worn No. 33 over Notre Dame’s first five games of the season.
– Junior C Mike Golic Jr. has worn No. 49 on occasion against Western Michigan, Navu and Tulsa to be considered an eligible receiver. Golic also wore his standard No. 57 jersey.
– Senior K David Ruffer changed to the No. 97 two weeks into fall camp after wearing No. 48 during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
– Senior S Michael Garcia will be announced on “Senior Day” as No. 29, but will don No. 34 against Utah.
– Senior K David Ruffer changed to the No. 97 two weeks into fall camp after wearing No. 48 during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
– Notre Dame sophomore OT Zack Martin and sophomore WR Robby Toma each had their first names incorrectly listed in 2009. Martin’s first name is correctly spelled Zack (not Zach) and Toma’s first name is correctly spelled Robby (not Roby).
– Notre Dame freshman WR Tai-ler Jones will be listed as TJ Jones.
– A trio of Irish players underwent position changes during spring practice. Sophomore WR Theo Riddick moved from running back and senior LB Steve Paskorz returned to the position after two years at fullback. Senior OT Lane Clelland opened spring practice at defensive end, but has since returned to his original position.

THREE STUDENT-ATHLETES APPROVED FOR FIFTH YEAR
– Three seniors on the University of Notre Dame football team were approved to return for a fifth year by the school’s Faculty Board on Athletics.
– C Dan Wenger, OG Chris Stewart and CB Barry Gallup Jr. have already graduated. Wenger and Gallup are enrolled in the graduate studies program, while Stewart is a first-year law student at Notre Dame.

RECRUITING CLASS OF 2010 FINISHES AT 20
– Twenty high school seniors will have their names added to the University of Notre Dame’s football roster and begin playing for the Irish in 2010.
– The 20 student-athletes represent 11 different states – California (two), Colorado, Florida (three), Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois (two), Indiana, Kentucky (two), New Jersey, North Carolina (two) and Ohio (four).
– As listed by position, Notre Dame added four wide receivers (Austin Collinsworth, TJ Jones, Bennett Jackson, Daniel Smith), four linebackers (Kendall Moore, Prince Shembo, Danny Spond, Justin Utupo), three quarterbacks (Andrew Hendrix, Luke Massa, Tommy Rees), two defensive ends (Bruce Heggie, Kona Schwenke), two offensive tackles (Christian Lombard, Tate Nichols), one defensive back (Lo Wood), one running back (Cameron Roberson), one tight end (Alex Welch) and one nose guard (Louis Nix III).

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL-A FAMILY AFFAIR
– The Golic family is one of just several father-son combinations who have played for Notre Dame represented on the 2010 Irish roster. Mike Sr. earned four monograms at Notre Dame from 1981-84, while Mike Jr. is a junior OL and Jake is a sophomore TE. In addition to their father, Mike and Jake’s two uncles also played for the Irish. Bob was not only a four-year monogram winner from 1975-78, but he was a two-time All-American and helped the Irish to the 1977 National Title. Greg earned a pair of monograms in 1981 and 1983.
– Irish junior QB Nate Montana is the son of NFL Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl Champion Joe (1975, 1977-78). The elder Montana helped Notre Dame to the 1977 National Championship.
– Other current Notre Dame players whose fathers also played for the Irish include senior TE Bobby Burger (Bob, 1978-80), senior LB Brian Smith (Chris, 1981-84) and freshman WR TJ Jones (Andre, 1987-90).

NFL HAS LARGE INFLUENCE ON NOTRE DAME ROSTER
– Several players also have family connections with the National Football League.
– Junior QB Nate Montana’s father Joe is widely considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Joe helped the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls (he was named MVP in three). Joe was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2000. Joe played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers (1979-92) and Kansas City Chiefs (1993-94)
– Junior OL Mike Jr. and sophomore TE Jake Golic’s father Mike Sr. played in the NFL forthe Houston Oilers (1986-87), Philadelphia Eagles (1987-92) and Miami Dolphins (1993). Their uncle, Bob, also played in the NFL for the New England Patriots (1979-81), Cleveland Browns (1982-88) and Los Angeles Raiders (1989-92).
– Other players whose fathers played in the NFL include sophomore OG Alex Bullard (Louis, Seattle Seahawks, 1978-80), freshman WR Austin Collinsworth (Chris, Cincinnati Bengals, 1981-88) and junior ILB Anthony McDonald (Mike, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, 1983-92) and sophomore K Nick Tausch (Terry, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco, 1982-89).
– Junior ILB David Posluszny’s brother Paul has played in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills since 2007.
– Sophomore P Ben Turk has two uncles that have played in the NFL. Matt is currently the punter for the Houston Texans (2007-10), but has also suited up for the St. Louis Rams (1996), Miami Dolphins (2000-01, 2003-05), New York Jets (2002) and Washington Redskins (1995-99). Dan played 15 years in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1985-86), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987-88), Los Angeles Raiders (1989-94), Oakland Raiders (1995-96) and Washington Redskins (1997-99).

NOTRE DAME EXCELS IN THE CLASSROOM
– The University of Notre Dame and University of Miami shared the American Football Coaches Association’s 2009 Academic Achievement Award, which is presented by the Touchdown Club of Memphis. Notre Dame and Miami recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of its freshman football student-athlete class of 2002. This is the eighth honor for Notre Dame.
– Notre Dame has been recognized 28 of 29 years the award has been presented, the most of any school in the nation. Notre Dame has won the overall award eight times with the most recent coming in 2007. Notre Dame also won the overall award in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991, 2001 and 2007. In 1988, Notre Dame became the only school to win the Academic Achievement Award and the National Championship in the same year.

OFFICIAL Brian Kelly RADIO SHOW
– The Brian Kelly Radio Show began Sept. 2 – and University of Notre Dame football fans can watch the show live on the Notre Dame campus or listen on one of four radio outlets. Kelly will appear at all 12 shows at Legends on the campus, just south of Notre Dame Stadium. The show will air from 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET. Audio outlets include WSBT 960AM in South Bend, www.und.com, WXNT 1430 AM in Indianapolis, and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. WSBT, WXNT and und.com will carry the show live; Sirius/XM will carry it Friday evenings at 8pm on Sirius channel 122 and XM channel 143.
– Dates for the shows are Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28; and Nov. 11, 18 and 22.
– Hosted by Jack Nolan, the Brian Kelly Radio Show is a production of Notre Dame Sports Properties.

INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL WITH Brian Kelly (TELEVISION SHOW)
– Taped on Sunday afternoons, Inside Notre Dame Football will feature a recap of the week’s contest, Notre Dame player features and more. The show can be seen locally Sunday evenings on WNDU-TV following the late local news. It will also re-air on WNDU-TV the following Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. as well as 90 minutes prior to kickoff of Notre Dame home games. All shows can also be viewed on www.und.com beginning on Monday of each week. Inside Notre Dame Football airs on a total of 25 affiliates nationwide reaching nearly 67 million households.

THE OFFICIAL NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL POSTGAME SHOW
– Irish All-Americans Reggie Brooks and Mirko Jurkovic join Jack Nolan for the Official Notre Dame Football Postgame show immediately following every Notre Dame football game. The show can be heard live on WSBT 960 AM and Sunny 101.5 FM and watched live worldwide on und.com. The show includes Coach Kelly’s postgame press conference live, player interviews and video highlights on the und.com webcast.

NOTRE DAME STADIUM SCULPTURES
– Four of Notre Dame’s head football coaches, all of whom won at least one national title, are immortalized in sculpture form on the University’s campus. Prior to the 2010 season, the four statues were moved to their new locations directly outside four of Notre Dame Stadium’s six entrances — and each gate was renamed in honor of the corresponding legendary coach.
– Knute Rockne (1924, 1929, 1930) – North Tunnel, Knute Rockne Tunnel; Ara Parseghian (1966, 1973) – Gate B, Ara Parseghian Gate; Frank Leahy (1943, 1946, 1947, 1949) – Gate C, Frank Leahy Gate; Lou Holtz (1988) – Gate D, Lou Holtz gate.
– In addition, the University recognized Dan Devine, coach of the 1977 national championship team, by renaming Gate A in his honor.

MOST-WATCHED MICHIGAN-NOTRE DAME GAME ON NBC IN 16 YEARS
– NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Sept. 11 Michigan-Notre Dame was the most-watched game featuring those two teams on NBC in 16 years and the most-watched Notre Dame on NBC game against any team in five years. In addition, the average viewership and rating for the first two Notre Dame on NBC games this season are the best in four years.
– The Michigan-Notre Dame game was watched by 7.0 million viewers, making it the most-watched game on NBC between the two teams since September 10, 1994, when the Wolverines were ranked No. 6 and the Irish No. 3. It was also the most-watched Notre Dame game on NBC since October 15, 2005, when the then-No. 9 Irish hosted No. 1 USC.
– The game was also the third-most watched Michigan-Notre Dame game ever on NBC (10.1 million, 1994; 7.3 million, 1992) and the 12th most-watched Notre Dame on NBC game ever.
– The game generated a 4.5/10 rating and share, the highest for a game against Michigan in eight years (Sept. 14, 2002, 4.6/12) and highest for a Notre Dame on NBC game against any team in four years (Sept. 9, 2006, Penn State, 4.7/11).
– Notre Dame on NBC is averaging 5.4 million viewers and a 3.5/4 rating for the first two games of the 2010 season, the best average in both categories since 2006 (6.5 million; 4.5/11) when the Irish began their home season by hosting No. 19 Penn State and No. 11 Michigan.
– NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Purdue-Notre Dame season opener on September 4 was up 74 percent and 69 percent in viewers and ratings, respectively.

NOTRE DAME ALUMNI SUPPORT TOPS IN THE NATION
– Notre Dame is widely known for the support of its fans. The alumni have a lot to do with that support, and they back that up with their check books. According to research by US News & World Report, the Irish rank first in the nation in alumni giving among schools that have a Division I football program.
– Notre Dame has an alumni giving rate of 44 percent, while other 2010 foes USC (43%), Stanford (34%) and Boston College (26%) all rank among the top 10.

See attached PDF for detailed tables