Nov. 29, 2001
Notre Dame, Ind. – Irish junior Jeff Faine and seniors Tyreo Harrison and Anthony Weaver were named Football News honorable mention All-Americans for the 2001 season.
Faine, a center from Sanford, Fla., has been Notre Dame’s leader in the trenches in 2001 protecting young quarterbacks Carlyle Holiday and Matt LoVecchio. Ranked as the third-best center nationally by Lindy’s before the start of the 2001 season, Faine leads the Irish in minutes played with 290:54, heading into this weekend’s contest versus Purdue. Starting all 10 games for the Irish in ’01, Faine also is the lead blocker for the Irish rushing attack, which ranks 27th in the nation this week.
Harrison, from Sulphur Springs, Texas, has been a force in the middle for the Irish in 2001. The linebacker leads the Irish with 91 tackles in ’01, featuring a team-leading and career-high 15 versus Stanford (including 10 solos) last weekend. The Stanford game marked the fourth time this season Harrison recorded double-digit tackles and was the eighth time he was the leading tackler in the game for the Irish in 2001. Harrison’s 91 tackles are the most for an Irish defensive player since A’Jani Sanders had 91 at the conclusion of the 1999 season.
Weaver has been the leader of the Irish defense all season. A ’01 captain, the defensive end from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is currently third on the team in tackles with 53, including 17 for loss and six sacks. Weaver also has an interception, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles on the year, leading an Irish defense that ranks 14th nationally in total defense and 23rd nationally in scoring defense. A Lombardi Award candidate at the beginning of ’01, Weaver ranked 29th nationally in tackles for loss released by the NCAA for the period ending Oct. 20.
Faine, Harrison and Weaver, in addition to senior offensive guard Jordan Black, senior outside linebacker Rocky Boiman and junior placekicker Nicholas Setta were all named to the Football News All-Independent team.
Black, from Rowlett, Texas, has started all 10 games at either left tackle or right guard for the Irish in 2001. Black is currently third on the Irish in minutes played at 258:49 and was named a preseason honorable mention All-Independent team member by Football News.
Boiman has battled a foot injury most of the season, playing all 10 games for the Irish in 2001. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native and co-captain ranks fourth on the Irish with 41 tackles, including 10 for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Boiman was also a member of the Football News preseason All-Independent team.
Setta, from Lockport, Ill., is having one of the best seasons on record for an Irish placekicker as he has missed only one kick in ’01. Setta is a perfect 20 for 20 on extra points this season and 14 of 15 on field goal attempts, with his only miss being a 38-yarder against Boston College. Setta has made 52 consecutive PATs, needing only one more to move into third place on the all-time list, tying Mike Johnston. Setta also set a school record for consecutive games with a field goal against Stanford. He now has at least one field goal in each of his last 12 games.
Setta could also break the Notre Dame single-season record for field goal percentage in a season (.895 set by John Carney in 1984) if he is perfect at Purdue this weekend. Setta is currently at .933. He is also tied for the best-ever extra point percentage in Irish history at 1.000 with Craig Hentrich (1991, 1990), Bob Thomas (1972), Ted Gradel (1987), Stefan Schroffner (1994) and John Carney (1984).