Oct. 4, 2010

Gameweek | PDF Version

DATE

• Saturday, October 9, 2010

TIME

• 3:40 p.m. ET

SITE (CAPACITY)

• Notre Dame Stadium (80,795); Notre Dame, Ind.

TELEVISION

• NBC national telecast with Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (analysis), Alex Flanagan (sideline), Rob Hyland (producer) and David Michaels (director).

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.

TICKETS

• Saturday is the 216th consecutive sellout at Notre Dame Stadium. Since 1966, every home football game for the Irish has been a sellout except one – a 1973 Thanksgiving Day game vs. Air Force. Notre Dame has now played in front of sellouts in 264 of its last 265 home games.

WEB SITES

• Notre Dame (UND.com), Pittsburgh (PittsburghPanthers.com)

REAL-TIME STATS

• Live in-game statistics will be provided through CBS College Sports Gametracker via each school’s respective official athletic website.

POLLS

• Notre Dame and Pittsburgh each enter this weekend’s matchup unranked.

SERIES INFO

• This year’s matchup will mark the 66th meeting between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, with the Irish holding a 44-20-1 series lead. The Irish own a 19-10 record against the Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium, but Notre Dame has dropped 41-38 and 36-33 decisions to Pittsburgh on last-second field goals in the last two home meetings (more on the series history on pages 30-35).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR SATURDAY

• Notre Dame head coach sports/m-footbl/mtt/kelly_brian00.html” >Brian Kelly and the rest of the Irish sideline will be wearing the adidas® Breast Cancer Collection, a line of apparel and headwear created to support October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Notre Dame players will also wear pink arm and/or wrist bands.

ON THIS DATE

• Notre Dame has played 14 previous games in its history on Oct. 9. The Irish are 13-0-1 all-time on this date. The Irish were ranked in the top 25 on seven of the occasions and played a top 25 opponent twice.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

  Oct. 2, 1982: Mike Johnston’s 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds to go lifts 10th-ranked Notre Dame over 17th-ranked Miami, 16-14.

  Oct. 9, 1943: In one of the greatest victories of the Frank Leahy era, the top-ranked Fighting Irish played their first game at mammoth Michigan Stadium and destroyed the second-ranked Wolverienes 35-12. Behind the passing of Angelo Bertelli and the running of halfback Creighton Miller, Notre Dame rolls up the most points a Fritz Crisler-coached team would ever allow. On defense, the Irish devised a scheme to stop Michigan’s tricky single-wing attack. “We had a tackle look for one of the faking backs, and he’d hit the hell out of him whether he had the ball or not,” line coach Moose Krause would recall.

HOW DO THEY STACK UP?Average weight of the offensive and defensive lines:
Notre Dame OL 306.8 lbs. vs. Pittsburgh DL 270.0 lbs.
Notre Dame DL 291.0 lbs. vs. Pittsburgh OL 299.0 lbs.

Average height of the receivers and the secondaries:
Notre Dame WR/TE 6′ 1 3/4″ vs. Pittsburgh DB 5′ 11 1/4″
Notre Dame DB 6′ 0 1/4″ vs. Pittsburgh WR/TE 6′ 5″

HISTORIC NOTRE DAME STADIUM

• The 2010 football season marks the 80th year of Irish football in fabled Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish have played 415 games in the facility to date and own a 307-103-5 (.746) record in the “House that Rockne Built.” The most wins in a season by the Irish at home is seven by the 1988 national championship team and the longest home winning streak in Notre Dame football history is 28 games (from 11/21/42 through 9/30/50).

NOTRE DAME IN OCTOBER

• Notre Dame is 371-89-8 (.801) all-time in October.
• The Irish are 228-47-4 (.824) in October home games.
• Notre Dame is 107-36-3 (.743) in road games during October.
• The Irish are 36-6-1 (.849) in October neutral games.
• Notre Dame is 24-6 (.800) overall and 12-3 (.800) at Notre Dame Stadium all-time against Pittsburgh in October.

A WIN THIS WEEK WOULD…

• Give the Irish a record of 3-3 for the first time since 2001.
• Give Notre Dame its first victory over Pittsburgh since 2005.
• Give the Irish their first victory over Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium since 2002.
• Snap the Panthers two-game winning streak in the series overall and two-game winning streak at Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improve Notre Dame to 45-20-1 (.689) in the all-time series with Pittsburgh.
• Improve the Irish to 20-10 (.667) in the all-time series with the Panthers in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improve Notre Dame to 57-24-1 (.701) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference.
• Improve the Irish to 27-12 (.692) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference in home games.
• Improve Notre Dame to 26-12 (.684) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1932) to 11-8 (.579) all-time against Pittsburgh.
• Improve an unranked Irish squad (post 1932) to 5-4 (.556) all-time against the Panthers in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improve an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1932) to 7-4 (.636) all-time against an unranked Pittsburgh squad.
• Improve an unranked Irish squad (post 1932) to 4-2 (.667) all-time against an unranked Panthers squad in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improve Kelly’s record to 174-60-2 (.742) overall, 56-25 (.691) at the FBS level and 36-9 (.800) over the last four seasons.
• Improve Kelly’s record to 18-4 (.818) all-time against BIG EAST Conference opponents.
• Extend Kelly’s personal winning streak against BIG EAST Conference foes to 13.
• Improve Kelly’s record to 3-1 (.750) all-time against Pittsburgh.
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record to 840-293-42 (.733).
• Improve the all-time home record for the Irish to 455-115-13 (.792).
• Improve Notre Dame’s all-time record at Notre Dame Stadium to 308-103-5 (.746).

A LOSS THIS WEEK WOULD…

• Give the Irish a record of 2-4 for the first time since 2003.
• Deny Notre Dame its first victory over Pittsburgh since 2005.
• Deny the Irish their first victory over Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium since 2002.
• Extend the Panthers winning streak in the series overall and at Notre Dame Stadium to three games.
• Drop Notre Dame to 44-21-1 (.674) in the all-time series with Pittsburgh.
• Drop the Irish to 19-11 (.633) in the all-time series with the Panthers in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Drop Notre Dame to 56-25-1 (.689) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference.
• Drop the Irish to 26-13 (.667) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference in home games.
• Drop Notre Dame to 25-13 (.658) all-time against the BIG EAST Conference in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1932) to 10-9 (.526) all-time against Pittsburgh.
• Drop an unranked Irish squad (post 1932) to 4-5 (.444) all-time against the Panthers in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Drop an unranked Notre Dame squad (post 1932) to 6-5 (.545) all-time against an unranked Pittsburgh squad.
• Drop an unranked Irish squad (post 1932) to 3-3 (.500) all-time against an unranked Panthers squad in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Drop Kelly’s record to 173-61-2 (.737) overall, 55-26 (.679) at the FBS level and 35-10 (.778) over the last four seasons.
• Drop Kelly’s record to 17-5 (.773) all-time against BIG EAST Conference opponents.
• Snap Kelly’s personal winning streak against BIG EAST Conference foes at 12.
• Give Kelly a defeat against a BIG EAST Conference opponent for the first time since Oct. 25, 2008.
• Drop Kelly’s record to 2-2 (.500) all-time against Pittsburgh.
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record to 839-294-42 (.732).
• Drop the all-time home record for the Irish to 454-116-13 (.790).
• Drop Notre Dame’s all-time record at Notre Dame Stadium to 307-104-5 (.744).

LOOKING BACK TO BOSTON COLLEGE

• Captains for the game were senior RB Armando Allen Jr. and senior S Harrison Smith.
• Notre Dame has played before a sellout in 75 of its last 86 games road games (including last Saturday). In fact, the Irish have played in front of sellout crowds in 222 of their previous 256 games, including 97 of their last 108 dating back to the 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (the ’01, ’03, ’05 and ’07 games at Stanford, the ’04 game vs. Navy at the Meadowlands, the ’05 and ’08 games at Washington, the ’07 game at UCLA, the ’08 Hawai’i Bowl and the ’09 games at Purdue and in San Antonio against Washington State were not sellouts).
• 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).
• 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Notre Dame recorded only 20 sacks over its 12 games in 2009. The Irish averaged just 1.58 sacks per game, which ranked 89th in the FBS. With its 4.0 sacks in the season opener, 4.0 against Michigan State and 5.0 more against Boston College, Notre Dame has already recorded 65 percent of the total output in sacks from a year ago. The Irish are ranked 31st in the FBS in sacks per game (2.60).
• 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 was called for only two penalties in the victory over Boston College. It is the second team already this season that the Irish have been whistled for two penalties (vs. Purdue, Sept. 4). The Irish have not completed a game with fewer than two penalties since Nov. 26, 2005. In a 38-31 victory at Stanford, Notre Dame was called for one penalty.
• Notre Dame scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the second time this season (the Irish opened the Michigan game with a touchdown drive).
• The touchdown came just 1:48 into the opening quarter, which is the quickest Irish touchdown to open a game since Nov. 11, 2006 when Notre Dame scored a touchdown just 54 seconds into the contest with Air Force.
• Notre Dame added two more first quarter touchdowns to grab a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. In fact, it was 21-0 before Boston College picked up its initial first down of the game.
• The 21 points in the first quarter were the most by Notre Dame in an opening quarter since Sept. 13, 2008 against Michigan. In fact, the 21 points were the most by the Irish in a first quarter true road game since Notre Dame totaled 21 against Stanford on Nov. 29, 2003.
• The three touchdowns scored by Notre Dame’s offense in the first quarter against Boston College matched the three total touchdowns over 12 quarters the Irish scored versus the Eagles in their previous three meetings: one in 2007, zero in a 17-0 shutout in 2008 and two last season. The 31 points tallied by the Irish were the most they posted against the Eagles since 1998, a 31-26 victory in Chestnut Hill.
• Prior to Boston College gaining its initial first down of the game, late in the first quarter, Notre Dame had outgained the Eagles 179 total yards to one total yard.
• The Irish finished the first half with 24 points, which were the most points for Notre Dame in an opening half road game since Nov. 11, 2006. The Irish led Air Force 27-3 at intermission.
• Notre Dame grabbed a 31-13 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter following a 14-play, 76-yard touchdown drive. The drive also accounted for 4:44 time of possession. It was the longest scoring drive of the season for the Irish in terms of plays and time of possession.
• Notre Dame was victimized by a pair of first-half fumbles, including one Boston College recovered at the Irish 14-yard line. Notre Dame’s defense was able to limit Boston College to field goals following each turnover. The Eagles’ two drives following the Notre Dame turnovers accounted for 20 yards on 11 plays.
• Notre Dame has now registered victories over Boston College in consecutive years for the first time since 1997-98.
• The Irish snapped a three-game losing streak against Boston College in Chestnut Hill.
• Notre Dame registered its first victory over the Eagles in Alumni Stadium since 1998.
• The Irish improved to 11-9 (.550) in the all-time series with Boston College.
• Notre Dame improved to 3-4 (.429) in the all-time series with the Eagles in Chestnut Hill.
• The Irish improved to 77-31-2 (.709) all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• Notre Dame improved to 27-15-2 (.636) all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference in true road games.
• The Irish improved to 33-19-2 (.630) all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference away from Notre Dame Stadium.
• Brian Kelly improved to 173-60-2 (.740) overall, 55-25 (.688) at the FBS level and 35-9 (.795) over the last four seasons.
• Notre Dame improved its all-time record to 839-293-42 (.733).
• The Irish improved its all-time road record to 278-143-23 (.652).
• Notre Dame improved its all-time record in night games to 59-29-1 (.669).
• The series feature a matchup of the only two Catholic universities in the country playing Bowl Subdivision college football.
• Legendary Notre Dame head coach Frank Leahy spent two seasons at Boston College (1939-40), leading the Eagles to a bowl game both years.
• The winner of this game earns the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl, given by the Notre Dame Club of Boston, and the Ireland Trophy, presented by Notre Dame student government. The Ireland Trophy is intended to inspire a spirit of sportsmanship and friendly competition between the schools.
• Senior RB Armando Allen Jr. registered a career-long 30-yard run on Notre Dame’s opening touchdown drive against Boston College.
• Allen registered a six-yard rush before fumbling, but the yards moved him past Golden Tate (2007-09) into sixth place on the all-time Notre Dame all-purpose yards list.
• Allen 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.
• Junior QB Dayne 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. The touchdown rush was Crist’s second of the season and career.
• Crist 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.
• 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. The touchdown pass was Crist’s second of the game, 10th of the season and 11th of his career.
• Junior WR Michael Floyd hauled in a 35-yard pass in the second quarter to move past Tony Hunter (1979-82) into ninth place on the all-time Irish receiving yards list. He also moved into a tie with Hunter for 10th place on the all-time Irish receptions list (120).
• Freshman WR Bennett Jackson raced 43 yards on his first career kickoff return, the longest return of the season for Notre Dame. He finished the game with 111 yards on four kickoff returns, good for a 27.8 yard average.
• Sophomore WR Theo 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. The touchdown reception was Riddick’s third of the season and career.
• Junior TE Kyle Rudolph hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Dayne Crist with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter to push the Irish lead to 14-0. The touchdown catch was Rudolph’s third of the season and eighth of his career.
• Senior PK David Ruffer connected on a 37-yard field goal with 5:22 remaining in the first half to give the Irish a 24-13 lead. He has converted 13 straight field goals, which is tied with Mike Johnston (1982) for the second longest streak in school history. Ruffer is 13 of 13 for his career in field goals. The 13 consecutive field goals to open a career is tied with Johnston (1982) for the longest such streak in school history.
• Ruffer has also connected on a field goal in eight straight games, each game in which he has served as the Irish place kicker. The eight consecutive games with a field goal is 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).
• Freshman LB Prince Shembo picked up his first career sack and forced fumble on the same play late in the third quarter. He added another sack in the fourth quarter.
• Irish senior CB Darrin Walls registered a pass break-up against Boston College. 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). TE’O MAKING IRISH OPPONENTS SAYING UH-OH
• Notre Dame sophomore LB Manti Te’o leads the Irish total tackles (64), tackles on running plays (44), solo tackles (32) and assisted tackles (32). He also ranks second on the team in tackles on passing plays (18) and tackles for loss (4.0). Te’o ranks second in the FBS in tackles per game (12.8).
• Te’o has registered 10 or more tackles in each of the last four games. He only failed to reach double digits in tackles against Purdue in the season opener (Te’o finished with nine tackles against the Boilermakers). Te’o has now recorded 10 or more tackles in a game six 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 is the most tackles by a sophomore against a BCS opponent since Austin Thomas of Indiana had 22 against Michigan State on Oct. 13, 2007.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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 fifth-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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• While Notre Dame has played just over a quarter of its season to this point, Te’o may be headed towards one of the best seasons in Irish history. He is on pace for 154 total tackles, which would rank as tied for the fourth most in school history and most since Bob Crable had 167 in 1981. The total would also rank as the second most ever by a Notre Dame sophomore. Crable’s school record total of 187 in 1979 came during his second year in an Irish uniform.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Te’o has already accounted for 127 career tackles in just 17 games in an Irish uniform, good for an average of 7.5 tackles per game.
• Since becoming a full-time starter in the fifth game of the 2009 season, Te’o has started 13 consecutive games. In that time, he has totaled 121 tackles (9.3 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).

CRIST QUICKLY MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF

• Junior QB Dayne Crist has made only five career starts, all this season, and he entered the year following reconstructive knee surgery. The signal caller has completed 58.2% of his passes (113 of 194) for 1,358 yards and 10 touchdowns. Crist has registered a passing efficiency of 129.93. He is ranked among the top 20 FBS quarterbacks in passing (18th, 22.60 completions/game), total passing yards (t-12th, 1,358) and passing yards per game (t-19th, 271.60/game).
• Not a single quarterback in the FBS is ranked ahead of Crist in total passing yards that has started fewer career games.
• There are only two quarterbacks (Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State and Corey Robinson of Troy) in the FBS ranked ahead of Crist in passing yards per game that have started fewer contests.
• There are only three quarterbacks (Alex Carder of Western Michigan, Weeden and Robinson) in the FBS ranked ahead of Crist in passing that have started fewer games.
• There are only four quarterbacks in the FBS ranked ahead of Crist in passing efficiency that have started fewer games than the Notre Dame junior (Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State, Tino Sunseri of Pittsburgh, Ryan Katz of Oregon State and Corey Robinson of Troy have started four career games).
• 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 for the second consecutive week out against Stanford. He completed for 25 of 44 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown.
• 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.
• Here is a comparison between Crist and the more notable quarterbacks in Notre Dame history over their first five career starts.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

CRIST’S REKINDLES QUARTERBACK FIRST-START MAGIC AGAINST PURDUE

• Junior QB Dayne Crist snapped Notre Dame’s four-game losing streak with a first-time starting quarterback under center.
• Since 1975, the Irish are now 18-10 under a first-time starting quarterback. Interestingly enough, Notre Dame is 12-4 under a first-time starting quarterback when playing in Notre Dame Stadium (also since 1975).
• Crist’s completion percentage of 73.1% was the highest of any first-time starting quarterback with more than eight pass attempts since 1975.
• 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 28 starting debut games by Irish quarterbacks (Notre Dame is 18-10 in those contests).

• 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.

CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

• Sophomore WR Theo Riddick 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 has found form over the last three games of the Irish. Riddick has totaled 26 receptions for 268 yards and three touchdowns (all team-highs over the three-game stretch) against Michigan State, Stanford and Boston College.
• 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 has registered a touchdown catch each of the last three weeks.
• Riddick had nine catches for 69 yards against the Eagles.
• Riddick picked up a touchdown reception, the second of his career, against Stanford.
• 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 eighth-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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

RETURN OF THE MACK (EY) AWARD SEMIFINALIST

• Junior TE Kyle Rudolph’s return for the 2010 season makes him the only member of the eight announced semifinalist’s for the 2009 Mackey Award to come back for another year. Rudolph was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week on Sept. 15 following his record-setting performance against Michigan.
• 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, who is just six receiving yards shy of becoming the fourth Irish tight end in school history to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards, 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 has 23 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns this season. He ranks tied for 75th overall in the FBS in receptions per game (4.60) and 73rd overall in the FBS in receiging yards per game (58.00).
• Rudolph ranks 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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).

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

FLOYD IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

• While junior WR Michael Floyd did not play in enough games in 2009 to be eligible for the NCAA season rankings, he is listed on the NCAA FBS active career charts in receiving yards, receiving yards per game, receiving yards per catch, receptions per game and receiving touchdowns. Floyd’s 83.6 yards receiving per game ranks third in the nation among active players, while his 5.2 catches per game ranks tied for eighth. He also ranks eighth in career receiving yards per catch among active players at 16.0 yards per grab, 10th on the active career chart for receiving touchdowns with 18 and 20th in career receiving yards with 1,922.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Junior WR Michael Floyd hauled in a 35-yard pass in the second quarter against Boston College to move past Tony Hunter (1979-82) into ninth place on the all-time Irish receiving yards list. He also moved into a tie with Hunter for 10th on the all-time Irish receptions list (120).

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Floyd has now recorded a reception in 13 straight games (excluding games he missed due to injury). Floyd has a reception in 22 of the 23 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 registered a 10-yard reception late in the first quarter against Stanford that moved him into 10th place all-time in Notre Dame history for receiving yards. He moved past of former All-American tight end Ken MacAfee (1,759; 1974-77). Floyd finished the game with eight catches for 110 yards. He eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the first time this season and 10th in his career. Floyd stands alone in third place in career 100-yard receiving games. He trails only Golden Tate (15, 2007-09) and Tom Gatewood (13, 1969-71).
• Floyd has played in 23 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 10 career 100-yard receiving games over the other 21 games played.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Floyd has registered a touchdown pass against Michigan State in each of the last three years. He has also now recorded four career multi-TD catch games. Floyd registered a 24-yard touchdown reception with 13:20 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Irish a 28-21 lead. The touchdown catch was his second of the game, second of the season and 18th of his career. With 18 career touchdown catches, he is now tied with Maurice Stovall (2002-05) for sixth on the Irish all-time touchdown receptions list. Floyd hauled in a seven-yard touchdown reception from Crist with 5:28 left in first quarter to give Irish a 7-0 lead.
• Floyd has 18 career receiving touchdowns in just 22 games for Notre Dame. He is tied with Maurice Stovall (2002-05) for sixth on the all-time Notre Dame receiving touchdowns list. His nine receiving touchdowns in 2009 rank tied for eighth-best in single-season Irish history.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Floyd became the fourth Irish wideout to ever post two career receptions of over 70 yards and the first to ever accomplish the feat in the same game. Nick Eddy had 74 and 91 yard catches during the 1964 season, Tim Brown had 84 and 77 yard receptions in 1986 and Jeff Samardzija had 73 and 80 yard grabs during 2005.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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.

  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. Allen Jr. has not only rushed for 2,022 yards in his career, but hauled in 116 receptions for 802 yards, added 1,247 yards on kickoff returns and another 113 yards on punt returns. In all, Allen Jr. has totaled 4,184 all-purpose yards in his career, which ranks sixth-best in school history.
• Allen Jr. has led the Irish in rushing in each of their first five games.
• Allen Jr. now ranks tied for 10th all-time in Notre Dame history in career carries. He also needs just 252 yards rushing to move into the top 10 all-time at Notre Dame.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• 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) into sixth place on the all-time Notre Dame all-purpose yards list.
• Allen Jr. sits three yards behind Raghib Ismail (4,187, 1988-90) for fifth all-time.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Allen Jr. scored from two yards out to give Notre Dame a 31-13 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter against Boston College. 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. also ranks in the top 15 among all active players in all-purpose running plays (ninth, 621), all-purpose running yards per play (13th, 6.74) and all-purpose running yards (14th, 4,184). He also ranks tied for 11th in two-point conversions made with two.
• 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 112 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.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

WILLIAMS, NEAL IN INK

• Senior NG Ian Williams and senior LB Kerry Neal each played in their 42nd career game last week. They are the only two Irish players to see action in every game since 2007.

THE JACKSON FIVE

• Freshman WR Bennett Jackson has already registered a team-leading five solo tackles on special teams. 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.

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 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.

David Ruffer’S BAKER DOZEN

• Senior walk-on PK David Ruffer has converted 13 consecutive field goals. The 13 straight field goals is tied for the second-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 13 of 13 on field goals since attempting his first career field goal against Pittsburgh last season.
• The 13 consecutive field goals to open a career equals the longest such streak at Notre Dame. 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 is one of only three kickers in the Football Bowl Subdivision still perfect through at least eight field goal attempts

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Ruffer has also connected on a field goal in eight straight games, each game in which he has served as the Irish place kicker. The eight consecutive games with a field goal is 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).
• 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.

TAUSCH, RUFFER SOLIDIFY IRISH KICKING GAME

• The kicking tandem of Tausch and Ruffer put together one of the most accurate kicking seasons in Notre Dame history in 2009. Tausch connected on 14 consecutive field goals – a Notre Dame school record. The previous school record was held by Mike Johnston, who made 13 straight during the 1982 season. He not only equaled the school record for field goals in a game with five against Washington, but became the first place kicker to register five field goals in a game without a miss.
• Tausch finished the season 14-of-17 on field goals. He finished in a tie for fifth in single-season history for field goals made.
• Ruffer served as the Irish place kicker over the final three games of the 2009 season and converted all five of his attempts, including a pair of then career-long 42-yard kicks at Pittsburgh and Stanford.
• The two combined to hit 19-of-22 field goals on the season.

KELLY’S WINNING WAYS

• Since 2007, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has compiled the eighth-most wins of any active NCAA FBS coach. Kelly has gone on to win 35 contests (35-9 overall). The only coaches ahead of Kelly in that time frame are Chris Peterson of Boise State (40), Urban Meyer of Florida (39), Mack Brown of Texas (38), Nick Saban of Alabama (38), Jim Tressel of Ohio State (37), Kyle Whittingham of Utah (36) and Gary Patterson of TCU (36).
• Along with being near the top in outright wins, Kelly also sits in eighth place in win percentage amongst FBS coaches. With his 35-9 mark, he holds a .795 winning percentage over the past four years. Peterson (.909), Brown (.864) and Meyer (.848) rank one, two and three respectively. Tressel (.841), Whittingham (.837), Saban (.826) and Patterson (.818) sit just ahead of Kelly.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

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.

2010 NOTRE DAME OPPONENT UPDATE

• Notre Dame once again played one of the nation’s toughest schedules in 2009, as it faced eight teams that appeared in bowl games (Nevada, Michigan State, USC, Boston College, Navy, Pittsburgh, UConn and Stanford).
• This season could prove to be just as tough as the Irish face seven teams that went to bowl games in 2009, including 2008 undefeated, Sugar Bowl champions and second-ranked Utah. Notre Dame also will play three teams that finished in the AP Top 25 (No. 15 Pittsburgh, No. 18 Utah, No. 22 USC). The following is a list of 2010 Notre Dame opponents and how they fared last week:

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• Notre Dame is one of only two Football Bowl Subdivision schools to have played teams from a BCS conference in each of the first five weeks (LSU is the other). In fact, the Irish were one of only three schools in the FBS to have already played three opponents ranked in this week’s Associated Press top-25 poll (San Jose State and Tennessee are the others).
• 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 ninth nationally in NCAA statistics in degree of difficulty with a combined 10-3 record for a .769 percentage). The three teams that have beaten Notre Dame to date are a combined 14-1 – with No. 18 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State both 5-0 heading to their showdown this week, and No. 16 Stanford’s only loss coming on the road against an unbeaten and third-ranked Oregon team.
• Being left out of the preseason poll is not always a bad indicator for Notre Dame or first-year head coach Brian Kelly, especially in recent years. Three times in the last 10 years (2000, 2002 and 2005) the Irish have been ranked in the final top 25 after not being ranked in the preseason poll. Only Boise State (five), Clemson (four), Boston College (four) and Oregon State (four) have had more final top 25 rankings without a preseason top 25 in the last 10 years.
• Interestingly enough, Cincinnati has also been ranked in the final top 25 after not being ranked in the preseason poll on three seperate occasions and each came under Kelly’s guidance (2007, 2008 and 2009).

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

ONLY THE BIG BOYSNotre 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.IRISH HURT BY STANFORD ON THIRD DOWN

• Notre Dame entered the game vs. Stanford ranked 18th in the FBS in third down defense. The Irish had limited their first three opponents to just 28 percent (14 of 50), but Stanford converted six of its first seven third down attempts.
• The Cardinal finished the first half seven of nine on third down. Stanford’s seven third-down conversions were more than each of Notre Dame’s first three opponents in the entire game: Purdue (five), Michigan (three) and Michigan State (six).
• Notre Dame limited its first three opponents to 1 of 13 on third-down plays of 10 yards or longer. In the first half alone, Stanford converted a pair of such third-down attempts (11 and 10 yards).
• Stanford finished the game with 11 third-down conversions in 15 attempts. An Irish opponent has not converted more third-down attempts than Stanford’s 11 since Michigan had 12 third-down conversions on Sept. 13, 2003.

DEFENSE MORE THAN HELD ITS OWN AGAINST STANFORD STATISTICALLY

• Stanford committed just two turnovers over its first three games, but the Irish forced three Cardinal turnovers.
• Notre Dame had forced three turnovers over its first three games, but had three alone against Stanford.
• The Irish picked off two passes from Cardinal standout QB Andrew Luck, the first two interceptions of the season for the signal caller. In fact, Luck had not been picked off twice in the same game in any of his previous 16 career starts.
• Notre Dame sophomore S Zeke Motta recovered a Stanford muffed punt to setup Notre Dame’s first score of the afternoon. Motta recovered the fumble at the Cardinal 21-yard line.
• Notre Dame junior S Jamoris Slaughter picked off his first career pass to negate a possible Stanford scoring chance. Irish junior CB Robert Blanton broke up the pass attempt and Slaughter caught the ball at the Irish two-yard line. The interception was Luck’s first of the season.
• Notre Dame senior CB Darrin Walls added his second interception of the season and fourth of his career. He also picked off a pass in the season opener against Purdue.
• Stanford entered the contest with Notre Dame ranked 14th in the FBS in rushing at 242.33 yards per game. The Cardinal also averaged 5.8 yards on the ground per rush. The Irish limited Stanford to just 3.8 yards rushing per carry (166 yards on 44 carries), which was a full two yards below its season average. The Cardinal running backs averaged a mere 3.6 yards per carry.
• Notre Dame allowed only one rush longer than 10 yards (Andrew Luck’s 11 yard escape), which was a significant improvement over the first three games of the season when the Irish allowed a total of 21 rushes of 10 yards or longer.

MICHIGAN STATE-NOTRE DAME: HAVE WE FINALLY SEEN IT ALL

• Notre Dame played in its first overtime contest of 2010 last Saturday night and fourth over the last three years.
• The Irish and Spartans have played in two overtime contests in series history.
• Notre Dame drops to 3-8 all-time in overtime games and 0-2 against the Spartans.
• This season’s edition of the rivalry marked the sixth time in the last seven meetings that the winning team in the Michigan State-Notre Dame series scored 30 or more points.
• Over the last 11 meetings (dating back to 2000), the Notre Dame-Michigan State game has been decided by a touchdown or less on nine different occasions, with the game-winning score coming late in the fourth quarter or overtime in eight of the 11 meetings. Here’s a breakdown of the nail-biting heroics:

  2000: Herb Haygood 68-yard TD pass from Jeff Smoker with 1:48 left in the 4th quarter (MSU 27-21).
  2001: Charles Rogers 47-yard TD pass from Ryan Van Dyke with 7:51 left in the 4th quarter (MSU 17-10).
  2002: Arnaz Battle 60-yard TD pass from Pat Dillingham with 1:15 left in the 4th quarter (ND 21-17).
  2003: Greg Taplin 40-yard INT return with 6:55 left in the 4th quarter (MSU 22-16).
  2004: Notre Dame builds a 28-7 third quarter lead before MSU rallies with 17 points in 31-24 ND win.
  2005: Jason Teague’s 19-yd TD run in the first overtime gave the Spartans a 44-41 victory in Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish had rallied from a 21-point deficit to force overtime.
  2006: Notre Dame CB Terrail Lambert intercepts Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton and returns it 27 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:53 remaining as the Irish rallied from a 16-point fourth quarter deficit for a 40-37 victory. Lambert added another interception on the Spartans final drive to ultimately secure the triumph.
  2009: Notre Dame SS Kyle McCarthy’s interception at the 4-yard line with 57 seconds sealed Notre Dame’s 33-30 win after Jimmy Clausen threw for 300 yards, including the game-winning score on a 33-yard touchdown to Golden Tate with 5:18 left.
  2010: Michigan State punter and holder Aaron Bates found tight end Charlie Gantt for a 29-yard TD pass on a fake field goal in overtime to give Michigan State a 34-31 victory.

IRISH DEFENSIVE EFFORT AGAINST MICHIGAN BETTER THAN THE NUMBERS SHOW

• Notre Dame held Michigan scoreless for 31:24 of game action from the second quarter until the last drive of the game. The Irish allowed 4.8 yards per play in 2nd half after allowing 9.2 yards per play in 1st half.
• Prior to final drive, Notre Dame’s defense had limited the Wolverines’ offense to 125 yards on 39 plays (3.2 yards avg.) after halftime.
• The Irish held Michigan to just 3-for-16 on 3rd down, forced 10 punts and registered five 3 & Outs.
• Michigan’s 10 punts last week were the most by a Notre Dame opponent since Rutgers punted 10 times against the Irish on Nov. 23, 2002.
• Notre Dame limited Michigan’s running backs to 30 yards on 13 carries (2.3 yards per carry).
• In the first half, Michigan rushed for 189 yards on 17 carries, good for 11.1 yards per rush. The Wolverines totaled 296 yards in the first half, good for 9.2 yards per play. Notre Dame’s defense limited Michigan to 44 yards on the ground on 11 rushes (4.0 yards per carry), 75 total yards and only 3.8 yards per play in the third quarter.

NOTRE-DAME MICHIGAN SERIES A NAILBITER

• Ten of the last 20 Notre Dame-Michigan games have been decided by five points or less.
• Seven of the last 25 games in the series have seen the winning points come in the final two minutes (1980, ’88, ’90, ’94, ’99, ’09 and ’10), including four that were decided in the final seconds (’80, ’94, ’09 and ’10).
• Michigan scored the winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in the game. It marked the fourth meeting between the two rivals where the deciding points were scored with less than 27 seconds to go in the contest. The Wolverines have captured each of the last two meetings decided so late into the contest. In 1994, Remy Hamilton kicked a field goal with two seconds left to secure a 26-24 victory in Notre Dame Stadium. Last season, Greg Matthews caught a five-yard TD pass from Tate Forcier with 11 seconds remaining to give Michigan a 38-34 win.

IRISH-WOLVERINES CHURNING THE STICKS

• Notre Dame totaled 381 yards passing and 535 yards of total offense, both single-game highs in the all-time series with Michigan.
• The 535 yards of total offense was the most for a Notre Dame team since Oct. 31, 2009 when the Irish rolled up 592 yards against Washington State.
• The teams combined for 1,067 total yards, which is the most in the series between the Irish and Wolverines. The 2009 figure of 920 total was the previous high.

IRISH GO DOWN TO THE WIRE

• Since the start of the 2008 season, Notre Dame has played 17 games that have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Irish are 6-11 in those games including a 34-31 overtime defeat at Michigan State.
• Ten of Notre Dame’s 12 games in 2009 were decided in the fourth quarter. The Irish won four games decided by a TD or less and lost six times by seven or less.
• Notre Dame has already played two games in 2010 decided by seven points or less. In fact, six of the last eight and 12 of the last 15 games for the Irish have been decided by a touchdown or less.

OVERTIME

• Notre Dame played in its first overtime contest of 2010 and fourth over the last three years last week against Michigan State.
• The Irish and Spartans have played in two overtime contests in series history.
• Notre Dame drops to 3-8 all-time in overtime games and 0-2 against the Spartans.

DEFENSE STILL LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY

• 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’s rush defense was truly better than the final numbers indicated against Michigan State. If you remove Edwin Baker’s 56-yard touchdown run, the Irish allowed 147 yards on the ground on 42 carries (3.5 yards/rush). The Spartans entered the contest averaging 7.8 yards/rush. In fact, the Spartans had 19 carries in the game for two yards or less.

IRISH DEFENSE DEFINITELY BROUGHT THE HEAT AGAINST PURDUE

• Notre Dame registered 4.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss in the victory over Purdue. The 4.0 sacks were the most by the Irish since they picked up 5.0 against Washington State on Oct. 31, 2009.
• The 4.0 sacks also 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.
• The Irish also registered two interceptions (both inside their own 20-yard line), four pass break-ups and three quarterback hurries.

IRISH OFFENSE, DEFENSE UNITS PENALTY FREE AGAINST PURDUE

• Notre Dame committed just two penalties in its victory over Purdue. The Irish were not whistled for a single penalty on offense or defense. The two penalties both came on special teams.
• The Irish have not completed a game with fewer than two penalties since Nov. 26, 2005. In a 38-31 victory at Stanford, Notre Dame was called for one penalty.

SPREAD ATTACK OPENED RUNNING LANES FOR ALLEN JR., WOOD AGAINST PURDUE

• Notre Dame rushed for 153 yards and average 4.2 yards per carry in the victory over Purdue. The tailback tandem of senior Armando Allen Jr. and sophomore Cierre Wood totaled 151 yards on 25 carries. Allen Jr. averaged 5.2 per rush and Wood posted 8.3 yards per carry.
• Allen Jr. (four) and Wood (four) also combined for eight rushes of 10 or more yards.
• Allen Jr. gave the Irish a 7-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown run at 2:01 of the first quarter. The touchdown was his eighth overall and seventh on the ground in his career. The scamper was the longest scoring run of his career.
• Wood ripped off 16 and 15 yards on the ground in consecutive rushes, the first two carries his career. He added another 15-yard rush on Notre Dame’s initial scoring drive of the afternoon. Wood totaled 41 yards on four carries on the drive (41 of the 84 yards on the drive came via the legs of Wood). He added a 38-yard kickoff return to set up great field position for the Irish early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame started the drive at Purdue 41-yard line, but went three-and-out.
• Notre Dame averaged just 128.2 yards rushing in 2009, which ranked 84th in the FBS. The Irish also managed only 3.84 yards per carry.

IRISH DEFENSE CONTROLLED THE BIG PLAY IN SEASON OPENER

• It was just one game, but Notre Dame’s new defensive scheme seemed to get pretty solid revues in the opener. The Irish limited the Boilermakers’ offense to only 10 points and allowed just 3.2 yards per carry (compared to 3.8 yards per rush in 2009).
• Notre Dame forced Purdue into a trio of three-and-outs.
• Purdue completed 31 passes on the afternoon, but the longest went for just 16 yards. The Boilermakers averaged just 5.2 yards passing per attempt and 7.1 yards per completion. By comparison in 2009, the Irish allowed 8.7 yards per pass attempt and 12.9 yards per completion.
• Notre Dame also limited Purdue to 4.4 yards of total offense (322 yards on 74 plays) per play. Irish foes averaged 6.4 yards of total offense per play last season.
• Notre Dame limited 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.
• Senior DB Gary Gray registered eight tackles, seven solo, in the first half alone. The eight tackles equaled his career-high and seven solo stops surpassed his previous career-high. Gray finished with a game-high tying and career-best nine tackles. He also got credit with a pass breakup on senior NG Ian Williams interception on Purdue’s fourth down play from the Irish five-yard line.
• Senior DB Darrin Walls picked up his third career interception at 4:27 of the first quarter. It was his first interception since picking up one against Purdue in last year’s meeting.

NOTRE DAME DEBUTS AGAINST PURDUE

• Sophomore LT Zack Martin, junior QB Dayne Crist, freshman WR TJ Jones, junior C Braxston Cave, senior RT Taylor Dever and sophomore ILB Carlo Calabrese all registered their first career start at Notre Dame.
• Freshman WR TJ Jones registered his first career reception on Notre Dame’s fourth offensive play from scrimmage. The catch went for 15 yards and resulted in a first down on a third and six play.
• Sophomore RB Cierre Wood picked up his first career carry on Notre Dame’s initial scoring drive. The rush went for 16 yards. He followed up that carry with another rush on the next play for 15 yards.
• The Irish played a total of six freshmen against Purdue: WR TJ Jones, LB Danny Spond, DB Lo Wood, WR Austin Collinsworth, LB Prince Shembo and WR Bennett Jackson.
• The following Notre Dame players, excluding freshmen, made their first career appearance: RB Cierre Wood, ILB Carlo Calabrese, ILB Dan Fox, LS Ryan Kavanagh, LS Bill Flavin, OG Chris Watt, OT Zack Martin and DT Tyler Stockton.
• Notre Dame used five true freshmen alone on its starting kickoff coverage unit, which might be unprecedented in school history: WR Bennett Jackson (four tackles), WR Austin Collinsworth, LB Prince Shembo, LB Danny Spond and DB Lo Wood.

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.

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

• The meeting earlier this season between Notre Dame and Michigan State marked the 21st time in school history the Irish have faced the Spartans the week following the Michigan game.
• Notre Dame is 8-3 against the Spartans following a victory over the Wolverines, 5-4 following a defeat and 1-0 following a tie.
• The Irish have knocked off Michigan and Michigan State in consecutive weeks eight different times (1980, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2002 and 2004).
• Notre Dame has dropped both rivalry games four times (1986, 2003, 2007 and 2010).
• Overall, the Irish are 14-7 against the Spartans the week after playing Michigan.
• Notre Dame has faced Michigan 38 times in the series history and 15 of the meetings have come during the second week of the regular season. The Irish are 6-8-1 all-time when playing the Wolverines in week two.
• Notre Dame has opened its season with Purdue on eight occasions. The Irish hold a 7-1 record in those season-opening meetings with the Boilermakers. Only two other programs, Michigan and Northwestern, have opened against Notre Dame more often that Purdue.

  For an accompanying chart, please see the pdf version of these notes.

• This year’s opener with Purdue was the first opener with the Boilermakers since 1984. Notre Dame agreed to move the contest from Notre Dame Stadium to the newly opened Hoosier Dome. Future Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame honoree Tim Brown, then just a freshman, fumbled the opening kickoff to setup a Purdue touchdown. The Boilermakers would upset the No. 8 Irish, 23-21.
• The most famous season opener with Purdue came during the 1966 season. Both teams were ranked in the top 10, Notre Dame at No. 6 and the Boilermakers at No. 8. Purdue was led by All-American Bob Griese, but quarterback Terry Hanratty and wide receiver Jim Seymour stole the show. The duo hooked up 13 times for 276 yards, including touchdowns of 39, 84 and seven yards, en route to a 26-14 Irish victory. Seymour’s total of 276 receiving yards remains a single-game Notre Dame record. Notre Dame went on to capture the national title, while the Boilermakers captured their first and still only Rose Bowl title in school history.

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.

DON’T FORGET THE ANNIVERSARY

• The 2010 football season marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of fabled Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish have played 415 games in that facility to date and own a 307-103-5 (.746) record in the “House that Rockne Built.”
• The Irish were 4-3 in Notre Dame Stadium in 2009, running their home record to 111-43-1 (.719) over the last 25 years.
• The most wins in a season by the Irish at home is seven by the 1988 national championship team and the longest home winning streak in Notre Dame football history is 28 games (from 11/21/42 through 9/30/50).
• In 1955, the stadium’s 25th anniversary, Notre Dame went 8-2 on the season for coach Terry Brennan, including a 4-0 home record. The Irish turned in a 9-2-1 overall record, and a 5-0 home mark, to commemorate Notre Dame Stadium’s 50th anniversary in 1980. In 2005, the stadium’s 75th anniversary, the Irish went 9-3 overall, participated in the Fiesta Bowl and went 4-2 at home.

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 the only football player who will be enrolled in law school this fall.
• Stewart is enrolled in Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Legal Writing I.

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

• Seven 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. 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).

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 will travel 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.

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 (2007-present).
• 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.

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST FOUR 2010 FOOTBALL PEP RALLIES

• Locations for the first four pep rallies for the 2010 University of Notre Dame football season have been determined – and include multiple locations around the campus.
• The traditional, season-opening Dillon Hall pep rally was held on Friday, Sept. 3, in front of Dillon Hall on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame campus. That rally drew a crowd of 14,000 students and fans.
• The Sept. 10 rally prior to the Irish home game against Michigan was held at Irish Green, south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the very south edge of campus.
• The Notre Dame-Stanford rally on Sept. 24 was held indoors at Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center.
• A Notre Dame-Boston College students-only rally was held on Oct. 1, prior to the Irish road game at Boston College, at Stepan Center.
• The sites for four other Friday home-game pep rallies – Oct. 8 (Pittsburgh), Oct. 15 (Western Michigan), Oct. 29 (Tulsa) and Nov. 12 (Utah) – will be determined at a later date.
• Rallies are expected to be held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. All pep rallies are free of charge. Outdoor rallies are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.

NOTRE DAME KICKOFF LUNCHEONS

• There’s a whole new look to the Notre Dame Football Kickoff Luncheons held on the Friday prior to each Irish football home game.
• The luncheons will still be held in the north dome of the Joyce Center – but there will be a different master of ceremonies each week, there’s a brand new set on stage, and luncheon guests will have the chance to ask questions of Irish head coach Brian Kelly.
• Guests from week to week will include a selection of Irish players and assistant coaches in addition to Kelly, as well as other special guests.
• WHME sports director Bob Nagle will coordinate three luncheon guests each week that each will ask a question on a live basis of Notre Dame’s head coach.
• Tickets remain on sale for four luncheons for the 2010 season. Those events are slated for noon ET on Oct. 8 (Pittsburgh), Oct. 15 (Western Michigan), Oct. 29 (Tulsa), and Nov. 12 (Utah) in the north dome (field house) of the Joyce Center.
• Tickets are $23 each and can be ordered by writing to Athletics Business Office, 112 Joyce Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 456556. Checks can be made payable to University of Notre Dame. There is a $3 handling fee per order. There are 10 seats per table. There’s also a ticket order form available on und.com.

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;