Sept. 13, 2008

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | AP Gallery

Notre Dame won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Irish defended the South endzone.

TODAY’S VICTORY…

• Improves the Irish to 2-0 on the season.
• Gives Notre Dame its third 2-0 start to a season over the past four years.
• Gives the Irish a four-game winning streak dating back to the final two games of 2007.
• Improves Notre Dame to 15-20-1 (.431) in the all-time series with Michigan.
• Evens the Irish at 8-8-1 (.500) in the all-time series with the Wolverines in South Bend.
• Improves Notre Dame to 9-5-1 (.633) in the all-time series with Michigan in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improves an unranked Irish squad to 2-3 all-time against Michigan.
• Improves an unranked Notre Dame squad to 2-1 all-time against Michigan in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Gives the Irish a three-game winning streak in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Snaps Michigan’s three-game winning streak in the all-time series.
• Improves Notre Dame to 217-111-15 (.655) all-time against the Big Ten Conference.
• Improves Notre Dame to 110-45-5 (.703) all-time against the Big Ten Conference in South Bend.
• Improves Notre Dame to 89-40-3 (.686) all-time against the Big Ten Conference in Notre Dame Stadium.
• Improves Notre Dame to 82-47-4 (.632) all-time against schools from the state of Michigan.
• Improves Notre Dame’s all-time record to 72-21-6 (.758) the week following a season opening victory.
• Improves Weis’ record to 24-15 overall (.615) and 6-7 (.462) against the Big Ten Conference.
• Improves Weis’ overall home record to 13-9 (.591) and his home record against the Big Ten Conference to 3-3 (.500).
• Improves Weis’ record to 9-7 in September games.
• Improves Weis’ record to 17-12 in afternoon games.
• Improves Notre Dame’s all-time record to 826-278-42 (.739).
• Improves Notre Dame’s all-time record at Notre Dame Stadium to 300-96-5 (.754).

FUMBLES, FUMBLES, FUMBLES
Notre Dame recovered four fumbles Saturday afternoon. It is the most fumbles by an Irish opponent since Vanderbilt coughed up five on Sept. 5, 1996.

NO SACKS, AGAIN
Notre Dame allowed an NCAA record 58 sacks in 2007, but have yet to surrender a sack in 2008. The last time the Irish went consecutive games without allowing a sack came during the 2003 season. Notre Dame actually went three straight games without giving up a sack (Oct. 25, at Boston College; Nov. 1 vs. Florida State; Nov. 8 vs. Navy).

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST

• Notre Dame exploded for 21 points in the first quarter this afternoon. The Irish had not totaled 21 points in a first quarter since Sept. 25, 2004 against Washington. Notre Dame went on to win that game over the Huskies, 38-3. The Irish managed just 31 points in the first quarter throughout the entire 2007 season.
• The 21 points also equals the most points in a single quarter by an Irish team in the all-time series with Michigan. Notre Dame scored 21 points in the fourth quarter of the 2004 come-from-behind, 28-20, triumph over the Wolverines (Sept. 11).

GETTING OFF TO A FAST START

• Notre Dame talked all off-season about getting off to a fast start. Well, the Irish did just that exploding for 14 points in the game’s first four minutes and 21 points in the opening quarter.
• The 14 points in the game’s first four minutes are the fastest two touchdowns for Notre Dame since Aug., 28, 1999. The Irish scored at 11:52 and 11:00 of the first quarter this afternoon. In the 48-13 victory over the Jayhawks, Notre Dame scored touchdowns at 11:36 and 11:19 of the first quarter.

QUICK STRIKE IRISH
Notre Dame’s offense under Charlie Weis has been known for its quick strike ability. In his first two seasons, the Irish totaled 12 different offensive scoring drives of under one minute. The Irish recorded just four in 2007, but have already equaled that total through two games in 2008. In fact, the first three touchdowns this afternoon for the Irish all came on drives under one minute.

NOTRE DAME’S RECORD WHEN…

CHECKING THE WEIS ERA RECORD BOOK

• The 21 points in the first quarter are tied for the second most points in a quarter under Weis. Notre Dame scored 28 points in the second quarter of Weis’ debut on Sept. 3, 2005 against Pitt.
• The 21 first quarter points are most points in a first quarter under Weis. The previous first quarter high for points under Weis was 20 at Air Force on Nov. 11, 2006.
• The 28 points in the first half are tied for the third-most under Weis. Notre Dame’s only better output were the 35 points at Pitt (Sept. 3, 2005) and 31 points against North Carolina (Nov. 4, 2006).

IN THE MICHIGAN SERIES

• The 21 points in the first quarter were the most ever for Notre Dame in a first quarter against Michigan
• The 21 points were tied for the most in any quarter against the Wolverines (21, fourth; W, 28-20; 2004)
• The 28 first half points are the most ever by Notre Dame in a first half against Michigan and second most in terms of any half against the Wolverines (30, second; W, 36-20; 1998)

IRISH ITEMS
Robert Hughes, So., HB

• Registered his fifth career touchdown giving the Irish a 7-0 lead at 11:52 of the first quarter
• Added his second rushing touchdown of 2007 and sixth of his career to give Notre Dame a 28-10 lead with 8:47 to go in second quarter

Mike Anello, Sr., Gunner

• Recorded his first career fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff return following Notre Dame’s first touchdown
• The fumble recovery set up another Irish score to make it 14-0 at 11:00 of the first quarter

Jimmy Clausen, So., QB

• Hooked up with fellow sophomore Duval Kamara to give Notre Dame a 14-0 lead at 11:00 of the first quarter
• Connected with fellow sophomore WR Golden Tate with a 48-yard strike at 4:51 of the first quarter to give Notre Dame a 21-0 lead
• The 48-yard pass was Clausen’s longest of his career, but for only eight minutes on the game clock
• Clausen again connected with Tate for 60 yards to set up another Notre Dame touchdown
• The touchdown passes give Clausen five for the season, 11 in the last five games and 12 for his career

Duval Kamara, So., WR

• Recorded his first touchdown reception of the season and fifth of his career to give Notre Dame a 14-0 lead at 11:00 of the first quarter

Golden Tate, So., WR

• Registered his second receiving touchdown of the season and third of his career to give the Irish a 21-0 lead at 4:51 of the first quarter
• Has recorded touchdown receptions each of the last two weeks (38 and 48 yards respectively)
• The 48-yard reception was Tate’s longest of his career, but for only eight minutes on the game clock
• Hauled in a slant patter and raced 60 yards to set up another Notre Dame touchdown
• The 60-yard reception was the longest for the Irish since John Carlson hauled in a 62-yard TD reception against Michigan State on Sept. 23, 2006
• Eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the second time in his career
• Tate registered 116 yards on three catches in the opening half, besting his previous career high of 104 yards receiving against Purdue on Sept. 29, 2007

Brian Smith, So., ILB

• Registered his first and second career fumble recoveries
• The 40-yard fumble return for touchdown was his second career touchdown (also had a 25-yard INT return for TD on Oct. 13, 2007 against Boston College)

Raeshon McNeil, Jr., CB

• Registered his second and third pass breakup of the season and fifth and sixth of his Notre Dame
• First career game with at least two pass breakups

David Bruton, Sr., FS

• Forced a fumble for the second straight week inside the Notre Dame five-yard line
• Added a interception midway through the fourth quarter, once again at the five-yard line
• Has forced three turnovers this season inside the Irish 10-yard line.
• Recorded a career-high 15 tackles. His previous high was five (last week vs. San Diego State)