Nov. 3, 2001

Final Stats?|? Notes?|? Photo Gallery

NOTRE DAME POSTGAME NOTES
#7/7 Tennessee at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)

• The attendance of 80,795 matches a Notre Dame stadium record. The game marks the 160th consecutive sellout of Notre Dame stadium, and the 208th in the last 209 games.

• Freshman TB Ryan Grant finished the game with six carries for 18 yards. Prior to today’s game, he had one carry for four yards in his career.

• Tennessee’s second quarter fumble return for a TD was the first time a Notre Dame opponent returned a fumble for a touchdown since Aaron Fucht returned a 37-yard fumble for Stanford on November 27, 1999.

• ND QB Carlyle Holiday had a career day, with 13 completions on 24 attempts for 146 yards. Holiday’s previous career highs were 10 completions (Pittsburgh), 17 attempts (Boston College), and 133 yards (USC).

• K Nicholas Setta is now six for six on field goal attempts greater than 40 yards this season. He has also hit a field goal in 10 consecutive regular-season games. The team record is 11 straight games by John Carney in 1986. His PAT streak is now at 47 consecutive successful conversions.

• The Irish defense held Tennessee TB Travis Stephens to 63 yards on 24 carries (2.6 yards per carry). Stephens’ previous low this season was 95 yards on 34 carries (2.8 yards per carry) vs. LSU.

• Junior LB Courtney Watson’s interception return for a touchdown marks the first defensive touchdown for the Irish this season. It was also the first interception return for a touchdown since Shane Walton returned one 60 yards against Purdue in 2000. And, it was Watson’s first career interception, and his first career touchdown.

• WR David Givens had a career high in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (99). His previous highs were 86 yards against Purdue in 2000 and seven receptions against Nebraska earlier this year. It was the most yards by an Irish receiver since Joey Getherall had 116 yards on four receptions against Air Force in 2000. His nine receptions were the most by an Irish receiver since Bobby Brown had 12 against Pittsburgh in 1999.

• Tony Fisher’s reception for a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter was Notre Dame’s first successful two-point conversion since Fisher scored one against Stanford in 1999.

• S Gerome Sapp tied his career high with eight tackles (Boston College, 2000).

• Tennessee notches its third consecutive win over Notre Dame and fourth in its last five meetings with the Irish.

• The Volunteers pick up their first win at Notre Dame Stadium since a 35-34 upset of fifth-ranked Notre Dame on Nov. 9, 1991.

• The Vols improve to 4-2 all-time vs. Notre Dame, remaining one of only five “major” schools to lead their series with the Irish (joining Nebraska, Florida State, Georgia and Michigan).

• Tennessee extends its non-conference regular season winning streak to 14 games and raises its record to 61-3 (and 25-2 on the road) in the month of November since 1985.

• Notre Dame is now 5-4 at home against ranked opponents over the last five seasons.