Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1092184
10 APRIL 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame-Georgia Tech Games Moved To Mercedes-Benz Stadium Notre Dame's visits to Georgia Tech in 2020 and 2024 will not be played at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field, but instead at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The first is Nov. 14, 2020, and the second Oct. 19, 2024. In between the Fighting Irish also will host Georgia Tech in 2021, with the date still to be determined. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017, is home to the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and is located less than one mile from Georgia Tech's Midtown Atlanta campus. The venue also hosted Super Bowl LIII, the 2018 College Football Playoff championship game and will be the site of the 2020 NCAA Final Four, with Georgia Tech the host institution. Capacity at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is 71,000, while Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field is 55,000. The last time the two teams met in Atlanta was at Bobby Ross Stadium at Grant Field for the 2006 opener in which the No. 2-ranked Irish under second-year head coach Charlie Weis rallied to defeat the Calvin Johnson-led Yellow Jackets 14-10. The shift also means five of Notre Dame's six road games in 2020 will be in NFL Stadiums, with the sixth in Ireland: • Aviva Stadium (Dublin, Ireland) versus Navy • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Falcons) versus Georgia Tech • Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers) versus Wake Forest • Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers) versus Wisconsin • Heinz Field (Pittsburgh Steelers) versus Pittsburgh • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles Rams) versus USC — Lou Somogyi Marshall University director of athletics Mike Harrick announced March 4 that for the first time the Thundering Herd will play the Fighting Irish on Sept. 10, 2022 in Notre Dame Stadium, a one-game contract. Marshall has become the ninth publicly known opponent on Notre Dame's 2022 slate, when the current incoming freshman class will be seniors. Three more regular-season opponents have to be filled in 2022. With five road games already that season, at least two will be in Notre Dame Stadium. The schedule so far includes: Sept. 3 — at Ohio State Sept. 10 — Marshall Oct. 15 — Stanford Oct. 22 — vs. Navy (site to be determined) Nov. 5 — Clemson Nov. 26 — at USC Dates still to be determined are road outings versus North Carolina and Syracuse, plus Boston College at home. Marshall was a member of the Mid-American Conference from 1997-2004 before moving to Conference USA in 2005. Since 2009, Marshall owns a seven-game winning streak in bowl games, including a 38-20 win over head coach Charlie Strong's South Florida team in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl this past December. In 2014, Marshall finished 13-1 and No. 23 in the Associated Press poll, its highest placement since going 13-0 and placing No. 10 in 1999 with quarterback Chad Pennington. — Lou Somogyi Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is located less than one mile from Georgia Tech's Midtown Atlanta campus, will play host to the Fighting Irish and Yellow Jackets in 2020 and 2024. PHOTO COURTESY MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM DEVIN STUDSTILL JOINS GRADUATE TRANSFER LIST Senior safety Devin Studstill will become the fourth Notre Dame graduate transfer to use up his eligibility at another school. Following the opening spring practice March 2 in which Studstill was not present, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly revealed that Studstill — who will receive his degree in sociology this May — has opted to use his final year of eligibility at a school to be determined. "We love Devin, wish him the best," Kelly said. "He has done everything we've asked him to do, been a great teammate, worked his butt off. I think he's in the best condition and best shape of his life. "I expect him to do really well where he ends up." An early enrollee in the winter of 2016, Stud- still started nine games as a freshman for the 4-8 Irish when the safety position was ravaged by the graduation of Elijah Shumate and the dismissal of Max Redfield, among other attrition there. Stud- still recorded 38 of his 60 career tackles and lone interception that season. He appeared in 11 games as a sophomore in 2017 and was credited with 18 tackles, and saw his playing time diminish to 38 snaps his junior year last season. The Irish return starters Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott at safety this year, and have recruited well there in recent years with ris- ing sophomores Paul Moala and Derrick Allen, plus incoming five-star prospect Kyle Hamilton along with fellow recruit Litchfield Ajavon. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush (Central Flor- ida), defensive lineman Micah Dew-Treadway (Minnesota) and linebacker D.J. Morgan (to be determined, and with two years eligibility) also will be 2019 graduate transfers. The loss of Studstill takes Notre Dame down to 88 scholarships, which must be 85 by the start of the season, per NCAA rules. Meanwhile, senior wide receiver Javon McKinley remains in school but on suspension from foot- ball through his scheduled April 15 court hearing because of a Feb. 7 incident on campus in which he was charged with three misdemeanors, two Class A counts of battery and a Class C for illegal consumption of alcohol. — Lou Somogyi MARSHALL ADDED TO 2022 SCHEDULE