Sophomore defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt played a major role in Notre Dame's total defense ranking
among the top 10 nationally this past season for the first time since 1980.
The Final Data
photo by bill panzica
Defensive numbers
highlight 12-1 campaign
T
By Lou Somogyi
here was a time when the NCAA
did not include bowl games
among team or individual statistics, just like playoff numbers
in the National Football League, National Basketball Association or Major
League Baseball are not counted.
That practice by the NCAA changed
about 10 years ago, leading to some
arguments about comparing stats from
the past with the present.
The 42-14 debacle against Alabama
in the BCS National Championship
Game affected some of Notre Dame's
final numbers and rankings among
120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Here are the final results.
Rushing Offense:
38th (189.38)
Entering the showdown with the
Crimson Tide, Notre Dame averaged
202.5 yards per game. That made it