Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1162458
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 16, 2019 25 3 Turnovers committed by Notre Dame in the last seven openers since 2013, a laudable feat considering sloppiness often is a hallmark in first games (it had five turnovers in the season-opening loss to South Florida in 2011). The Irish went four straight years from 2013-16 without a turnover in their season opener, but did have one interception versus Temple and Michigan in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and then a lost fumble by senior quarterback Ian Book in the second quarter versus Louisville. 6 First-time starters for Notre Dame on offense, defense and among kicking specialists. On offense it was sophomore Jarrett Patterson at center. De- fensively it was four juniors: tackles Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Mike linebacker Drew White and rover Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Freshman punter Jay Bramblett, who also doubles as the holder on placekicks, likewise made his starting debut. Receiving the game ball was sophomore tight end Tommy Tremble (three catches, 49 yards and a touchdown), who saw his first action in a Notre Dame uniform but did not start. 10 Consecutive games lost by Louisville — the longest current losing streak in the nation. Rutgers had entered the season with the previ- ous high at 11, but opened its campaign with a 48-21 win over Massachusetts. 14-4 Is Notre Dame's record in night openers, which began with a 19-13 loss at SMU in 1956 on its way to a 2-8 record. The Fighting Irish then won eight straight from 1974-96 before falling at Nebraska in 2001. With the win at Louisville, it is now 6-3 is such games since the turn of the century, and 3-1 under head coach Brian Kelly. The game at Louisville was the ninth night opener in the first 20 years of the 21st century after having nine in all the 20th century. 27 Percent chance of Notre Dame making the College Football Playoff, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, after the victory versus Louisville. That is slightly higher than the 25 percent it was entering the game. Had the Fighting Irish lost it would have fallen to eight percent. 37 States Notre Dame has now played football in after making its debut appearance in Kentucky, even though it borders Indiana. Alpha- betically, the other 13 states Notre Dame football has not played in are Alaska, Arkansas (where Notre Dame is scheduled to play the Razorbacks in 2025), Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming. 117 Games coached at Notre Dame by Brian Kelly (82-35), who is in his 10th season with the Fighting Irish. The contest at Louisville moved him past 1964-74 Notre Dame icon Ara Parseghian (95-17-4) for sole posses- sion of third place. Only Lou Holtz with 132 (100-30-2) from 1986-96 and Knute Rockne with 122 (105-12-5) from 1918-30 have officially had more games, even though they weren't always on the sidelines for health reasons. 58,187 Announced attendance at the game, a Cardinal Stadium record. The previous standard of 55,632 was set during a 63-20 win over Florida State on Sept. 17, 2016. Cardinal Stadium has a capacity of 60,800 people after expanding by more than 5,000 seats a few years ago. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI 4 Straight years Notre Dame scored a touchdown on its opening possession to begin a season, navigating 75 yards on six plays in 2:21 — capped by sophomore running back Jahmir Smith's three- yards scoring run — versus the Cardinals for a quick 7-0 advantage. The Fighting Irish had also marched 75 yards in just 1:25 last year versus Michi- gan, 70 yards in 33 seconds against Temple in 2017 and 78 yards in 2:32 at Texas in 2016. In four straight years prior from 2012-15, Notre Dame tallied two touchdowns in the first quarter — and did so again for a third straight year at Louisville, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER