Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 16, 2019 9 UNDER THE DOME 1 Point Notre Dame won by against Virginia Tech (21-20) Nov. 2, ending a five-game losing streak in one-point results and marking the first time in 20 years the Fighting Irish came out on top in such an outcome. The previous one occurred on Oct. 16, 1999, with a 25-24 conquest of USC. Since then, the Fighting Irish had lost five consecutive games decided by a single point: 24-23 versus Boston College (2004), 24-23 to Syracuse (2008), 28-27 against Tulsa (2010), 28-27 versus Navy (2016) and 20-19 at home to Georgia (2017). Since 1918, the year Knute Rockne became head coach, here are the records of Notre Dame coaches in one-point outcomes, which add up to 27-15 (.643 winning percentage): 2 Notre Dame games ranked among the top 10 in history by ESPN in its compilation of the greatest 150 college football games to commemorate the sport's 150 years. In keeping with the one-point theme (see above), they were also won by a single point. At No. 6 was the 31-30 defeat of No. 1 Miami on Oct. 15, 1988, en route to its most recent national title. No. 10 was the 24-23 victory versus No. 1 Alabama to capture the national title in the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31, 1973. The Fighting Irish were the lone school represented in the top 10 with two such victories, while Nebraska was 1-2. No. 1 with its 35-31 victory versus Oklahoma in 1971, and No. 2 with its own 31-30 defeat to Miami in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1984. Notre Dame was represented 23 times overall in the top 50, with 13 in the top 40. 3 Interceptions recorded by Notre Dame freshman safety Kyle Hamilton through the first eight games. He is only the second Notre Dame freshman ever to reach three interceptions, joining Luther Bradley, who had six for the 1973 national champions, in addition to 11 passes broken up. Numerous others had two interceptions as freshmen: Randy Harrison (1974), Dave Duerson (1979), Troy Wilson (1983), Robert Blanton (2008) and KeiVarae Russell (2012). 10 Ranking of Notre Dame's FRANK LEAHY (1941-43, 1946-53) in Sporting News' Oct. 30 countdown of the 10 greatest college football coaches in the game's 150-year history. The top nine in order had the Alabama duo of Nick Saban and Paul "Bear" Bryant, followed by Tom Osborne, Woody Hayes, Bud Wilkinson, Joe Paterno, Eddie Robinson, Urban Meyer and Glenn "Pop" Warner. Notice an egregious absence? Anyone hear of Knute Rockne (1918-30)? He helped revolutionize the game, won four NCAA recognized national titles and still holds the best winning percentage (.881) in Football Bowl Subdivision history. 163 Consecutive weeks the Notre Dame women's basketball program was ranked in top 10 of the Associated Press poll — until starting No. 16 in this year's preseason poll with the departure of all five starters plus two top reserves from last season. It does still possess a streak of 232 straight weeks in the top 25. The non-conference portion of the schedule could put that string in jeopardy the next month because it includes Tennessee (Nov. 11), No. 17 Michigan State (Nov. 14), at No. 25 Michigan (Nov. 23), No. 23 Minnesota (Dec. 4), at No. 5 Connecticut (Dec. 8) and No. 18 DePaul (Dec. 11). 1998 Was the last time Notre Dame men's basketball lost a season opener, until this Nov. 6, when the Fighting Irish fell at 76-65 at No. 9 North Carolina when Tar Heels phenom Cole Anthony debuted with 34 points, an ACC record by a rookie. The 1998 loss was by the identical score to Miami (Ohio), which was led by future 11-year NBA player Wally Szczerbiak. ✦ BY THE NUMBERS Rockne: 4-0 Hunk Anderson: 1-0 Elmer Layden: 2-2 Frank Leahy: 3-0 Terry Brennan: 1-0 Joe Kuharich: 1-1 Ara Parseghian: 2-0 Dan Devine: 2-0 Gerry Faust: 2-2 Lou Holtz: 5-5 Bob Davie: 3-0 Tyrone Willingham: 0-1 Charlie Weis: 0-1 Brian Kelly: 1-3 PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS