Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1264448
10 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW UNDER THE DOME A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING When senior quarterback Ian Book ran in for the game-winning touchdown with 29 seconds remaining in Notre Dame's 21-20 victory versus Virginia Tech last Nov. 2, history was achieved. It marked the first time a Fighting Irish quarterback attempted more than 50 passes in a game — and won. Book finished 29 of 53 through the air for 341 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Previously, per our research, the Irish had been 0-10 in games with 50-plus passes. Here is the breakdown of the first 10, ordered by number of passes attempted: 63 — Terry Hanratty at Purdue, 1967: Lost 28-21 The junior completed 29, but also had four intercepted as the No. 1-ranked Fighting Irish lost for the first time in 13 games. 60 — Brady Quinn versus Michigan State, 2005: Lost 44-41 in overtime Completed 33 and helped the Irish rally from a 38-17 deficit to put the game into overtime. 59 — Brady Quinn at Purdue, 2003: Lost 23-10 Despite having future NFL running backs Julius Jones and Ryan Grant in the backfield, the freshman Quinn's first career start, on the road no less, saw him air it out with 29 completions and 297 yards, while absorbing 15 hits and 14 knockdowns. 58 — Joe Theismann at USC, 1970: Lost 38-28 In a monsoon for the 9-0 Irish, he completed 33 for a school-record 526 yards, but also had four interceptions and lost a wet ball in his own end zone for a USC score. The Irish upset No. 1 Texas 24-11 in the Cotton Bowl to finish No. 2, but the defeat in Los Angeles cost it the national title. 55 — Dayne Crist at Michigan State, 2010: Lost 34-31 in overtime Completed 32 passes for 369 yards with four touchdowns and only one interception in head coach Brian Kelly's third game at Notre Dame. 54 — Tommy Rees versus Tulsa, 2010: Lost 28-27 Replacing an injured Crist during the first drive, the freshman com- pleted 33 passes for 334 yards with four touchdowns and three inter- ceptions, the last when the Irish were in field goal range in the closing seconds but went for a fade to wide receiver Michael Floyd in the end zone. 52 — Everett Golson at Florida State, 2014: Lost 31-27 A brilliant effort versus the No. 2 Seminoles saw him complete 31 for 313 yards with three scores — but a fourth touchdown, to wideout Corey Robinson, with seconds remaining was erased by a controver- sial call on a "pick play." 52 — Brady Quinn versus Florida State, 2003: Lost 37-0 The freshman completed only 20 for 175 yards with three intercep- tions in this whitewash. 51 — Tommy Rees at Michigan, 2013: Lost 41-30 The senior who is now the Fighting Irish quarterbacks coach com- pleted 29 for 314 yards with two scores and two interceptions. 51 — Jimmy Clausen versus Navy, 2009: Lost 23-21 His 37 completions (for 452 yards) are a single-game record, but the Irish failed to score four times in the red zone, including an intercep- tion and a fumble at the 1-yard line by Clausen. He also was sacked for a safety that proved to be the game-deciding margin. Ian Book's 29-of-53, 341-yard and two-touchdown passing perfor- mance in a 21-20 win over Virginia Tech on Nov. 1, 2019, marked the first time an Irish quarterback attempted more than 50 throws in a game Notre Dame won. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS