Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 14, 2020

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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14 NOV. 14, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Tucker Clark — Golf The freshman from Scott- sdale, Ariz., was named to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rolex Junior All-America Team for the second straight year. Clark was a two-time state champion in high school and won the individual and team state titles in 2018. He was No. 31 in the final Rolex AJGA rankings. He and the Notre Dame golf team begin the season in the spring. Daelin Hayes — Football The fifth-year senior de- fensive end from Belleville, Mich., was named the ACC's Defensive Lineman of the Week after notching his first two sacks of the sea- son among five total stops in Notre Dame's 31-13 win over Georgia Tech on Oct. 31. Pro Football Focus credited Hayes, a team captain, with three additional quarterback hurries and gave him an elite 94.4 pass-rush grade. Keagan McLaughlin — Soccer The senior from Zanesville, Ohio, had three saves in Notre Dame's 1-0 loss to Vir- ginia Tech on Nov. 2, which dropped the Irish to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. Through six matches this season, McLaughlin had a .708 save percentage and had allowed one or fewer goals in four contests. Yared Nuguse — Cross Country The senior from Louisville, Ky., became the first Notre Dame men's runner to win the ACC individual cross country title, running the 8K race course in 23:03.06 on Oct. 30 in Cary, N.C. His ef- fort helped the Irish men's team claim their second ACC championship in three years. Nuguse's time was the second fastest for an ACC individual champion since 1968. He also was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Athlete of the Week after his victory. TOP TOP OF THE CLASS OF THE CLASS Irish student-athletes excelling on the field and in the classroom CHARTING THE IRISH LETDOWN GAMES Since 1967, Notre Dame has played the No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll 10 times during the regular season, posting a record of 3-7 in those games. Gearing up to face such a lauded opponent can be quite draining, which may help explain why the Fighting Irish are 5-5 in contests that follow a matchup against the No. 1-ranked team. This season, Notre Dame will play Boston College Nov. 14, the weekend after facing No. 1 Clemson. It will be the second time the Fighting Irish have played the Eagles the week after playing the nation's top team. Of course, that other instance was in 1993 when Notre Dame beat No. 1 Florida State 31-24, only to be upset 41-39 by Boston College at home the following weekend. NOTRE DAME AFTER PLAYING THE NO. 1 TEAM (Since 1967) Year Game Vs. No. 1 Following Game 1967 24-7 loss vs. USC 47-7 win at Illinois 1968 37-22 loss vs. Purdue 51-28 win at Iowa 1972 45-23 loss at USC 40-6 loss vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl) 1982 31-16 win at Pitt 24-14 loss vs. Penn State 1985 36-6 loss at Penn State 10-7 loss vs. LSU 1988 31-30 win vs. Miami 41-13 win vs. Air Force 1993 31-24 win vs. Florida State 41-39 loss vs. Boston College 2000 27-24 loss vs. Nebraska 23-21 win vs. Purdue 2004 41-10 loss at USC 38-21 loss vs. Oregon State (Insight Bowl) 2005 34-31 loss vs. USC 49-23 win vs. BYU ✦ GIMME FIVE During Notre Dame's 6-0 start and prior to the Nov. 7 showdown with No. 1-ranked Clemson, the defensive stats were exceptional. Among 103 teams nationally, the Fighting Irish ranked fourth in both points allowed per game (10.3) and third-down defense (24.4 per- cent), sixth in total yards allowed per game (267.2), seventh in pass efficiency defense (100.59 rating) and eight in rushing yards allowed (93.7). Individually, though, the numbers were relatively modest, mainly because there have been so many rotations, non-availabilities or blowouts. Through six games, sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton paced the team in stops with 28 (despite missing one and a half games). At that current pace of 4.7 stops per game, he would finish with 61 tackles over a 13-game season. In head coach Brian Kelly's first 10 seasons (2010-19), the lowest total in a season by the No. 1 tackler was 80 apiece by rover Nyles Morgan and linebacker Drew White during the 4-8 finish in 2016. Since first recording tackles as a stat in 1956, these have been the five-lowest tackle figures by those who finished first, with most coming in 10-game seasons: Rk. Player (Year) Tackles 1. Ed Hoerster (1962) 73 2. Nick Buoniconti (1961) 74 Myron Pottios (1960) 74 4. Kinnon Tatum (1996) 77 5. Al Ecuyer (1958) 78 Sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton's team- leading 28 tackles through six games have him on pace to finish with 61 over a 13-game season. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS

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