Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/140903
"We're going to win again next year, and there's probably going to be teams that are going to have an interest in [me] coaching in the NFL. I want to be able to tell them definitively that I want to coach in college." head coach brian Kelly on Jan. 29 four recruiting class, capped by an 11th-hour addition of five-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. Feb. 23 — Te'o worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine, handling his first major open media session with flying colors. His 40-yard dash time (4.82 seconds), however, didn't help his stock. March 7 — Sophomore quarterback Gunner Kiel, who came to Notre Dame in 2012 as the nation's toprated pocket passer, quit the team and began looking into the transfer process. He settled on Cincinnati. March 26 — Blue & Gold Illustrated learned freshman receiver Davonte' Neal planned to transfer. The next day we broke the news that freshman receiver Justin Ferguson was also leaving Notre Dame. April 19 — The ACC announced Notre Dame's five yearly opponents for the 2014-17 seasons. Top 5 Top 5 Game Performances 1. Golson Grows Up — In hostile territory, sophomore quarterback Everett Golson calmly completed 13 of 25 passing attempts for 177 yards, rushed for 64 yards and did not commit a turnover to guide the Irish past No. 8 Oklahoma. 2. Trojan Slayer — Senior running back Theo Riddick left it all on the field against USC, running for a career-high 146 yards against the Trojans to punch Notre Dame's ticket to Miami. It marked the first time a Notre Dame player eclipsed the century mark versus USC since Autry Denson finished with 133 during a 20-17 loss in 1997. 3. Laying The Wood — Senior tailback Cierre Wood rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns against Miami. Both scores came in the third quarter, when the Irish rattled off 21 points to blow the Hurricanes' doors off. 4. Robbing Robinson — After Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson ripped Notre Dame's heart out the two previous seasons, senior linebacker Manti Te'o registered two interceptions to break a cycle of misery against the Wolverines. Robinson committed five turnovers in the 13-6 Notre Dame win. 5. A Leg Up — Sophomore kicker Kyle Brindza ties a school record with five made field goals in six attempts, highlighted by a 52-yarder (the second longest in program history) at the halftime gun, in the 22-13 victory at USC. Top 5 Individual Plays 1. Stanford Stuffed — Stanford took the ball heading toward Notre Dame's student section down 20-13 in overtime. Cardinal head coach David Shaw made no attempt to hide his plans to give the ball to tailback Stepfan Taylor, whose first carry went for 13 yards. After his third-down run from the 1-yard line was stopped, Notre Dame outside linebacker Prince Shembo stoned two blockers on fourth down and re-directed Taylor into the arms of inside linebacker Carlo Calabrese to end the game. 2. Wide Right — Pitt field goal kicker Kevin Harper couldn't convert a gamewinning 33-yard field goal in the second overtime after a high snap meddled with his rhythm. Notre Dame went on to win in the third extra stanza. 3. Sooner Than Later — Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson's play-action bomb to freshman wideout Chris Brown early in the fourth quarter set up the go-ahead touchdown against Oklahoma in Norman. The 50-yard reception was the first of Brown's career. 4. Eifert's Power — Down 10-3 at halftime to visiting Stanford — the first time the Irish trailed at the break in 2012 — senior tight end Tyler Eifert beats double coverage for a 29-yard touchdown reception to tie the game. 5. Tuitt To The House — Up 20-0 late in the first half in the season opener against Navy, sophomore defensive end Stephon Tuitt showed he had speed to go with obvious power. Sophomore linebacker Ishaq Williams popped Midshipmen quarterback Trey Miller for a fumble that was scooped up by Tuitt, who raced 77 yards for a touchdown. April 20 — The program finished up spring practices with the annual Blue-Gold Game. April 25 — Tight end Tyler Eifert was selected No. 21 overall in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. April 26 — Te'o was taken by San Diego with the sixth pick in the second round of the NFL Draft. May 2 — Notre Dame unveiled a drastic renovation project to the football stadium and surrounding facilities that's being seriously considered. May 28 — A report surfaced that Golson was kicked out of school for an academic violation and will miss his junior season in 2013. June 4 — It is announced that Vanderdoes, who was ranked as the No. 6 player in the nation by 247Sports, will enroll at UCLA, not Notre Dame. ✦ Top 5 Players 1. A Legend's Last Tour — Forget about the revelations concerning Manti Te'o's dating history, What he did on the field in four years at Notre Dame was extraordinary. His 437 career tackles total ranks third in Notre Dame history, and he joined Bob Crable as the only Irish player to register three consecutive seasons of at least 100 tackles. Seven national awards — the most in the history of the game — were added to his trophy case following his senior season, and he nearly pulled off an upset in the Heisman Trophy race. 2. Maintaining Tradition — Tyler Eifert, the most recent graduate of Tight End U, won the Mackey Award (nation's top tight end) for his efforts in 2012. Thirty-six of Eifert's 50 catches resulted in a touchdown or first down. He led Notre Dame with 12 receptions of at least 20 yards. 3. Run To Glory — Running back Theo Riddick quietly joined the hallowed name of Raghib "Rocket" Ismail as the only two players in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, catch more than 1,000 yards worth of passes and total more than 1,000 yards in kick returns during their Irish careers. Riddick rushed for 252 yards his first three seasons (the last two primarily at slot receiver) before more than tripling that output with 917 while returning to his more natural fit in the backfield. He still caught 35 passes out of the backfield and was a willing blocker, too. 4. The End Result — In his first year as a starting defensive end, sophomore Stephon Tuitt's 12 sacks came up just short of Justin Tuck's single-season record (13.5) first kept in 1982. Tuitt's 13 tackles for loss paced the vaunted Irish defense. 5. Rookie Sensation — Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson's 10 straight wins to open his starting career are the second-most in school history. He completed 58.8 percent of his passes (187 of 318) for 2,405 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding a team-high six rushing touchdowns and 298 rushing yards — the most by an Irish QB since Carlyle Holiday had 666 yards in 2001. In Notre Dame's win over Navy, linebacker Ishaq Williams (No. 11) forced a fumble that defensive end Stephon Tuitt (No. 7) scooped up and returned 77 yards for a touchdown. photo by mike bennett/lighthouse imaging Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 133 130-133.Year In Review.indd 133 6/25/13 3:07 PM