Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME 12 JUNE/JULY 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ✦ NUMBERS & QUOTES 6 Different MLB stadiums have played host to a Notre Dame baseball game since 1990. The latest addition to that list is the Chi- cago Cubs' home park Wrigley Field, which will host the Fighting Irish's matchup with Northwest- ern May 16. It is Notre Dame's first-ever contest at the friendly confines of Wrigley. The Irish have also played two games at Com- erica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers) in 2017 and 2022; two games at U.S. Cellular Field (now known as Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago White Sox) in 2008 and 2009; 12 games at the Metrodome (Min- nesota Twins) over four different seasons (1991, 2000, 2003 and 2006); 17 games at the Kingdome (Seattle Mariners) over four different seasons (1990, 1992, 1994 and 1996); and two games at Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh Pirates) in 1998. Prior to this year's matchup with the Wildcats, the Irish were 19-16 in MLB stadiums over the past 32 years. 10 Future Notre Dame quar- terbacks have earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals — a prestigious compe- tition of high school quarterbacks from across the country — since the event began in 1999: Matt Lovecchio, 1999 Zach Fraser, 2005 Dayne Crist, 2007 Everett Golson, 2010 Malik Zaire, 2012 Brandon Wimbush, 2014 Drew Pyne, 2019 Tyler Buchner, 2020 Kenny Minchey, 2022 CJ Carr, 2023 14 Of the 27 players (51.9 percent) in Notre Dame's No. 11-ranked 2021 football re- cruiting class are no longer with the program. Among those 14 are three of the five top-100 recruits in the On3 Industry Ranking — wide re- ceiver/cornerback Lorenzo Style (No. 70), quarter- back Tyler Buchner (No. 94) and linebacker Prince Kollie (No. 100). There have been eight transfers: Buchner, Styles, Kollie, running back Logan Diggs, offensive tackle Caleb Johnson, tight end Cane Berrong, cornerback JoJo Johnson, safety Khari Gee and defensive end Devin Aupiu. Cornerback Philip Riley and kicker Josh Bryan left the program and could still transfer. Quarterback Ron Powlus III, safety Justin Walters and linebacker Will Schweitzer retired due to medi- cal reasons. 202 Career points for senior attackman Pat Kavanagh, after he tallied 1 goal and 2 assists in Notre Dame's 12-8 loss to No. 3 Virginia April 30. He became just the third player in program history to reach the 200-point milestone, joining Randy Colley (273 points from 1991-95) and his brother, Matt Cavanagh (225 from 2013-16). We wanted to give our quarterbacks in our program every opportunity to win the job in spring prac- tice. We felt like we needed to add some competition in the room, and Tyler was certainly a guy that was going to be the starter last year at Notre Dame, got injured, played the bowl game, played very well. "We thought he would add a lot of competition, and we think he's got the right kind of character and attitude to be a positive influence on our team." — Alabama football head coach Nick Saban on transfer Tyler Buchner Every time we go through a tough workout, Coach Free- man will come talk to us, and it puts it really into perspective that we're out here to compete with Alabama and Georgia." — Notre Dame freshman linebacker Preston Zinter I don't do com- parisons, but Randy Moss, when the ball was in the air it's like he got faster. Tobias is right next to him, and I feel like he hits another gear and just runs away from guys. That's a very unique skill set to have. You can never out-throw him, and he makes plays down the field." — Notre Dame wide receivers coach CHANSI STUCKEY on sophomore TOBIAS MERRIWEATHER 45 Years ago marked the last time a player from the South Bend/Mishawaka area won the Indiana Mr. Basketball award, before Notre Dame signee Markus Burton achieved that feat this year. Burton will be the third Indiana Mr. Basketball to play for the Fighting Irish since 2000, joining point guard Chris Thomas (2001) and forward Luke Zeller (2005). Burton averaged 30.3 points per game to lead the state in scoring while leading Mishawaka Penn High School to a program-best 28-2 record and its first state title. His 909 points this year are a Penn record and he finished his prep career as the leading scorer in Saint Joseph County history (2,273), good for 20th in state history. Right when they got hired, that's what I told them; I don't want to be recruited — just talk ball with me. I don't need the graphics. When we talk, I don't want to chat about how my day was. Let's go install the offense. They agreed. It puts me at an advantage that I'm already getting somewhat of a base of the offense. It's a win-win." — Notre Dame 2024 quarterback commit CJ CARR on new offensive coordinator Gerad Parker and new quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER