Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510995
8 NOV. 18, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME ✦ BY THE NUMBERS 1st Time in school history that Notre Dame returned a punt and kickoff for a touch- down in back-to-back games occurred this sea- son — sophomore running back Jadarian Price's 99-yard kickoff return versus USC Oct. 14 and senior wide receiver Chris Tyree's 82-yard punt return against Pitt Oct. 28. This year marks just the 12th time since the program was established in 1887 that the Fighting Irish had both a punt and kickoff return touchdown during the same season. 2 Interceptions in back-to-back games versus USC Oct. 14 and Pitt Oct. 28 for Notre Dame senior safety XAVIER WATTS — making him the first Irish player in program history to record multiple picks in consecu- tive contests. He is the first FBS player to do it since 2020 and just the fifth FBS player to accomplish the feat since 2017. 3 Women's soccer players have earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors twice since the award's incep- tion in 2004 and only two have done it in back-to-back seasons, with Notre Dame senior Eva Gaetino (2022-23) joining Flor- ida State's Malia Berkely (2019-20) in that exclusive club this year. Gaetino anchored a backline that posted 5 shutouts during the regular season. She is also now a two-time first-team All-ACC selection, after also recording career bests in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11). Five other Irish players also received All-ACC accolades: graduate student midfielder Kiki Van Zanten (first team), graduate student forward Mad- die Mercado (second team), sophomore midfielder Leah Klenke (second team), and rookies Charlie Codd (All-Freshman) and Morgan Roy (All-Freshman). 5 Return touchdowns — 2 fumble, 1 interception, 1 kickoff and 1 punt — for Notre Dame in back-to back games wins versus USC (48-20) Oct. 14 and Pitt (58-7) Oct. 28 are the most in program history in a two-game stretch. Through nine games, the Irish had 6 return touchdowns. Per Notre Dame media relations, the most comparable stretch came in 1996. That year, the Irish had 7 return touchdowns over a five-game span — a punt return in a 20-17 overtime loss to Air Force Oct. 19, a fumble return in a 54-27 win against Navy in Dublin Nov. 2, a fumble return in a 48-21 triumph at Boston College Nov. 9, 3 punt returns in a 60-6 rout of Pitt Nov. 16, and a punt block return in a 62-0 thrashing of Rutgers Nov. 23. 5th Was where On3 national basketball recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw listed Notre Dame forward Carey Booth on his preseason list of the 10 most impactful freshmen in the ACC for the 2023-24 season. "Notre Dame's roster is thin this season, so Booth should get thrown into the fire early," Shaw noted. "He should be able to accumulate stats as he develops and gets used to the speed and physicality of the game. Micah Shrewsberry is looking to rebuild the Notre Dame program, and Booth figures to be a central piece in that." 6 Times in their first nine games this season, the Fighting Irish have scored 40 or more points — tied for the most in a season in program history. Per ESPN, Notre Dame's 58 points against Pitt Oct. 28 marked its most against a Power Five opponent in the past 20 years. 34 Points scored by Notre Dame following Watts' 6 interceptions, through Week 9. 44 Appearances in the College Football Playoff rankings for Notre Dame, after the first rank- ings of 2023 were released Oct. 31. The Irish — who debuted at No. 15 this year, the highest CFP ranking under head coach Marcus Freeman — rank fifth among all schools for most appearances (out of 55 all time). Rk. School Appearances 1. Alabama 55 Ohio State 55 3. Clemson 51 4. Oklahoma 47 5. Notre Dame 44 6. Georgia 43 7. Utah 42 8. LSU 40 9. Michigan, 38 Oklahoma State 38 500th Game played at Notre Dame Stadium will be the Fighting Irish's matchup with Wake Forest Nov. 18. Since it opened in 1930, Notre Dame has a record of 376-118-5 (.759 winning percentage) in the "House That Rockne Built." 2002 Was the last year, prior to 2023, that the Fighting Irish had a punt return (that did not come off a blocked kick), kickoff return, interception return and fumble return for a touchdown in the same season, per Notre Dame media relations. Cornerback Vontez Duff (2000-03) achieved three of them — a 76-yard punt return in a 22-0 win over Maryland Aug. 31, a 33-yard interception return (one of four for the Irish that season) in a 24-17 triumph over Purdue Sept. 7 and a 92-yard kickoff return in a 30-23 victory versus Navy Nov. 9. Fellow defensive back Gerome Sapp (1999-2002) had a 54-yard fum- ble return for a touchdown in the win against the Boilermakers. Technically, the Fighting Irish also achieved the feat in 2008 — but the punt return came off a blocked kick. 4,085 Miles between South Bend and Paris, France, where the No. 10 Notre Dame women's basketball program played its first- ever game outside of North America against No. 6 South Carolina Nov. 6. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER