Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 JUNE/JULY 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED I didn't have a stick in my hands throughout the fall, so I came out there for the first practice and it was almost like I forgot how to play the sport. The guys helped me get back on track and kind of developed me. That development hap- pened rapidly. I'm very grateful for them." — Irish dual-sport athlete Jordan Faison on how he's been so effective on the lacrosse field this season UNDER THE DOME NUMBERS AND QUOTES 5th 5th Overall — where offensive tackle JOE ALT was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers — is the highest a Notre Dame player was taken in the NFL Draft since Rick Mirer went to the Seattle Seahawks with the second pick in 1993. Alt is also the highest-drafted Irish of - fensive lineman since offensive tackle George Kunz went No. 2 overall to the Atlanta Falcons in 1969. Prior to Kunz, it was offensive tackle Art Hunter at No. 3 overall to the Green Bay Packers in 1954. Alt's father, John Alt, was also a first- round selection 40 years ago. The el- der Alt, also an offensive tackle, went No. 21 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1984 NFL Draft. 1988 Was the last time the Notre Dame baseball team tossed a no-hitter, prior to the Fight- ing Irish accomplishing that feat with a com- bined effort by four pitchers — sophomore right-hander Rory Fox, graduate student right- hander Tobey McDonough, senior right-hander Sammy Cooper and graduate student right- hander Will Jacobsen — in a 13-0 win over Bos - ton College in seven innings (due to the NCAA's run rule) April 21. It marked Notre Dame's first no-no — combined or solo — since Brian Pi- otrowicz did it in a 2-0 triumph (also in seven innings) at Ball State on May 11, 1988. The Irish now have recorded 10 no-hitters in school history. Norwood Gibson tossed two no-nos (7 innings pitched in 1897 and 6 in 1900), while George Murphy (9 IP in 1917), Paul Castner (9 IP in 1922), Mike Mandjiak (9 IP in 1938), Don Wolfe (7 IP in 1975) and Piotrowicz had one each. There have been two other combined efforts in addition to this year's: Hugh Mageveney and Dick Falvey (7 IP in 1923), and Bob Nemes, Dick Smullen and Tony Lipton (9 IP in 1949). 38 Seconds is how long it took freshman midfielder JORDAN FAISON to score his first career goal for the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team this spring. Faison, who came out of nowhere to excel as a wide receiver on the football team in the fall, finished his first college lacrosse contest with 3 goals — the most by a Fighting Irish midfielder in their debut since at least 2000 per Notre Dame media relations — and hasn't slowed down since. Through 11 games, Faison was fifth on the No. 1-ranked Irish with 17 goals and tied for fifth with 21 points. No. 3 Was Notre Dame's ranking in ESPN's way-too- early NCAA women's basketball top 25 for the 2024-25 season. Reigning national champion South Carolina was No. 1, Texas was No. 2 and Connecticut and USC rounded out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. The rest of the top 10 were UCLA at No. 6, followed by LSU, NC State, Stanford and Iowa State. 3 Wins over top-three teams in the coun- try at the time of matchup for the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team during its 9-1 start this season. This marks the first time the Irish have ever accomplished that feat during the regular season, per Notre Dame media relations. Notre Dame defeated No. 3 Maryland 14-9 March 3, edged No. 3 Syracuse 14-12 March 30 and posted a 15-12 triumph at No. 3 Duke April 7. I have total confidence and trust that we got it right. Then, you gotta go make it right. And I believe we got a great partner in doing that in Joe Alt." — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh on drafting Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5 overall PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS