Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome 3 By The Numbers Notre Dame has remained one of three NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision programs to have not faced a non-FBS opponent (the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA) since the current structure began in 1978. The other two schools that have yet to play a non-FBS opponent are USC and UCLA. 3:15 Minutes and seconds separating junior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels' two touchdowns to open the 2013 season. His first from 32 yards came with 13:34 left in the first quarter, and the second from the same distance occurred with 10:19 left. He is the first Fighting Irish player since tailback Greg Bell in 1983 to begin a season with two scores in the first quarter. 14 Freshmen who appeared in Notre Dame's 1989 opener, a school record that still stands despite 10 who played versus Temple in this year's first game. The 14 who played in that 36-13 victory against Virginia in the 1989 Kickoff Classic, the year after winning the national title, included eight on offense, five on defense and kicker/punter Craig Hentrich. The eight on offense were quarterback Rick Mirer, running back Reggie Brooks, wide receivers Adrian Jarrell, Ray Griggs and William Pollard, tight end Irv Smith, and linemen Jordan Halter and Bret Hankins. Defensively they were tackle Junior Bryant, end Karl McGill, and linebackers Nick Smith, Shawn Smith and Erik Simien. The latter two eventually transferred, as did Hankins. Two of the better players in the class — linebacker Demetrius DuBose and tailback Dorsey Levens (who also transferred) — did not play in the opener, although they would later in the season. 23 Yards on three punt returns versus Temple in the opener, despite a 15-yard penalty that brought one back. The total still was already half of the 46 gained the entire 2012 season and almost eight times more than the four net yards during the 2011 regular season. 66 Yards on junior tight end Troy Niklas' second-quarter touchdown against Temple in the opener. It was the third-longest reception ever by a Notre Dame tight end, behind Kyle Rudolph's 95-yard touchdown versus Michigan in 2010 and Mike Creaney's 78-yard reception against Pitt in 1970. ATTENTION IRISH FANS Packages are available for all Notre Dame home games during the 2013 season 2013 HOME GAMES Aug. 31 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 19 Nov. 2 Nov. 23 Temple Michigan State Oklahoma USC Navy B.Y.U ALL HOME GAME PACKAGES INCLUDE *Game Tickets endzone to the 40 yard line. *Two Night Hotel *Great Customer Service Please visit www.diamondtravel.com for complete details 1.602.870.9197 DIAMOND TRAVEL 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS