Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/219972
Under the Dome 3 By The Numbers Fumbles lost by Notre Dame through the first 11 games of 2013. To put that into perspective, consider the number of fumbles lost by the last four Fighting Irish national championship teams, including bowls when applicable: 1966 (13 in 10 games), 1973 (26 in 11 games), 1977 (25 in 12 games) and 1988 (13 in 12 games). 11 Quarterbacks recruited by Notre Dame since 2005. Among them, only two — Jimmy Clausen (2007) and Tommy Rees (2009) — were not redshirted as freshmen. The nine others who were, or are going to be: Evan Sharpley (2005); Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones (2006), both of whom transferred; Dayne Crist (2008), who played his fifth season at Kansas; Andrew Hendrix and Luke Massa (2010), Everett Golson (2011), Gunner Kiel (2012), who transferred to Cincinnati; and now Malik Zaire (2013). 18-0 The combined record of Michigan State (7-0), Arizona State (6-0) and USC (5-0) after losing to Notre Dame this season and entering the weekend of Nov. 30. All three also moved ahead of the Irish in all the polls, with the Spartans winning the Big Ten Legends Division title and the Sun Devils capturing the South Division crown of the Pac-12. 22-75 Combined record of former Fighting Irish head coaches Bob Davie (1997-2001), Tyrone Willingham (2002-04) and Charlie Weis (2005-09) at their other head coaching stops after getting fired at Notre Dame. In fairness, the .227 winning percentage elsewhere came while inheriting massive rebuilding projects. Willingham was 11-37 at Washington from 2005-08 before getting fired and retiring from coaching. Davie accepted the New Mexico post and has recorded 4-9 and 3-9 records, but has one of the nation's best running attacks. Weis was 1-11 and 3-9 his first two seasons at Kansas. 262 Pieces of mail received from Notre Dame (out of 270 purportedly sent) by 6-6, 350-pound five-star nose guard recruit Matt Elam Nov. 20 alone. The Elizabethtown (Ky.) John Hardin standout took an official visit to the Oct. 19 game versus USC, and has Alabama, Kentucky and the Irish among his finalists. "That's just incredible they did that," Elam said. "Coach [Brian] Kelly was like, 'Did you get your pot of gold? It goes to show that we need you and if this doesn't describe how bad we need you, then I don't know what will.'"