Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/234294
UNDER THE DOME CHARTING THE IRISH SUDDEN-CHANGE IMPACT Notre Dame's defense had trouble creating turnovers this season. The Irish made only nine interceptions and recovered four fumbles in 2013. That puts them in the bottom 10 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in that category. The other nine teams with them averaged 2.88 wins this season. Despite the lack of sudden-change plays, Notre Dame survived with eight wins in part by committing fewer turnovers than most teams on offense and capitalizing on the small number of takeaways the team had. Nine of Notre Dame's 13 turnovers helped the Irish either score points or close out a win. The Irish scored touchdowns on six of the drives that followed turnovers, including three that were returned for touchdowns by the defense. Three others were the final offensive play the opponent ran before the end of game or halftime. Notre Dame's opponents took the ball away from the Irish 16 times, but turned the same number of them (nine) into points or win-clinchers. On seven of those 16, the opponent scored on the ensuing possession. Stanford and Michigan also closed out wins by intercepting passes from Tommy Rees. Notre Dame Resulting Drive Opponents 13 Total 16 6 Touchdown 7 3 Clock Expired 2 3 Punt 5 1 Turnover 2 Choosing And Paying Coordinators Notre Dame's assistant football coaches are making a more competitive salary than in previous years, according to athletics director Jack Swarbrick, who said much of the bump in pay came this past summer. "I think we're in a very good position with that," he said. "We are very competitive nationally, but also approaching it in a manner that is consistent with Notre Dame's values. We had to fix that. We were not. We had to find that balance and we were out of balance. "We're obviously going to have a lot of turnover in our coaching staff, but for all the right reasons. If you're building a great program, your coaches are leaving to go take head coaching jobs. I would love for both of them to stay, but they have our full support as they go." The topic is especially relevant while Notre Dame searches for two new coordinators, a process in which Swarbrick says he remains involved.