Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/366772
1979. There are 18 total lines (nine in each end zone) angled at 42 degrees to represent 1842, the year Notre Dame was founded. The green hue alternates slightly every five yards. As a spread coach who has run up- tempo offenses, Kelly has been a pro- ponent of FieldTurf because of recent problems with the grass inside Notre Dame Stadium, including several re- placements the past couple of years. "Simply for competitive reasons," said Kelly on why he preferred Field- Turf. "We felt as though that the [past] surface did not at times allow us to play as fast as we needed to. If you're working so hard to put your football team together and your surface at home is really not where it needs to be, then you need to make the changes. That's why ultimately we made the change." Interestingly, during the 12-0 regular season in 2012, Notre Dame averaged 29.0 points per its six games on the road (all but one was played on grass) but only 22.8 at home — and 20.2 in the regulation time of four quarters. Last year Notre Dame averaged 30.7 points in its six road games and 23.5 in its six home contests, high- lighted by a 17-13 win against Michigan State (the Spartans' lone defeat) and a 14-10 con- quest of USC. The only two Irish games not played on grass last year was the 37-34 victory against Ari- zona State in Cowboys Stadium and a 41-30 loss at Michigan's Big House. Will FieldTurf enhance Notre Dame's scoring at home in 2014? Stay tuned. ✦ The interlocking ND logo — the school's "most recognized symbol" — will be at midfield, a change from the previous playing surface. In place of the hash marks on the 35-yard line where the ball is placed for kickoffs, a small green shamrock will be on the field.