Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/434567
UNDER THE DOME ROUGH DEBUTS Former Notre Dame assistants Chuck Martin and Bob Diaco had 2-10 de- buts as Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches in 2014. Notre Dame's defensive coordinator from 2010-13, and the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012, Diaco took over a UConn program com- ing off three straight losing seasons, including 3-9 in 2013. This year's Huskies finished 2-10 after a 27-20 loss at home to 0-11 SMU in the finale. Among 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, UConn ranked 122nd in scoring with 15.5 points per game, and its 28 turnovers tied for CHARTING THE IRISH REVOLVING DOOR When LSU rushes for 200-plus yards, it wins. When LSU rushes for more than 150 yards, it almost always wins. This season, the 8-4 Tigers are 6-0 when reaching the 200-yard mark and 7-1 when hit- ting the 150-yard mark. LSU enters bowl season ranked 29th in the nation in rushing yards per game (219.5), which is bad news for a decimated Notre Dame defense. While Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly expressed optimism that a number of injured players would return in time for the Music City Bowl Dec. 30 — including three starters: sophomore safety Max Redfield, fifth-year senior cornerback Cody Riggs and possibly junior lineman Sheldon Day — the Irish will still limp into the final game without at least three starters from the season opener against Rice Aug. 30. (That number jumps to five starters out of action from the first day of practice when you consider the losses of cornerback KeiVarae Russell and defensive end Ishaq Williams to the academic investigation). Notre Dame trotted out eight different starting lineups in 12 regular-season games this season, including five different looks in the final five games. The only players to start each of the 12 games? A trio of sophomores: defensive lineman Isaac Rochell, Will linebacker Jaylon Smith and cornerback Cole Luke. Overall, 19 different players notched at least one defensive start for the Irish this season. Different Starting Lineups On Defense During Season 2012 — 4 2013 — 9 2014 — 8 Different Starting Lineups In The Final Five Games 2012 — 1 2013 — 5* 2014 — 5 Number Of Players That Started Every Game 2012 — 8 2013 — 6 2014 — 3 * Mostly a result of strug- gles and lineup shuffling at safety due to ineffective play rather than injuries 2012 and 2013 totals are for 13 games, while 2014 is for 12 contests