Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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tantly got a vote of confidence from Sanford in the program. "I wasn't really looking," Book said when asked about the decision. "There were a ton of schools that wanted to offer and wanted me to visit, and I re- ally wasn't considering anything else. But then Notre Dame popped up, and with the tradition, the football and the education — it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. "Coach Sanford told me he was committed to Notre Dame and that he wanted to build it the right way." Sanford's pledge to the Irish might sound superficial to an outsider — after all, he has been at five schools in six years — but those words were what Book needed to hear to make the switch from Washington State to Notre Dame with confidence. "He said from day one they're going to make this thing work," Book added about Sanford. The 6-0, 193-pound quarterback has thrown for 4,538 yards and 48 touchdowns in two seasons, and he is rated as a three-star recruit, the No. 67 player in California and the No. 18 pro-style quarterback nationally by Rivals. While the numbers are im- pressive, Rivals West Coast recruiting analyst Adam Gorney noted that it is Book's presence in the huddle that might make the biggest difference at the next level. "He is a born leader," Gorney said. "He never gets rattled in any situa- tions, and he's a stable, controlled player who limits his mistakes. He's also never shaky when the blitz comes right at his face. He can escape from pressure and get the ball down the field." ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED • P.O. BOx 2331 • DURhAm, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 • www.BlueGoldOnline.com Notre Dame Panoramic Puzzle — $19.95 each + $8.00 S&H* 1,000 Pieces • Size 39"x13" Trivia Note: This picture was actually taken at the 10-22-11 ND vs. USC game. *Puzzle may be dropshipped direct from the manufacturer. Shipping in continental U.S. only. Please add sales tax if you live in NC (7.5%), MI (6%) or IN (7%).