Blue and Gold Illustrated

3 Consecutive seasons from 2012‑14 Notre Dame had gone without any form of a special teams touchdown, a first since the years prior to head coach Ara Parseghian's arrival in 1964. The Irish already had two through four games this year via a fake field goal at Virginia and the punt return against UMass. 4-0 This season marked the third time in four years Notre Dame had such a start. To put into perspective how dif‑ ficult it is, the last time that occurred over a four‑year stretch was all four seasons from 1970‑73 under the direction of Ara Parseghian. Not even during the halcyon years under Lou Holtz from 1988‑93 (when Notre Dame was 64‑9‑1) did the Irish have more than two seasons out of four with a 4‑0 ledger. 5.4 Percent of Notre Dame's defensive plays since head coach Brian Kelly's arrival that went for 25 yards or longer (259 out of 4,762) entering the game at Clemson Oct. 3. That is the fourth‑lowest percentage in the nation since 2010, behind only Alabama (4.91), LSU (4.87) and Florida State (5.0). 26 Appearances by Notre Dame on ESPN's College GameDay program, most recently at Clemson Oct. 3. The show origi‑ nated on Nov. 13, 1993, when the No. 2 Fighting Irish hosted and defeated No. 1 Florida State, 31‑24. The 26 appearances are the sixth most among all schools, behind Florida (34), Ohio State (31), Alabama and Florida State (30 apiece), and Oklahoma (29). How‑ ever, Notre Dame's 17 true road appearances are the most by any team. The Fighting Irish were 11‑14 on College GameDay entering the Clemson contest. 130.6 Rushing yards per game by Vagas Ferguson in 1979, still the single season record by a Fighting Irish player, which he achieved in 11 games. Notre Dame senior C.J. Prosise was exactly at 150.0 through four games this season, which ranked fourth nationally. 1,139 Yards rushing by Notre Dame during its 4‑0 start this year, or an average of 284.5 yards per game (a minimum of 214 in each game). It is the highest output in that area through the first four games of the season since 1992, when full‑ back Jerome Bettis and tailback Reggie Brooks highlighted a ground attack that totaled 1,264 yards. UNDER THE DOME Blue & Gold Illustrated PO Box 2331 • Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 Visit our online store! www.BlueGoldOnline.com 11 oz. Mug Sets $24.95 #6260 Vault Design or #6261 Map Design Limited Quantities Offer Good While supply Lasts FRee sHiPPinG! delivery limited to continental u.s. Please add sales tax For items shipping to: (nC 7.5%, in 7%, mi 6%) Notre Dame CLEARANCE Hitches $38.95 Choice of Chrome or Black Background Leprechaun Logo Item #6601 Leprechaun ND-Color Logo ND-Shamrock Item #6602 Choice of three styles! Emblems $16.95

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