Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2017 11 UNDER THE DOME 1 Division I college that saw both its men's and women's basketball teams open the 2016‑17 season with an 8‑0 record. The Fighting Irish men began 9‑0 — the best start to a season since 12‑0 in 1973‑74 — be‑ fore playing No. 1 and reigning national champ Villanova Dec. 10. The then‑No. 2 women began 8‑0 prior to falling to No. 1 and four‑time reigning national champ Connecticut Dec. 7. 3 Quarterback sacks by Notre Dame's 2016 defensive line — two by fifth‑year senior Jarron Jones and one by senior Isaac Rochell — the fewest among any Power Five team. The Fighting Irish registered only 14 sacks overall — led by junior linebacker Nyles Morgan's four — to tie for 118th nationally among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. 6-6 Record for third‑year Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin, who was an assistant at Notre Dame from 2010‑13 under Brian Kelly, after losing the first six games in 2016. It is the first time in college football history a team began a season 0‑6 and then fin‑ ished 6‑6. Martin's RedHawks, who were invited to play in the Dec. 26 St. Petersburg Bowl versus 5‑7 Mississippi State (yes, schools with losing records have to fill out 40 bowl spots), play at Notre Dame next Sept. 30. 7 Notre Dame men's basketball players who reached double‑figure scoring — a single‑game school record in the program's 112‑year history — in the 107‑53 victory versus North Carolina A&T Dec. 4. The seven were senior forward V.J. BEACHEM (19), sophomore wing Matt Ryan (17), junior guard Matt Farrell (15), senior guard Steve Vasturia (13), freshman guard T.J. Gibbs (12), junior forward Bonzie Colson (10) and sophomore guard Rex Pflueger (10). 15 Starts by three different Notre Dame freshman cornerbacks in 2016: Julian Love (eight), Donte Vaughn (four) and Troy Pride Jr. (three). Since the start of freshman eligibility in 1972 until this past season (44 seasons total), Irish freshman cornerbacks had 41 career starts, led by all 13 by KeiVarae Russell in 2012 and Stacey Toran's 10 in 1980. Love's total is the third highest by a Notre Dame freshman corner, while Vaughn's is tied for fifth most with Robert Blanton (2008). 36 Players in Notre Dame women's basketball history who eclipsed 1,000‑point scor‑ ing in their careers, with two joining the club in November. Senior point guard Lindsay Allen did it Nov. 17 in a win over Green Bay, and junior forward Brian Turner joined her Nov. 30 in a win at Iowa. Allen and Turner also have been named as candidates for the Wade Trophy, presented by the WBCA to the nation's top player in women's basketball. Al‑ len, Turner and sophomore guard Arike Ogunbowale also are up for the Naismith Trophy, a separate award for the country's top player. 80 Finish for Notre Dame in CBS Sports' rankings of the 128 FBS teams following the Dec. 3 conference title games. Among those rated ahead of the 4‑8 Fight‑ ing Irish were Troy (39), Tulsa (40), Toledo (43), Louisiana Tech (51), New Mexico (52), Middle Tennessee (58), Eastern Michigan (65) and Texas San‑Antonio (76). Louisiana Tech is coached by former Notre Dame assistant Skip Holtz, while New Mexico is led by 1997‑2001 Irish head coach Bob Davie. 1,106,156 Salary paid to former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, according to USA Today's report on the nation's highest paid assistant coaches in college football in 2016. VanGorder, who was fired Sept. 25 after a 38‑35 loss to Duke dropped the Irish to 1‑3, was the ninth‑highest paid assistant in college football. Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis was No. 1 at $1,558,000. BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND