Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the team data pretty much summa- rized NFL icon Bill Parcells' mantra of "you are what your record says you are." Among 120 Football Bowl Subdivi- S BY LOU SOMOGYI tatistics can always be skewed to one's liking or spin. However, for the 8-5 Notre Dame football team in 2011, UN-'STAT'ISFYING easily the telling Irish data of 2011 Turnover margin is sion (FBS) teams, Notre Dame didn't finish higher than 25th in any of the major categories, and was anywhere from 30th to 58th in most. Where it was the worst is what demarcated it from a viable BCS contender to an also-ran. RUSHING OFFENSE: 54TH (160.38) highest by an Irish team since the 188.8 yards per game in 2001, head coach Bob Davie's final season when he had option specialist Carlyle Holi- day running the offense. The bad news is in the losses to The good news is this figure is the USC (14 carries for 41 yards), Stan- ford (31 carries for 57 yards) and Florida State (35 carries for 93 yards) in the Champs Sports Bowl, Notre Dame averaged 63.6 yards and 2.4 yards per carry. In other words, the Irish came across as a bully who piles up num- bers against inferior foes but can't pick on someone its own size. In fairness, 1) the absence of an in- jured Jonas Gray hampered the run- ning game against the Cardinal and Seminoles, 2) center Braxston Cave also was missing in those last two contests and 3) the sacks piled up more in the final two games, which counts against rushing yardage. The Irish have improved and seem more committed to the run under head coach Brian Kelly, but this facet has not yet demonstrated that it is capable of carrying the team against a similar or better foe when needed. PASSING OFFENSE: 40TH (252.62) year's mark of 253.08 yards per game. Much more relevant is starting quarterback Tommy Rees finished 54th in passing efficiency (133.37), and the Irish were 59th overall. Only eight quarterbacks among the top 100 threw more interceptions This was almost identical to last 66 MARCH 2012 Before his season ended in November against Wake Forest, senior center Braxston Cave helped the Irish run game to its most productive season since 2001 with an average of 160.38 yards per game. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND