Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: STANFORD yards per game). "He's still having problems with his accuracy," said Tom Fitzgerald, a Stanford beat writer for the San Fran- cisco Chronicle. "He's trying to replace Andrew Luck, which, of course, no- body can do. He has had a couple of okay games and a great second half against USC. He's also had a couple of nice runs for first downs; nobody ac- counted for him being a runner. Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. STANFORD Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 27th meeting between the Game Info Date: Oct. 13, 2012 Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795) Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET Television: NBC Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS two programs, with Notre Dame holding a 17-9 ad- vantage. The Cardinal has won the last three contests in the series. Before that, the Fighting Irish rattled off seven consecutive victories from 2002-08. Stanford Head Coach David Shaw's Record • 14-3 (.824) in two seasons at Stanford 5-11, 215-pound senior was averaging 103.2 yards per game. His three rushing touchdowns represented all of Stanford's ground scores through four games. The Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back) hopeful was a second-team All-Pac-12 performer in 2011 after running for 1,330 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. • QB Josh Nunes — Taking over for prolific passer Andrew Luck, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts, the redshirt junior quarterback is learning just how big of shoes he has to fill. Nunes has completed 52.0 Prime Personnel • RB Stepfan Taylor — Through four games, the That's not good for a team that really wants its quarterbacks to be near the top of the league in efficiency. They don't care if you throw for a lot of yards, but they want you to be effi- cient." back its playbook for Nunes, but that it hasn't been dumbed down. The in- tricate Cardinal offense isn't beyond Fitzgerald said Stanford has dialed from missing the majority of 2011 with a knee injury and had 18 tackles (1.5) for loss through four contests this season. The inside linebacker (6-3, 242) is the physical and emotional leader of Stanford's front seven and has started 25 games. 23 tackles and tied for first with 5.5 tackles for loss through four games, the fifth-year senior surprised many by returning to Stanford instead of going to the NFL. The outside linebacker also has 2.5 sacks so far this fall. • LB Shayne Skov (11) — The senior rebounded percent of his 125 passing attempts for 785 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. • LB Chase Thomas — Second on the team with Andrew Luck was selected first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up broke Pac-12 records for completion percentage in a season (71.3 percent in 2011), and career passing efficiency (162.8) and career completion percentage (67.0 percent). He owns nearly every school passing record, including most touchdown passes (82), total offense (10,387 yards), as well as the most rushing yards by a Cardinal QB (957). • Redshirt junior quarterback Josh Nunes and red- For The Record • Few were surprised former Stanford quarterback shirt sophomore Brett Nottingham combined for just 10 passing attempts leading up to their competition to replace Luck in fall camp. "But his accuracy is the big problem.