Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 NOV. 13, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame Wallets BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO Box 2331 • Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com Please add Sales Tax if you live in NC (7.5%), MI (6%), or IN (7%) CLEARANCE! WHILE SUPPLY LAST SALE! Item #6563 Leather TriFold $18.95 FREE S&H (Reg. $24.95+S&H) Only Black Available Item #6565 Leather BiFold $21.95 FREE S&H (Reg. $29.95+S&H) Only Black Available ✦ GIMME FIVE Through the first eight games in 2017, Notre Dame ranked 15th nationally in fewest turn- overs committed with only seven. Prior to the game against Wake Forest Nov. 4, the Fighting Irish had none in four of their previous five games, versus Michigan State, Miami (Ohio), USC and North Carolina State. Under eighth-year head coach Brian Kelly, the fewest turnovers Notre Dame has had in a season were the 15 during the 12-1 campaign in 2012 when it advanced to the Bowl Cham- pionship Series title game. It was on pace this year to better that standard. Kelly's first two teams each finished 8-5, while the 2010 Irish had 24 turnovers and the 2011 unit finished with 29, notably five apiece in the first two games against South Florida and Michigan during an 0-2 start. The 2014 team that lost five of its last six regular season com- mitted 26 turnovers. Here are the five seasons when Notre Dame committed the fewest turnovers — includ- ing bowl games — with all of them occurring since 1993: Year (Record) Turnovers 1.1993 (11-1) 10 2. 2000 (9-3) 11* 3t. 1997 (7-6) 14 3t. 2005 (9-3) 14 3t. 2009 (6-6) 14 * Notre Dame tied the NCAA record of only eight during the regular season, but had three in its 41-9 loss to Oregon State in the Fiesta Bowl. Getting To Know … SOPHOMORE CORNERBACK TROY PRIDE JR. Hometown: "Greer, S.C." High School: "Greer Senior." Major: "Film, television and theatre." Favorite Food: "I love the steak at Ruth's Chris, and mac and cheese as a side." Favorite Place To Eat In South Bend: "Me, Jalen El- liott and Donte Vaughn go to Sonic every Thursday." Favo r i te M o v i e : " I t 's among the three 'Friday' movies. I love all the 'Friday' movies. I would second that with 'Seven.' I just got a chance to watch that, and it was pretty awesome." Favorite Music: "Hip-Hop, Rap and a little R&B." Favorite Musician: "J.Cole or Chance The Rapper." Favorite TV Show: "I love the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' and I also love 'Law and Order: SVU.'" Favorite Part About Playing For Notre Dame: "It's got to be the people. I'm con- nected to my teammates on another level this year. It's just great to be here around so many loving people and a great atmosphere." Who's The Best Player You've Ever Lined Up Across From?: "A really big competitor in high school for me was [former four-star and cur- rent South Carolina wide receiver] Shi Smith. He went to my rival school. He's a really big guy that I've competed with." CHARTING THE IRISH NOTRE DAME'S REMAINING SCHEDULE Notre Dame debuted at No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings and now controls its own destiny. It won't come easy for the Irish, who will face two teams in the top 25 — both on the road — to close out the season. Georgia and Alabama, both 8‑0, earned the top two spots, while Notre Dame (7‑1) and Clemson (7‑1) rounded out the first foursome. Oklahoma (7‑1) and Ohio State (7‑1) claimed the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, respectively. In the final four weeks of the regular season, the Irish will face the toughest slate, given records heading into the Nov. 4 weekend's games, compared to the other five teams in the top six. Notre Dame's four remaining oppo‑ nents possess a combined 23‑7 record (.767 percent). Georgia is the next closest with its opponents posting a .709 winning percentage. DIFFICULTY OF REMAINING SCHEDULES FOR CFP TOP SIX Opponents' cumulative record and winning percentage is in parenthesis Georgia (22-9, .709) Alabama (22-10, .688) South Carolina (6-2) No. 16 LSU (6-2) at No. 14 Auburn (6-2) at No. 19 Mississippi State (6-2) Kentucky (6-2) Mercer* (4-4) at Georgia Tech (4-3) at No. 14 Auburn (6-2) Notre Dame (23-7, .767) Clemson (19-12, .613) Wake Forest (5-3) at No. 20 NC State (6-2) at No. 10 Miami (Fla.) (7-0) Florida State (2-5) Navy (5-2) The Citadel* (5-3) at No. 21 Stanford (6-2) at South Carolina (6-2) Oklahoma (20-12, .625) Ohio State (19-13, .594) at No. 11 Oklahoma State (7-1) at Iowa (5-3) No. 8 TCU (7-1) No. 24 Michigan State (6-2) at Kansas (1-7) Illinois (2-6) West Virginia (5-3) at Michigan (6-2) * FCS program