Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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136 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY LOU SOMOGYI AND BRYAN DRISKELL A fter the 4-8 debacle in 2016, there was no place to go but up for Notre Dame's football team. With the hiring of six new as- sistant coaches, led by defensive coordinator Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Chip Long, plus a new strength and conditioning coordinator in Matt Balis, the ascent took place with a 10-3 finish and No. 11 placement in the final Associated Press poll. The following is a timeline of the year that was: AUGUST 1 — For the fifth year in a row, Notre Dame begins preseason practice at Culver Academies. 2 — Former Notre Dame head coach and legend in residence Ara Parseghian (1964-74) dies at age 94. His memorial service is held at Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church. To honor his legacy, Notre Dame will wear ARA on the helmets during the 2017 season. 21 — For the first time since 2012, Notre Dame is un- ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll. The Irish are in the "also receiving votes" category at No. 28. 26 — Notre Dame's local NBC affiliate WNDU-TV re- ports that sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson will be suspended the first four games because of a violation of team rules. SEPTEMBER 2 — The debut of the remodeled Notre Dame Sta- dium for the Campus Crossroads project, highlighted by the massive Jumbotron on the south end, sees a 49-16 romp versus Temple in the season opener. In what is believed to be a first, three Notre Dame players eclipse 100 rushing yards: junior running backs Josh Adams (161) and Dexter Williams (124), and junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush (106). 9 — No. 15 Georgia with its "Sea of Red" Bulldog fans, estimated around 25,000, notches a hard-fought 20-19 victory at Notre Dame while limiting the Irish to 55 rushing yards and a 3-of-17 third-down conversion rate. 16 — Wimbush shatters Notre Dame's single-game quarterback rushing record with 207 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-20 victory at Boston College. Ad- ams adds a game-high 229 yards — the seventh time in NCAA annals two backs on the same team surpass 200 yards rushing in one game. 23 — Three first-half turnovers by Michigan State, highlighted by a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by sophomore cornerback Julian Love, propel a 28-7 Notre Dame halftime lead and eventual 38-18 victory in Spartan Stadium. 30 — No. 22 Notre Dame romps to a 52-17 win at home versus Miami (Ohio), coached by 2010-13 Irish assistant Chuck Martin. The Irish tally 28 first-quarter points and lead 45-14 by halftime. OCTOBER 7 — With Wimbush sidelined because of an in- jured foot, sophomore Ian Book makes his first start while No. 21 Notre Dame cruises to a 33-10 win versus injury-ravaged North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Irish out-rush the Tar Heels 341-86. 21 — Following a bye week, No. 16 Notre Dame crushes No. 13 USC 49-14. It is the second-greatest margin of victory in 89 games against its archrival, behind the 51-0 slaughter by the 1966 national champs. Adams rushes for 191 yards and three touchdowns, one from 84 yards, while Wimbush adds 106 yards and two touchdowns, plus 26- and 23-yard scoring passes to Equanimeous St. Brown and Stepherson, respectively, to open the scoring. 28 — No. 9 Notre Dame's 35-14 win versus No. 16 North Carolina State is the sixth straight by at least 20 points, the most since the 1966 national champs had eight in a row. Adams rushes for 202 yards, with a 77-yard tally, and Love returns an interception for a 69-yard score and a 28-14 lead. NOVEMBER 1 — Notre Dame (7-1) debuts at No. 3 in the initial 2018 College Football Playoff rankings, behind No. 1 Georgia (8-0) and No. 2 Alabama (8-0). 4 — The Fighting Irish offense amasses 710 yards (380 rushing and 330 passing), just 10 short of the school record, during a 48-37 win over Wake Forest. For the third time, Wimbush achieves triple digits in both passing (career-high 280 yards) and rushing (110) in the same game. Sophomore wideout Chase Claypool snares nine passes for 180 yards and a score. It also is the fifth contest in the last six the 8-1 Irish do not commit a turnover. 11 — The showdown between 8-1 and No. 3 Notre Dame and 8-0, No. 7 Miami turns into a fiasco with the Hurricanes taking a 27-0 halftime lead at home and coasting to a 41-8 blowout. Miami has a 24-0 advantage in points off turnovers (which Miami won 4-0) after the Irish had entered the game ranked fifth nationally in fewest turnovers (seven). 18 — Despite Navy's 42:42-17:18 advantage in time of possession and limiting the Irish to seven series, Notre Dame rallies from 10-3 and 17-10 defi- cits for a 24-17 win. Stepherson catches 30- and nine-yard TD passes for the final two scores, and the defense stops Navy on fourth-and-five from the Irish 25 with 1:28 left. Senior offensive lineman Jimmy Byrne and all of his Notre Dame teammates honored 1964-74 Irish head coach Ara Parseghian, who died Aug. 2, 2017 at age 94, by wearing "ARA" on their helmets the entire season. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL 2017 Year In Review