Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA 09)

[Adam14]

1-2 VS 3-0

NCAA Scoreboard - Purdue Boilermakers (1-2) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0)

September 27, 2008 1 2 3 4 F Purdue Boilermakers 0 0 13 0 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3 13 14 0 30 Top Performers Purdue Boilermakers - Stats D. Pender | 7 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD T. Williams | 8 Tackles Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stats G. Tate | 9 Receptions, 84 Yards, 1TD J. Ryan | 3 Tackles, 2 TFL, 1 Sack

Team Stats Comparison PUR ND First Downs 8 19 3rd Down Efficiency 36 33 4th Down Efficiency 0 0 Total Yards 179 311 Passing Yards 133 221 Rushing Yards 46 90 Penalties-Penalty Yards 0-0 2-10 Turnovers 1 3 Time of Possession 9:14 14:43

Scoring Summary First Quarter PUR ND ND 2:04 FG ND: B. Walker, 44 Yd FG 3 0 Second Quarter PUR ND ND 5:23 TD ND: M. Floyd, 8 Yd pass from J. Clausen (B. Walker kick) 10 0 ND 3:13 FG ND: B. Walker, 52 Yd FG 13 0 ND 0:09 FG ND: B. Walker, 40 Yd FG 16 0 Third Quarter PUR ND PUR 0:37 FG PUR: C. Summers, 54 Yd FG 16 3 PUR 3:43 TD PUR: C. Painter, 9 Yd run (C. Summers kick) 16 10 ND 2:35 TD ND: G. Tate, 3 Yd pass from J. Clausen (B. Walker kick) 23 10 ND 2:22 TD ND: D. Walls, returned interception 32 Yds (B. Walker kick) 30 10 PUR 0:00 FG PUR: C. Summers, 28 Yd FG 30 13

OperationSports.com

With one of the top overall recruits in college football in attendance for the game against the Purdue Boilermakers, the Fighting Irish came to play. Despite sophomore Jimmy Clausen’s three interceptions, a late surge gave the Irish a much earned victory that included their first interception return for a touchdown this season. Now 4-0 on the season, Charlie Weis’ Irish are beginning to knock on the door to make their way back into the Top 25 Polls, after starting 53rd at the beginning of the season.

[Adam14]

2-3 VS 4-0

NCAA Scoreboard - Stanford Cardinal (2-3) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)

October 4, 2008 1 2 3 4 F Stanford Cardinal 0 0 10 7 17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 14 10 10 7 41 Top Performers Stanford Cardinal - Stats P. Maynor | 10 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FR E. Udofia | 6 Tackles, 2 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 PD Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stats J. Clausen | 22/27, 195 Yards, 3 TD M. Crum | 9 Tackles, 5 TFL, 2 Sack, 1 PD, 1 FF

Team Stats Comparison STAN ND First Downs 3 23 3rd Down Efficiency 7 53 4th Down Efficiency 0 0 Total Yards 100 500 Passing Yards 100 323 Rushing Yards 0 177 Penalties-Penalty Yards 3-15 6-30 Turnovers 1 2 Time of Possession 8:40 15:20

OperationSports.com

The Irish continue their winning ways, this time by complete and utter domination. Between Clausen and Sharpley, five touchdowns were thrown to just a single interception (Sharpley in the third quarter) and running back James Aldridge flexed his muscles for the first time this season with over 130 yards on the ground with an average of over six yards a carry. He also added another thirty-eight yards receiving with a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Now at 5-0 on the season, the Fighting Irish are finally ranked, now sitting at 24th in the Associated Press poll. Next week they travel to North Carolina to take on the sliding 1-4 Tar Heels. Could another dominating win propel them into the top twenty? We'll have to see next week.

[Adam14]

2008 NCAA Football Rankings - Coaches Poll

RANK	TEAM	LAST WK	RECORD	POINTS
1.	Ohio State (33)	2	6-0	1497
2.	Florida (25)	1	5-0	1470
3.	Missouri (2)	3	5-0	1397
4.	Texas (1)	6	5-0	1226
5.	West Virginia	4	5-0	1195
6.	Texas Tech	8	5-0	1127
7.	Penn Staate	9	6-0	1082
8.	Kansas	12	5-0	948
9.	Georgia	7	4-1	916
10.	South Carolina	13	6-0	905
11.	LSU	10	4-1	788
12.	Wisconsin	5	4-1	787
13.	Oklahoma	11	4-1	759
14.	Tennessee	14	4-1	626
15.	Clemson	15	4-1	587
16.	Arizona State	16	4-1	560
17.	Virginia	22	5-0	527
18.	Auburn	17	5-1	524
19.	USC	19	2-2	464
20.	Oklahoma State	27	5-0	434
21.	Virginia Tech	21	5-1	366
22.	Cincinnati	23	3-1	300
23.	Oregon	18	5-1	255
24.	Notre Dame	NR	5-0	240
25.	BYU	25	4-1	235

OperationSports.com

...through six weeks

[Adam14]

Through Six Weeks Leaders - 2008 Season

PASSING - NCAA		PASSING - ND
1. RATING - Josh Freeman - KSU	203.8	1. RATING - Jimmy Clausen	154.2
2. YARDS - Graham Harrell - TT	1852	2. YARDS - Jimmy Clausen	941
3. COMP % - Drew Westling - SDS	77	3. COMP % - Jimmy Clausen	69
4. TDS - Graham Harrell - TT	21	4. TDS - Jimmy Clausen	12
5. INTS - Josh Freeman - KSU	0	5. INTS - Evan Sharpley	1
RUSHING - NCAA		RUSHING - ND
1. ATTEMPTS - Shun White - Navy	169	1. ATTEMPTS - James Aldridge	83
2. YARDS - Shun White - Navy	925	2. YARDS - James Aldridge	435
3. AVG - Shonn Greene - Iowa	8.7	3. AVG - Armando Allen	7.2
4. TDS - B. Wells (OSU)/S. White (Navy)	11	4. TDS - J. Aldrige/A. Allen	1
RECEIVING - NCAA		RECEIVING - ND
1. REC - Jarett Dillard - Rice	53	1. REC - Golden Tate	35
2. YARDS - Kenny McKinley - SC	694	2. YARDS - Golden Tate	451
3. AVG - Leon Patton - KSU	25.0	3. AVG - Duval Kamara	13.5
4. TDS - Jaison Williams - ORE	10	4. TDS - Golden Tate	7
DEFENSIVE - NCAA		DEFENSIVE - ND
1. TACKLES - Ward Dobbs - WYM	47	1. TACKLES - Darrin Walls	24
2. SACKS - Jake Ricks - AUB	7	2. SACKS - John Ryan	4
3. INTS - THREE Tied	4	3. INTS - M. Crum/T. Lambert	2
4. PD - Ricky Tenarse - NEB	10	4. PD - B. Smith/D. Walls	2
5. FF - THREE Tied	4	5. FF - M. Crum/K. Neal	1

HEISMAN WATCH

• Texas Tech Senior QB Graham Harrell - 157/228, 1852 Yards, 3 INT, 21 Total TD
• Ohio State Junior HB Beanie Wells - 110 Attempts, 726 Yards, 57 Receiving Yards, 12 Total TD
• Oregon Senior WR Jaison Williams - 34 Receptions, 624 Yards, 10 TD
• Missouri Senior QB Chase Daniel - 96/136, 1333 Yards, 2 INT, 203 Rushing Yards, 19 Total TD
• Iowa Junior QB Jake Christensen - 96/159, 1300 Yards, 3 INT, 334 Rushing Yards, 27 Total TD

[Adam14]

5-0 VS 1-4

NCAA Scoreboard - Notre Dame Fighting Irish () at North Carolina Tar Heels ()

October 11, 2008 1 2 3 4 F Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7 14 7 3 31 North Carolina Tar Heels 14 0 0 14 Top Performers Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stats G. Tate | 11 Receptions, 150 Yards, 1 TD M. Crum | 7 Tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Sack, 1 INT North Carolina Tar Heels - Stats B. Tate | 5 Receptions, 89 Yards, 1 TD H. Nicks | 3 Receptions, 94 Yards, 1 TD

Team Stats Comparison ND UNC First Downs 15 8 3rd Down Efficiency 33 30 4th Down Efficiency 0 66 Total Yards 236 258 Passing Yards 218 232 Rushing Yards 18 26 Penalties-Penalty Yards 1-10 1-5 Turnovers 1 3 Time of Possession 10:52 13:12

OperationSports.com

Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis said it best. Turnovers, they killed us. That they did Butch, you can almost guarantee that. Three interceptions by TJ Davis proved to be the difference as they lead to two touchdowns, and another was thrown in the end zone on fourth and goal when the Heels were down two scores late in the game. The Fighting Irish didn't play their best game and didn't look anything like the team that shocked both Michigan and Michigan State just weeks ago. In fact, Irish head coach Charlie Weis admitted, "If it wasn't for so luck on defense, we would of never had a chance today." Regardless, the Irish are still undefeated on the season now as they improve to 6-0 on the season and jump eight spots in the rankings to 16th now. The Irish hold a bye week next week before traveling west to take on the 3-2 Washington Huskies.

[Adam14]

#12 6-0 VS 3-3

NCAA Scoreboard - Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) at Washington Huskies (3-3)

October 25, 2008 1 2 3 4 F #12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 14 14 7 0 35 Washington Huskies 0 0 7 0 7 Top Performers Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stats G. Tate | 10 Receptions, 113 Yards J. Aldridge | 19 Rushes, 74 Yards, 2 TD Washington Huskies - Stats J. Murchison | 5 Tackles, 3 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD C. Stevens | 12 Tackles, 1 PD

Team Stats Comparison ND WASH First Downs 20 3 3rd Down Efficiency 42 27 4th Down Efficiency 100 0 Total Yards 368 68 Passing Yards 246 49 Rushing Yards 122 19 Penalties-Penalty Yards 0-0 1-15 Turnovers 6 4 Time of Possession 15:37 8:28

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GAME NOTES
I think I got three interceptions on three consecutive drives from them that all lead to points in the first half. Ended up subbing in my entire second team late in the third quarter and coasted through the game. Crazily enough, I've been bumped to 5th in the Polls and I can't understand how. Only one team from 5-12 lost last week, and most had dominating wins. *Shrug* I need to close the season well though against USC and Syracuse if I even want to think about a bowl bid.

[Adam14]

Quarterback Concerns at ND
Despite a dominating performance once again as the Fighting Irish have jumped eleven spots in the polls in two weeks to fifth now, head coach Charlie Weis is beginning to question his starting quarterback situation. During the game against Washington last week both Evan Sharpley and Jimmy Clausen saw playing time and both struggled for consistency. Clausen ended up throwing three interceptions, Sharpley a pair. Sharpley is a senior who will be graduating at season's end, but if Clausen is the future of the team for the next two seasons, he'll need to control his passes better. He's thrown eleven interceptions to fifteen touchdowns so far and has looked shaky at best. Could young freshman Dane Crist step in at some point this season? Could he be a starter next year? These are all questions that need to be answered soon, or at least thought about in the near future. This could be the decision that makes or breaks Weis' reputation. He'll have to make sure he makes the right one, and make it soon.

[Adam14]

5-2 VS 7-0 #5

NCAA Scoreboard - Pittsburgh Panthers (5-2) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-0)

November 1, 2008 1 2 3 4 F Pittsburgh Panthers 7 7 7 0 21 #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 0 17 0 0 17 Top Performers Pittsburgh Panthers - Stats P. Bostick | 12/19, 156 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT O. Turner | 3 Receptions, 76 Yards, 2 TD Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Stats J. Clausen | 28/43, 264 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 12 Rushes, 67 Yards, 1 TD J. Aldridge | 15 Rushes, 107 Yards

Team Stats Comparison PITT ND First Downs 11 26 3rd Down Efficiency 27 42 4th Down Efficiency 100 50 Total Yards 213 468 Passing Yards 175 264 Rushing Yards 38 204 Penalties-Penalty Yards 9-71 5-42 Turnovers 1 1 Time of Possession 10:32 11:31

OperationSports.com

The quest for perfection is over. What a great run it has been for the Irish winning their first seven games, but unfortunately, it ends here. Head coach Charlie Weis considered it a "complete and utter second half meltdown" and that's just what it seemed. The Fighting Irish would score seventeen points in the second quarter to take a commanding 17-7 lead before the Panthers would add one more score just before the halftime gun. The entire second half the Irish seemed to be playing from behind. Trying different plays and making poor decisions. They allowed Pittsburgh to take the lead late in the third quarter and could never establish a drive that would put them inside their opponents red zone for the entire second half. With the loss, the Irish drop to twelfth in the rankings and more than likely, just cost them a chance at a BCS bid.