A Christmas Message From Notre Dame...

I received an email today from the University of Notre Dame -- "A Christmas Message..."  Thought I'd share it with all of you.  Here's the link:

LINK:  A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM NOTRE DAME


 

NOTRE DAME'S FINAL DEFENSIVE RANKINGS!

It's time for our FINAL look at where Notre Dame football team's Defense ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- FOR THE 2010 SEASON.  In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's defense currently stands on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 and against the top team in the country -- in each category this season.  Please note:  The Notre Dame Defense faced many of the top offensive teams in the country -- 10 of them will be playing in bowl games:

OPPONENTS OFFENSIVE RANKING -- TOTAL OFFENSE:

• #5 in the country -- Tulsa
• #6 in the country -- Michigan
• #14 in the country -- Stanford
• #30 in the country -- USC
• #36 in the country -- Navy
• #37 in the country -- Western Michigan
• #39 in the country -- Michigan State
• #42 in the country -- Utah

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- TEAM STATISTICS

Quarterback Sacks:  2010 Rank - #45 with 26 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92 -- Florida State leads the country with 43 QB sacks.  IMPROVEMENT!

Tackles for Loss:  2010 Rank - #65 with an average of 5.63 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country.  Miami, FL leads the country with an average of 8.58 tackles for loss per game.  

Interceptions:  2010 Rank - #32 with 14 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50 -- Alabama leads the country with 21 interceptions.  IMPROVEMENT!

First Downs:  2010 Rank - #30 allowing an average of 17.92 first downs per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 19.67 first downs per game, ranking us #72   -- TCU leads the country giving up an average of 11.33 first downs per game.  IMPROVEMENT!

Third Down Conversion Rate:  2010 Rank - #22 allowing only 35.08% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67 -- TCU leads the country allowing only a 21.85% conversion rate.  IMPROVEMENT!

Red Zone Efficiency:  2010 Rank - #53 allowing the team to score 81% of the time -- in 2009 we allowed teams to score 75% of the time, ranking us #15 -- Missouri leads the country allowing teams to score 55% of the time.

Turnovers Gained:  2010 Rank - #54 with 21 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80 -- Hawaii and Toledo lead the country with 33 turnovers gained this season.  IMPROVEMENT!

Rushing Yards:  2010 Rank - #57 giving up an average of 147 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89 -- Boston College leads the country giving up an average of 80 yards rushing per game.  IMPROVEMENT!

Passing Yards:  2010 Rank - #44 giving up an average of 206 yards passing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 227 yards passing per game, ranking us #76 in the country.  TCU leads the country giving up an average of 126 yards passing per game.  IMPROVEMENT!

Total Yards:  2010 Rank - #49 giving up 353 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86 -- TCU leads the country giving up 215 yards per game.  IMPROVEMENT!

Points Allowed Per Game:  2010 Rank - #29 giving up 20.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63 -- TCU leads the country giving up 11.42 points per game.  IMPROVEMENT!

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Tackles Per Game:

• Manti Teo -- averaged 10.58 tackles per game -- ranked #16 in the country

Solo Tackles Per Game:

• Manti Teo -- averaged 5.42 solo tackles per game -- ranked #26 in the country

Sacks:

• Darius Fleming -- 5.5 sacks this season -- ranked #81 in the country
• Ethan Johnson --  5.0 sacks this season -- ranked #97 in the country

Passes Defended:

• Harrison Smith -- .92 passes defended per game -- ranked #42 in the country 

Interceptions

• Harrison Smith -- 4 interceptions this season -- ranked #27 in the country
• Darrin Walls -- 3 interceptions this season -- ranked #61 in the country

NOT BAD FOR A DEFENSE THAT ESPN'S KIRK HERBSTREIT CALLED

"HIGH SCHOOL"

Notre Dame Research Project: Why We Give

University of Notre Dame sociology professor, Christian Smith -- is leading an interesting research initiative that will merge economic, sociological, neurological and psychological studies to explain why some people give and some don't.  The John Templeton Foundation gave Notre Dame a $5 million grant to create the Science of Generosity Initiative.  Here's a link to the USA Today story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME RESEARCH PROJECT