Notre Dame's Offense -- National Rankings

It's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AFTER NINE GAMES OF THE 2010 SEASON. In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's Offense & Special Teams currently stand; on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 -- and the top teams in the country in each category.

OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS

Total First Downs:  2010 Rank - #17 with 194 first downs -- in 2009 we had 293 first downs for the season, ranking us #13 -- TCU leads the country with 235 first downs.  

Third Down Conversions:  2010 Rank - #81 with a 37.19% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48 -- Nevada leads the country converting 59.41% of their third downs.  

Passing Yards Per Attempt:  2010 Rank - #63 with 7.0 yards passing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 8.7 yards passing per attempt, ranking us #7 in the country.

Passing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #17 with 289 yards per game  (2,597 yards for the season)  -- in 2009 we passed for 323 yards per game (3,882 yards for the season), ranking us #7 -- Hawaii leads the country with 395 yards passing per game (3,559 yards for the season).  

Rushing Yards Per Attempt:  2010 Rank - #87 with 3.7 yards rushing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 3.8 yards rushing per attempt, ranking us #76 in the country.  

Rushing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #99 with 113 yards rushing per game (1,021 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we rushed for 127 yards per game  (1,539 yards for the season), ranking us #88 -- Georgia Tech leads the country with 317 yards rushing per game (2,612 yards for the season). 

Most QB Sacks Given Up:  2010 Rank -- #43 giving up 17 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66 -- Marshall leads the country having only given up 2 QB sacks this season.  

Fewest Pass Interceptions Thrown:  2010 Rank -- #108 having thrown 12 pass interceptions this season -- in 2009 we threw 5 interceptions for the season, raking us #5 -- Army leads the country having thrown 0 pass interceptions this season.  

Turnovers Lost:  2010 Rank - #103 with 19 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7 -- Oregon State leads the country with 4 turnovers lost for the season.  

Total Offense:  2010 Rank -- #50 with 402 yards per game of offense -- in 2009 we had 451 yards per game of offense, ranking us #8 -- Oregon leads the country 573 yards per game of offense. 

Points Per Game:  2010 Rank -- #70 with 26 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32 -- Oregon leads the country scoring 54.88 points per game.  

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TEAM STATISTICS

Fewest Penalties:  2010 Rank - #29 with 44 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50 -- Penn State leads the country in the fewest penalties with 26.  

Fewest Penalty Yards:  2010 Rank -- #49 with 401 total yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60 -- Penn State leads the country in fewest penalty yards with 191. 

Net Punting Yards:  2010 Rank -- #65 with an average net of 36.19 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112 -- Florida leads the country with 43.82 net yards per punt.  

Field Goals -- 2010 Rank -- #16 with 13 field goals made this season.  The Irish are 13 for 13 (100%) -- one of three teams in the FBS who have not missed a field goal this season.  In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process.  Texas and Southern Miss have made 18 field goals this season,  ranking them #1 in the country.   

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS ON OFFENSE -- Ranked in top 100

Dayne Crist:

-Ranked #29 in the country with 2,033 yards passing

-Ranked #25 in the country with 15 TD passes

-Ranked #66 in the country with a 59.2% pass completion percentage

-Ranked #34 in the country for most pass interceptions thrown with 7

-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard pass completion / his 80 yard pass completion to Floyd would be ranked #21 in the country

David Ruffer:

-Ranked #13 in the country in most field goals made with 13

-Ranked #2 in the country with most field goals made without a miss (13)

-Ranked #19 in the country for longest field goal made - 50 yarder

Armando Allen:

-Ranked #81 in the country with 514 yards rushing

Michael Floyd:

-Ranked #16 in the country with 72 yards receiving

-Ranked #15 in the country with 55 catches

-Ranked #12 in the country with 8 TD catches

-Ranked #21 in the country with an 80 yard catch

Kyle Rudolph:

-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard catch

Theo Riddick:

-Ranked #65 in the country with 38 catches

Domer Joanna Philbin -- Releases 2nd Book

Joanna Philbin the daughter of "Live with Regis and Kelly" host, Regis Philbin released her second book today; Daughters Break the Rules.  Joanna, like her famous father -- attended Notre Dame -- earning an MFA in Creative Writing. She wrote feature and television scripts before becoming a full-time novelist - signing a three-book deal with Hachette.  Her first book; The Daughters was released in May of this year. -- she is currently working on her third title in The Daughters series, due out May 2011.  Here's a link to where you can buy the book:

LINK:  DAUGHTERS BREAK THE RULES

Notre Dame MBA's Win Competition!

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business yesterday announced the winners of its fourth annual Mergers & Acquisitions Competition, held October 28-29. The event, organized by Smith's MBA Finance Association, challenged 10 teams of MBA students from leading business schools to craft and present M&A pitches to a panel of executive and faculty judges. The student team from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business won the $5,000 first prize. Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business MBA students took the $2,500 second prize, and students from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business came away with the $1,000 third prize.   Congratulations Irish!  Here's a link to the University of Maryland release:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MBA TEAM WINS $5,000 PRIZE

Brey's "Bombers" Win Exhibition Game

The Irish started four guys 6'-8" tall in last night's exhibition game against Marian University -- a Catholic university in the Indianapolis area.  And, quite often -- this starting line-up had the largest "point forward" in America -- Tyrone Nash (6'8" - 232 lbs.) up top handling the ball -- dishing to teammates who enjoy taking advantage of their height by shooting from behind the 3 point line. (I'm trying to be funny...)  Notre Dame made 63% of their three point attempts in the first half -- in their 85-52 victory at Purcell Pavillion last night.  Coach Brey and some of the players met with the media after the game - here's a link to those conversations along with the South Bend Tribune's story on the game:

LINK:  IRISH WIN EXHIBITION GAME LAST NIGHT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Watch Notre Dame Basketball Live Tonight!

The gang at UND.COM are broadcasting tonight's Notre Dame Men's Basketball exhibition game against Marian -- live on the web. Tip off scheduled for 7:30 PM EST -- here's the link:

LINK:  ND MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME

NBC Replay: Notre Dame vs. Tulsa

Here's NBC's replay of its telecast of the Notre Dame vs. Tulsa game this past Saturday.  The Golden Hurricanes clinched the "greatest win" in their school history when they intercepted an errant Irish throw in their endzone -- with less than a minute left in the game.  Here's a link to NBC's replay:

LINK:  NBC REPLAY OF NOTRE DAME vs. TULSA

Sunday Conversation With Coach Kelly

UND.COM's Jack Nolan sat down with University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly yesterday in the wake of Declan Sullivan's death and the Irish's second straight defeat.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY INTERVIEW

Notre Dame's Defense -- National Ranking

It's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AFTER NINE GAMES OF 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.

DEFENSE -- TEAM STATISTICS

Quarterback Sacks:  2010 Rank - #5 with 24 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92 -- Florida State leads the country with 33 QB sacks.  

Tackles for Loss:  2010 Rank - #47 with an average of 6.22 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country.  Kent State leads the country with an average of 9.25 tackles for loss per game.  

Interceptions:  2010 Rank - #30 with 10 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50 -- Florida and Toledo lead the country with 16 interceptions. 

Passes Deflected:  2010 Rank - #28 with 23 pass deflections -- in 2009 we had 28 pass deflections for the season, ranking us #99 -- Oregon leads the country with 37 pass deflections.

Third Down Conversion Rate:  2010 Rank - #37 allowing only 33.36% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67 -- TCU leads the country allowing only a 23.89%  conversion rate. 

Red Zone Efficiency:  2010 Rank - #76 allowing the team to score 84% 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 52% of the time.

Turnovers Gained:  2010 Rank - #34 with 16 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80 -- Oregon leads the country with 22 turnovers gained this season. 

Rushing Yards:  2010 Rank - #80 giving up an average of 165 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89 -- Kent State leads the country giving up an average of 65 yards rushing per game.  

Passing Yards:  2010 Rank - #79 giving up an average of 228 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 119 yards passing per game.

Total Yards:  2010 Rank - #80 giving up 393 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86 -- TCU leads the country giving up 217 yards per game.  

Points Allowed Per Game:  2010 Rank - #61 giving up 24.89 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63 -- TCU leads the country giving up 8.7 points per game. 

DEFENSE -- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Tackles Per Game:

• Manti Teo -- averaging 11.11 tackles per game -- ranked #6 in the country

Sacks:

• Darius Fleming -- 5.5 sacks this season -- ranked #41 in the country
• Ethan Johnson --  5.0 sacks this season -- ranked #47 in the country

Interceptions

• Darrin Walls -- 2 interceptions this season -- ranked #87 in the country

TOMORROW AN ANALYSIS OF THE NOTRE DAME OFFENSE

Muffet's Irish Ranked 12th in AP Poll

The University of Notre Dame's Women's Basketball Team is ranked 12th in the first poll released by the Associated Press for the 2010-2011 season.  Led by sophomore "all everything" Skylar Diggs -- the Irish are one of five teams in the Big East ranked in the top-20 poll; Connecticut (#1), West Virginia (#11), Georgetown (#13) and St. John's (#14).  Notre Dame's first game is this Wednesday -- at the Purcell Pavillion -- in an exhibition against Michigan Tech.  Here's a link to a recent interview with Skylar Diggins:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS INTERVIEW

Domer's Team Wins in Russia Last Night!

Thomas Wolfard '02 and his girlfriend Jill Haney won CBS's The Amazing Race last night in St. Petersburg, Russia.  The episode win, the second for the duo in six shows this season -- earned them a bonus from Travelocity -- an all expenses paid trip to San Paolo, Brazil.  The Domer and his girlfriend are one of seven teams left in this globetrotting adventure race.  The screen grab of Jill and Thomas is from last night's episode of The Amazing Race.  Here's a link to a replay of last night's show:

LINK:  CBS'S AMAZING RACE -- SEASON 17 -- RUSSIA

The Mass of Remembrance for Declan Sullivan

The University of Notre Dame has posted a video of Thursday night's Mass for Declan Sullivan.  Here's a link:

LINK:  CELEBRATING DECLAN SULLIVAN'S LIFE

The University of Notre Dame -- An Easy Target

This week's tragedy on the Notre Dame football practice field served up another "fat one" for an opportunistic main stream media.  You see, Notre Dame is an easy target for the media -- always has been, always will be -- for this simple reason:  they dare to do things right.

On a typical college football Saturday, a day that you could find a running back in the SEC (Chris Rainey) -- playing for the beloved Urban Meyer's Florida Gators, who just a few weeks ago is arrested for threatening to kill his girlfriend -- scores a TD in their win over Georgia.  Or, in the Big Ten -- where this past Thursday a defensive back from Michigan State (Chris Rucker) was sitting in a jail cell (serving a two week prison sentence for a parole violation) and two days later, he's in uniform -- playing against Iowa for the undefeated Spartans.

Yet, the media's not talking about Florida and Michigan State's "win at all cost" approach today -- no, they're talking about the university that dares to graduate all of its student athletes.  The school that sends you home for a semester or longer; for cheating on a paper, for driving a golf cart on campus while intoxicated, etc.   The EASY TARGET, because it dares to have standards and expectations for its student athletes and its university.

The University of Notre Dame failed one of its own this past Wednesday -- we know that -- and trust me, Notre Dame knows that.  Declan Sullivan's death was a tragedy, it was an accident and it can't be taken back.  The Sullivan's lost a son, a brother and a shining light on Wednesday -- Notre Dame lost one of its own.

What good does the media serve this morning with their attack on Notre Dame?

Do they think Notre Dame won't do their absolute best to ensure an accident like this never happens again?  Or, do they really think Notre Dame's going to "look the other way" and they (the media) need to serve the public good and force Notre Dame to do the right thing?

No, this is a selfish move -- to drive up ratings, page views and newspaper sales.

They know Notre Dame is going to do the right thing.

Shouldn't the media be putting the spotlight on schools like Florida and Michigan State -- maybe, just maybe they can help save a life -- by forcing these schools (and others) to "do the right thing" -- and not look the other way -- even when it might lead to a defeat on the football field...??

It just goes to show -- that administrators in Gainesville and East Lansing believe there are benefits in having such low expectations of their student athletes, their football programs and their universities.

Isn't this where the outrage should be today?

The Next Great Irish QB?

He's a nineteen year-old "baby faced" Notre Dame freshman -- who now just happens to be the starting QB for the Fighting Irish.  Tommy Rees, didn't earn that starting role -- he inherited it.  Yet, after yesterday's record setting performance for a freshman -- 4 TD passes going 33-54 and 334 yards -- Rees proved he belongs.


As a point of reference, Jimmy Clausen threw seven TD passes his entire freshman season in ten games as a starter.  Rees throws five TD passes in his five quarters of relief duty.  

He just might be the perfect passing QB for Brian Kelly's system.  Rees appears to get rid of the ball on time and is accurate -- two key elements in Kelly's spread offense.  While I don't think he'll ever be the runner I'm sure Kelly would like -- he can move the Irish down the field and score.  Think about it, he comes in off the bench in the first quarter (in the middle of an Irish possession) and proceeds to complete his first eight passes and leads the Irish to TD's the first two times he's on the field.


In a season that has turned into an unmitigated disaster -- Tommy Rees just might be the guy who turns "our frowns upside down."

Here's a link to his first post game interview session -- pretty impressive:

LINK:  TOMMY REES INTERVIEW

The Morning After -- The Media's IRISH Spin

The ND GO IRISH BLOG takes a "lap" around the web, every Sunday morning during the football season, to check in on the media's take on Notre Dame's performance the day before.  Today we get the opportunity to read what they're saying about our 28-27 loss to Tulsa.

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  TULSA WORLD #1

LINK:  TULSA WORLD #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

Coach Kelly After Today's Loss to Tulsa...

Here's a couple of links to Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly's post game comments.  The first link is video of his first comments since Wednesday's tragic accident.  The second link is video of his thoughts concerning today's loss to Tulsa.

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S COMMENTS ON DECLAN SULLIVAN

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S TULSA POST GAME MEDIA SESSION

Game Day @ Notre Dame!

Today's game just might be what the Doctor ordered for the Notre Dame Football team and the Notre Dame Family.  If you're like me -- and you're not going to the Tulsa game today -- here's how you can keep occupied leading up to kick-off.  We really need a win today -- GO IRISH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GAME DAY RADIO SHOW --  starts at 9 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE STADIUM CAM -- watch Notre Dame Stadium fill up, starts at 11 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM PRE GAME BLOG -- starts at 1:30 PM EST

KICK OFF:  2:41 PM EST


LINK:  NBC.COM SIMULCAST OF GAME

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE POST GAME SHOW -- starts immediately after game's end

What The Money is Sayin' -- Today's Game

Every week, the ND GO IRISH BLOG takes a look at how the "experts" in Las Vegas analyze the Irish and their opponent.  Today, the Golden Hurricanes -- coming off a bye week -- will bring the 8th ranked offense in the country to Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in their school's history.  The Irish are currently a 8.5 point favorite.  Here's a link to a number of the betting site's analysis of today's game:

LINK:  ACCUSCORE

LINK:  MADDUXSPORTS

LINK:  TOUTHOUSE

LINK:  ODDSSHARK

Tulsa's First Ever Trip to Notre Dame Stadium

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes and their high-powered offense, ranked 8th in the country, invade historic Notre Dame Stadium for the first time this afternoon.  Coming off a bye week, the Golden Hurricanes are averaging 491.57 yards per game -- 270 yards passing and 221 yards rushing.  Here is a link to a video of Tulsa's "walk through" at Notre Dame Stadium yesterday afternoon (photo as well).  And, a link to a video of Tulsa's Head Coach Todd Graham talking about Notre Dame:




LINK:  TULSA'S "WALK THROUGH" @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM 

LINK:  TULSA'S TODD GRAHAM -- TALKING NOTRE DAME

Helmet Sticker To Be Worn By Irish Today

The University of Notre Dame released this artwork last night of the helmet decal to be worn by the Fighting Irish football players today -- to honor classmate Declan Sullivan.  Tulsa will also wear the sticker on their helmets.

Stewart Named National Scholar-Athlete!

University of Notre Dame's Chris Stewart (Spring, TX) -- a fifth-year senior offensive guard -- has been selected a 2010 National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation.  The 6'5" 252 lb. lineman is the first student athlete in Notre Dame's storied history to take on football and law school simultaneously. Stewart graduated from Notre Dame in 3 1/2 years and entered Notre Dame's Law School this fall.  As a National Scholar-Athlete, Stewart receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and is one of 16 finalists for the 21st William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation and often referred to as "The Academic Heisman." The award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.  Stewart is the 16th Notre Dame football player to receive the scholarship and second in the past four years.  John Carlson, now with the Seattle Seahawks, is the last Irish football player to be so honored.  Chris will be one of the honored guests at the National Football Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in New York City at the Waldorf-Astoria. The event will also include the induction of the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame Class and the presentation of several major awards, including the organization's highest honor, the Gold Medal, to American icon Bill Cosby and the Distinguished American Award to renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw.  This past month, USA Today spent a day with Chris Stewart -- see the link below to that story.  Congratulations Chris!

LINK:  A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CHRIS STEWART