2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team: Difference between revisions
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The '''2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team''' is the [[college football]] team that represents the [[University of Notre Dame]] in the [[2007 NCAA Division I-A football season]]. The team is coached by [[Charlie Weis]] in his third year as head coach, and plays its home games at [[Notre Dame Stadium]] in [[Notre Dame, Indiana]]. For the first time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with five losses (Notre Dame's worst opening prior to 2007 was 0-3).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21049290/|title=Irish drop to 0-5 after defeat to Purdue|publisher=MSNBC|date=[[September 29]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-09-30}}</ref> |
The '''2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team''' is the [[college football]] team that represents the [[University of Notre Dame]] in the [[2007 NCAA Division I-A football season]]. The team is coached by [[Charlie Weis]], who is soon to be fired, in his third year as head coach, and plays its home games at [[Notre Dame Stadium]] in [[Notre Dame, Indiana]]. For the first time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with five losses (Notre Dame's worst opening prior to 2007 was 0-3).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21049290/|title=Irish drop to 0-5 after defeat to Purdue|publisher=MSNBC|date=[[September 29]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-09-30}}</ref> |
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==Before the season== |
==Before the season== |
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Revision as of 06:06, 21 October 2007
 | This article documents a current sporting event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports, scores, or statistics may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
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The 2007 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the college football team that represents the University of Notre Dame in the 2007 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team is coached by Charlie Weis, who is soon to be fired, in his third year as head coach, and plays its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. For the first time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with five losses (Notre Dame's worst opening prior to 2007 was 0-3).[1]
Before the season
In 2006, the Irish, led by a number of seniors on offense, like quarterback Brady Quinn, and wide receivers Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight, looked to have a chance at a national championship.[2] With an early season loss to Michigan and their fifth straight loss to USC, the Irish finished the season going to their second straight BCS bowl game, the Sugar Bowl. Getting blown out by LSU, they finished with a 10-3 record and and ranked seventeenth in the nation.
Coaching changes
With the end of the 2006 season, two assistant coaches' contracts came up and weren't renewed by the Irish. Rick Minter, the defensive coordinator who had been with the Irish since the 2005 season, was replaced by Corwin Brown, and Peter Vaas, the quarterback coach who had also been with the Irish since 2005 after David Cutcliffe left the position, was replaced by former Irish quarterback, Ron Powlus. Both Powlus and Brown played college football and had time playing in the NFL. Brown was previously an assistant coach for the New York Jets and Powlus had been Notre Dame's director of personnel development since 2005.[3]
Roster changes
The Irish lost a number of players to graduation and the NFL. Former consensus All-American,[4] and two-year starting wide receiver, Jeff Samardzija, was signed by the Chicago Cubs as a baseball pitcher,[5] while twelve others were signed onto NFL teams. Former offensive starters Brady Quinn, Ryan Harris, and Dan Santucci and defensive starters Victor Abiamiri, Derek Landri, Mike Richardson, and Chinedum Ndukwe were taken in the 2007 NFL Draft, while five others, Marcus Freeman, Chris Frome, Travis Leitko, Rhema McKnight,[6] and Darius Walker,[7] signed contracts with NFL teams. The team returns three starters on offense and five on defense.[8] Despite the number of high profile losses, Weis refused to call it a "rebuilding year," citing a number of fifth-year seniors that he owes to try to win.[9]
Recruiting
The Irish added 18 players to its roster with high school recruits. Included in the class were five-star quarterback recruit Jimmy Clausen, nine four star recruits on offense, and four on defense. The class was named a top-15 class by most media.
| US college sports recruiting information for 2007 recruits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
| Armando Allen RB |
Hialeah, FL | Hialeah-Miami Lakes HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 4.33 | Dec 1, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
| ||||||
| Jimmy Clausen QB |
Westlake Village, CA | Oaks Christian HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 4.7 | Apr 22, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 86
| ||||||
| Taylor Dever OL |
Grass Valley, CA | Nevada Union HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 5.2 | Dec 16, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69
| ||||||
| Gary Gray DB |
Columbia, SC | Richland Northeast HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 163 lb (74 kg) | 4.5 | Sep 18, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 85
| ||||||
| Robert Hughes RB |
Chicago, IL | Hubbard HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 226 lb (103 kg) | 4.6 | Jan 23, 2007 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
| ||||||
| Duval Kamara WR |
Hoboken, NJ | Hoboken HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.6 | May 10, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82
| ||||||
| Aaron Nagel LB |
Lemont, IL | Lemont Twp HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.52 | Mar 4, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77
| ||||||
| Kerry Neal DE |
Bunn, NC | Bunn HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 24, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 84
| ||||||
| Andrew Nuss OL |
Ashburn, VA | Stone Bridge HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.1 | Jun 29, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78
| ||||||
| Emeka Nwankwo OL |
Hollywood, FL | Chaminade Madonna College Prep | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 278 lb (126 kg) | 5.27 | Nov 6, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
| ||||||
| Steve Paskorz ATH |
Allison Park, PA | Hampton HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.6 | May 24, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77
| ||||||
| Mike Ragone TE |
Cherry Hill, NJ | Camden Catholic | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 221 lb (100 kg) | 4.5 | Apr 30, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 81
| ||||||
| Matt Romine OL |
Tulsa, OK | Union HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 278 lb (126 kg) | 5.2 | Jan 6, 2007 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80
| ||||||
| Brian Smith LB |
Overland Park, KS | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | 4.72 | Jan 30, 2007 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
| ||||||
| Harrison Smith S |
Knoxville, TN | Knoxville Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | 4.38 | Dec 22, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78
| ||||||
| Golden Tate WR |
Hendersonville, TN | John Paul II HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.22 | Dec 12, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 85
| ||||||
| Brandon Walker K |
Findlay, OH | Findlay HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | NA | Jan 30, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40
| ||||||
| Ian Williams DT |
Longwood, FL | Lyman HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 292 lb (132 kg) | 5.1 | Dec 12, 2006 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
| ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: #11 Rivals: #7 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Award candidates
Four players were named to six national awards watch lists in the pre-season:
- John Carlson - Maxwell Award[10]
- Maurice Crum Jr. - Bronko Nagurski Trophy,[11] Chuck Bednarik Award,[12] and Lott Trophy[13]
- John Sullivan - Dave Rimington Trophy[14] and Outland Trophy[15]
- Tom Zbikowski - Bronko Nagurski Trophy,[11] Chuck Bednarik Award,[12] and Lott Trophy[13]
Season
Roster
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Year at Notre Dame |
Alma Mater (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Weis | Head Coach | 3rd | Notre Dame (1978) |
| Michael Haywood | Offensive Coordinator Running Backs |
3rd | Notre Dame (1986) |
| Rob Ianello | Recruiting Coordinator Receivers |
3rd | Catholic (1987) |
| John Latina | Assistant Head Coach (Offense) Offensive Line |
3rd | Virginia Tech (1981) |
| Bill Lewis | Assistant Head Coach (Defense) Defensive Backs |
3rd | East Stroudsburg (1963) |
| Corwin Brown | Defensive Coordinator | 1st | Michigan (1993) |
| Jerome "Jappy" Oliver | Defensive Line | 3rd | Purdue (1978) |
| Bernie Parmalee | Tight Ends Special Teams |
3rd | Ball State (1990) |
| Brian Polian | Assistant Defensvie Backs Special Teams |
3rd | John Carroll (1997) |
| Ron Powlus | Quarterbacks | 1st | Notre Dame (1997) |
Schedule
The 2007 Notre Dame schedule was ranked the 13th hardest in the country by Sports Illustrated.[16] The road schedule was ranked as the 10th toughest.[17]
September 13:30 p.m.Georgia Tech
NBCL 33-3 September 86:00 p.m.at No. 15 Penn State
ESPNL 31-10 September 153:30 p.m.at Michigan
ABCL 38-0 September 223:30 p.m.Michigan State
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy)
NBCL 31-14 September 2912:00 p.m.at No. 25 Purdue
ESPNL 33-19 October 68:00 p.m.at No. 25 UCLA
ABCW 20–6 October 133:30 p.m.No. 4 Boston College
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (Ireland Trophy)
NBCL 27-14 October 203:30 p.m.No. 9 USC
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN (Jeweled Shillelagh)
NBCL 38-0 November 32:30 p.m.Navy
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN
NBC November 102:30 p.m.Air Force
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN
NBC November 172:30 p.m.Duke
- Notre Dame Stadium
- Notre Dame, IN
NBC November 243:30 p.m.at Stanford
Game capsules
Georgia Tech
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech | 6 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 33 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
While deciding who would be the starting quarterback two weeks before the opener, Weis, wanting to keep the Yellow Jackets guessing, would only tell the media that the quarterback and his backup knew their roles.[18] Demetrius Jones ultimately started the game, with Evan Sharpley and Jimmy Clausen both seeing action as quarterback. Giving up nine sacks and two fumbles, and having negative 8-yards rushing, the Irish lost 33-3 in their most lopsided season opening loss in the history of the program.[19]
Penn State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| #15 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
After the opening loss, Weis named freshman Jimmy Clausen the starting quarterback. Clausen would become the eighth Notre Dame freshman to start at quarterback since 1951 and would be the earliest to start when he faced the 15th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy Valley.[20] The Nittany Lions won the game 31-10. The Irish ended the game with no rushing yards, and had only 144 total yards. They also amassed 97 yards in penalties.[21]
Michigan
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 10 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
With both teams starting the season 0-2, for the first time ever a combined 0-4,[22] the Irish next faced the Michigan Wolverines, who played without their starting quarterback Chad Henne due to a leg injury.[23] Michigan senior running back Mike Hart guaranteed a victory over the Irish.[24]
Quarterback Demetrius Jones did not board a bus for the trip to Michigan. Charlie Weis issued a statement saying, "At 2:30 today, while boarding the bus to Michigan, I was notified that Demetrius Jones had decided not to make the trip. I have not spoken to Demetrius and can only say that he missed the team bus. Any additional comment would be without all the facts."[25] On game day, it was reported that he had enrolled at Northern Illinois University,[26] however, he later revealed that he was transferring to the University of Cincinnati.[27]
Michigan won 38–0, tying their largest-ever win over Notre Dame set during the 2003 season. For only the second time in school history, Notre Dame opened the season with three losses.[28]
Michigan State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 14 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Notre Dame | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Despite scoring their first two offensive touchdowns of the season (the first resulting from a fumble by MSU's quarterback, Brian Hoyer, at the 9-yard line), Notre Dame fell to Michigan State 31–14. For the first time in 119 seasons of Notre Dame football, the Irish had started a season 0-4. Michigan State also became the first opponent to win six in a row at Notre Dame Stadium. [29]
Purdue
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
| #25 Purdue | 10 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 33 |
Despite outgaining the Boilermakers in total yards (426-371) and Clausen throwing his first collegiate touchdown, the Irish fell to 0-5 on the season to Purdue by a score of 33–19. Down 23–0 at halftime, the Irish came out in the second half and drove to a 37 yard touchdown drive with Clausen's pass to John Carlson. Clausen left the game afterwards with an undisclosed injury. Evan Sharpley replaced him and threw his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter and later threw another to put the Irish down by a touchdown, but they wouldn't score again. The Irish had much trouble in their kicking game with only one extra point made on three attempts and a blocked field goal.[30]
UCLA
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 20 |
| #25 UCLA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Boston College
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4 Boston College | 6 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
USC
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 USC | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- ^ "Irish drop to 0-5 after defeat to Purdue". MSNBC. September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Maisel, Ivan and Forde, Pat (May 10, 2006). "Can't wait to see these things this fall". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Notre Dame Coaching Staff Changes Press Conference Transcript". UND.cstv.com. January 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Jeff Samardzija Named Consensus All-American". UND.cstv.com. January 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Jeff Samardzija Signs Five-Year MLB Deal With Chicago Cubs". UND.cstv.com. January 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Seven Notre Dame Football Players Drafted Into NFL; Four Others Sign Free Agent Contracts". UND.cstv.com. April 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Texans Sign Notre Dame Running Back Darius Walker". AOL Sports. May 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Schlabach, Mark (May 11, 2007). "Breaking down the independents". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Head Coach Charlie Weis Press Conference Transcript - 2007 Notre Dame Football Media Day". UND.cstv.com. August 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "John Carlson Named to Maxwell Award Watch List". UND.cstv.com. June 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Crum and Zbikowski Named to 2007 Bronko Nagurski Watch List". UND.cstv.com. June 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Maurice Crum and Tom Zbikowski Names to Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List". UND.cstv.com. June 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Crum, Zbikowski Named To Lott Trophy Watch List". UND.cstv.com. April 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "John Sullivan Named To 2007 Rimington Award Spring Watch List". UND.cstv.com. May 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "John Sullivan Named to Outland Trophy Watch List". UND.cstv.com. June 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Megargee, Steve (June 21, 2007). "Top 25 toughest schedules". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Megargee, Steve. "Road to glory will be tough one for Seminoles". Yahoo. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
- ^ "Notre Dame to reveal it's QB secret in opener against Georgia Tech". ESPN. August 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Yellow Jackets shut down, nearly shut out Irish". ESPN. September 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Clausen gets starting nod at QB against Penn State". ESPN. September 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Nittany Lions' defense punishes Clausen in Notre Dame debut". ESPN. September 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Walters, John (September 9, 2007). "Notre Dame, Michigan: Chagrin and bear it". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Henne listed as week-to-week after injury against Oregon". ESPN. September 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Weis says there's good reason for Hart's victory pledge". ESPN. September 10, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Jones' status in doubt after not boarding team bus to Ann Arbor". ESPN. September 14 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Schad, Joe (September 15 2007). "Source: Irish quarterback Jones enrolls at Northern Illinois". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Former Irish QB Jones transfers to Cincinnati, eligible next year". CBS Sports. September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Michigan has Hart, much more in rout of winless ND". ESPN. September 15 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Notre Dame goes 0-4 for the first time in school history". ESPN. September 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Notre Dame scores first passing TD but remains winless". ESPN. September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)