Oct. 5, 2006
SERIES NOTES
• Notre Dame and Stanford meet for the 21st time in the series history this afternoon with the Irish holding a 14-6 edge in the first 20 meetings. The two teams met for the first time in 1925 in the Rose Bowl with Notre Dame taking a 27-10 victory. After that, the teams played just three times between 1925 and 1964. In 1988, the Irish and Cardinal began playing on a regular basis and have met in 17 of the last 19 seasons (missing only 1995 and 1996). At Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish are 8-2-0 against Stanford and at Stanford Stadium, Notre Dame is 5-4-0. The Irish are 1-0 (1925 Rose Bowl) in neutral site games.
• After playing four straight games against Big Ten teams, the Irish will now face Pac-10 teams in two consecutive games, with a bye week (Oct. 14) thrown in for a mid-season break. Against the Pac-10, the Irish are 74-39-6 (.647). Notre Dame has faced USC the most (77 times) with Stanford second with 21 meetings. Washington ranks third with six meetings.
• Today’s game is the first of three meetings for Notre Dame against teams from the Pac-10. On Oct. 21, the Irish play host to UCLA at Notre Dame Stadium. On Nov. 25, Notre Dame travels to USC to close the regular season. The Irish finished the year with a 3-1 record versus teams from the Big Ten and are 216-107-15 (.661) all-time.
IRISH ITEMS
• Junior running back Darius Walker had his busiest weekend of the season a week ago in the win versus Purdue. The 5-10, 208-pound runner, lugged the ball 31 times for 146 yards and one touchdown and then caught nine passes for 73 yards, giving him the second-most total yards in a game (219) in his career. His previous best was 241 yards (186 rushing, 55 receiving) against Stanford last November. The nine catches were the most for Walker in a game, giving him 32 on the year and 85 for his career. The 32 receptions are tops in the NCAA by a running back and his 85 career catches are the most by a Notre Dame running back.
• Notre Dame’s dynamic duo at wide receiver – seniors Rhema McKnight and Jeff Samardzija – rank among the top 10 in Notre Dame history in career receiving yards and receptions. With his career-high 10 catches against Purdue, McKnight moved into fourth on the all-time list with 135 in his career and his 130-yards receiving give him 1,813 yards and move into eighth on that list. Samardzija had four catches versus Purdue for 46 yards and is now tied with Ken MacAfee for sixth with 128 catches while his 1,895 career yards puts him seventh all-time. Samardzija did score his first rushing touchdown versus Purdue, going five yards with a fake field goal in the second quarter.
• Senior quarterback Brady Quinn will make his fourth career start this afternoon against Stanford. The Heisman Trophy candidate has done well versus the Cardinal in guiding Notre Dame to three straight wins. In those games, Quinn has completed 44 of 75 passes (.587) for 782 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His big game came last year in a 38-31 come-from-behind win as he went 25-for-38 for 432 yards and three touchdowns. He comes into the game with 121 completions on 196 attempts for 1,402 yards and 13 touchdown passes in the first five games of the season.
• Several Notre Dame freshmen got into the act versus Purdue. Freshman wide receiver George West carried the ball for the first time, gaining 11 yards and scoring his first career touchdown in the opening quarter. Freshman kicker Ryan Burkhardt made his Notre Dame debut with a kickoff following Notre Dame’s first-quarter touchdown. And, freshman defensive back Darrin Walls returned his first kickoff 28 yards on the opening kickoff.
PRESENTING THE FLAG …
Our national colors will be presented by Patrick F. McCartan, chair of Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Lois. The senior partner of the international law firm Jones Day, McCartan earned his bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame in 1956 and law degree three years later. He has served on the Board since 1989 and as a Fellow and chair since 2000. The University’s Trustees gathered on campus for their annual fall meeting on Thursday and Friday.
FIGHTING IRISH FIGHT FOR LIFE
The Notre Dame cheerleaders hang out with their new friend Jenna Whitmer through the Fighting Irish Fight For Life Program.
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In its second year, the Fighting Irish Fight for Life program has been a WIN/WIN situation for Notre Dame student-athletes and several children participating in the Memorial Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology Program. Through the Fighting Irish Fight for Life program, Notre Dame student-athletes have gained their biggest fans, and at the same time they have been able to tutor, attend the participants sporting events, act as big brothers and sisters, and be a supporting friend while the participants undergo cancer treatment.
Cheerleading coach Jo Minton remarks, “Working with Jenna was not only a wonderful opportunity for our Cheerleading program, but a great learning experience for me as well.” Jenna, who is 17 and one of the older participants in the program, has enjoyed spending time with the cheerleading squads.
“It was fun for Jenna to hang out with the cheerleaders at practices, games, and at the Hematology Oncology Christmas Party, as well as, get a manicure with Coach Minton,” remarks Christina Whitmer, Jenna’s mother. “The program has been a meaningful experience for the entire cheerleading teams,” Minton says. “Having the chance to meet and socialize with a young girl that showed such vibrant energy and enthusiasm for life was truly a pleasure. When I was with Jenna and her family, I learned that time should not be taken for granted and no matter the circumstances, a smile will always get you through the day.”
“You could see the excitement in her eyes every time we would visit her,” cheerleader Nicole Villano says. “Her Notre Dame spirit is the type that we as cheerleaders would hope that everyone could have. An Irish Bracelet that she made for me reminds me of our visits with her. I carry it in my cheer bag every day.
Remarks Villano’s teammate Justine Gamez, “It was truly an honor to spend time with her.”