Game Notes Musings

Each week the Notre Dame Media Relations department releases Games Notes in preparation for that week’s upcoming match.  As I reviewed the Game Notes for the upcoming Michigan State game several notes and numbers jumped out at me and I wanted to share them with you.

The Irish have a nine game home winning streak heading into this weekend’s game against the Spartan.

Tommy Rees ranks seventh in the FBS in passing yards (969), and no one has more yards against FBS opponents this season.

Michigan State ranks as the fourth most played team in the list of Notre Dame Opponents, only Navy (86), Purdue (85) and USC (84) has played the Irish more.

Since 1949 the winner of this rivalry is presented with the Megaphone Trophy

Key Match ups ND’s total offense Ranked 50^th vs. State’s total defense ranked 1^st and ND’s red zone offense ranked 112^th vs. State’s red zone defense 91^st.

Notre Dame Head coach Brian Kelly and Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio each previously served as the head coach at Cincinnati. Dantonio (2004-06) and Kelly (2007-09) both spent three years with the Bearcats.

2012 Game; ND rushing yards 122 & Michigan State 50, ND’s defense had four for 30 yards sacks Michigan State’s defense had one for 2 yards.  Notre Dame’s defense held the Spartans to three points last season (it was the first time the Spartans were held to three points or less since 1991).

Arguably the most impressive stats when it comes to truly indicate Notre Dame's completion dominance of No. 10 Michigan State in 2012 was the Spartans failure to run a single play inside the Irish red zone.

Under Brian Kelly the Irish are 6-0 when scoring 40+ points and 0-2 when surrendering 40+ points.

Average weight of the offensive and defensive lines: Notre Dame OL 311.4 lbs. vs. Michigan State DL 273.0 lbs. Notre Dame DL 317.0 lbs. vs. Michigan State OL 305.0 lbs.

Notre Dame has played six previous games in its history on Sept. 21. The Irish are 6-0 (1.000) all-time on this date.  Three of Notre Dame's six all-time games on Sept. 21 have come against Michigan State.

Tommy Rees needs 5 pass completions to move into 4th all-time in school history.

DaVaris Daniels – Jr. 167 receiving yards last week were the most by an Irish WR since Nov. 28, 2009 (Golden Tate, 201).

Tommy Rees’s 82 yard pass play to DaVaris Daniels against Purdue last week was the 9^th longest pass play in Notre Dame History.

Notre Dame struggled to run the ball against Purdue on Sept. 14, but the Irish were successful on its final drive to run out the clock (ran for 42 yards on final drive; just 49 prior to the drive). Notre Dame ran the final 7:22 off the game clock. The Irish converted four third-down plays on the final drive.

In the first three games Notre Dame is average Punt return of 10.25 yards per return good for a 44 national rank, a HUGE improvement from last season.

Seven of Purdue’s 21 rushes in the game went for one yard or less.