I saw in the South Ben Trib that Chris Stewart is leaving... Any thoughts?
ND17 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:07 am | #

This season, awaiting/anticipating/dreading each week's game makes me understand what the final week is like for cons on Death Row.

I keep waiting for the Governor of Indiana to issue a stay, and keep wondering if the Red Phone is going to ring in Charlie's office.

27 hours to go.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:08 am | #

Well at least he is possibly transfering. His family wants him to stay at ND
ND17 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:10 am | #

Pat,

What's with the numbers? how about 119th out of 119 in total offense with a huge gap to the 118th spot? Any positive stats you may recite have been generated in garbage time, the team has not done anything when it has counted.......yet.

like the rest of us dreamers, here's hoping for a 'break-through'. Idea for 'The Shirt': "Hope, it's all we got left."
Gabby | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:21 am | #

We'll get to it ND17. Like you said, this is still playing out, so we may wait until a few more facts and quotes come out.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:21 am | #

My guess as to the answer to question 1: Darius Walker against Michigan '04?
Gallaher | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:24 am | #

damn... gallaher beat me to it .I should know better than to eat breakfast before checking this page
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:27 am | #

I'll go Justin Tuck with trivia #2
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:28 am | #

Gabby - It's common knowledge that ND is last in total offense. It's the lead item on nearly every single story and I've highlighted it in previous stats posts.

Usually, I try to find stats that people may find interesting or that may not be common knowledge. Besides, click on the Season Long Running Averages and every major statistical rank is right there.

I don't think I picked any "positive" numbers this week. The tackles stat is largely due to the fact that the defense is on the field so much. The class breakdown shows how little impact the upper classes are having on ND's offense. The Aldridge stat led to what I thought might be an interesting trivia question. I don't see any "look on the bright side" stats in this week's post, other than my M.O.E. note that the ND offense is cutting down on the number of mistakes.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:30 am | #

Pat,

gotch ya, and i did see the link, nicely done.

i guess it's just the "stats are for losers" mentality that i don't want to see get any traction. Blocking and tackling, those are the only stats we need right now. I just can't see how fundamentals could have been overlooked but apparently that is the case. Hard to believe. Really makes you wonder.
Gabby | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:38 am | #

I understand that Gabby. I hope most people realize this is just a fun weekly thing I try to do.

As for the trivia answers so far, both are wrong.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 9:53 am | #

Ah, he wasn't starting.

Okay, Pat - Tony Fisher vs Kansas 1999.
Gallaher | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:02 am | #

Trivia Answers to both -

Rushing is Julius Jones, and Tackles was Bryant Young. It has been a very long time since we had a great runner, and an even longer time since we had a great defensive lineman.
Greg | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:04 am | #

Gallaher got the first one right.

Bryant Young isn't the answer to the second question.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:14 am | #

I'm thinking Melvin Dansby for the DL guy, if I remember correctly that he was a DE and not an LB.
PK in the A | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:42 am | #

Correct PK. Dansby had 103 tackles in 1997 while playing on the defensive line.

The 100 tackle players since 1995:

Lyron Cobbins - 105 ('95)
Jimmy Friday - 109 ('97)
Melvin Dansby - 103 ('97)
Courtney Watson - 117 ('03)
Mo Crum - 100 ('06)
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:48 am | #

where are the NCAA offical stats available? I guess I have to see it to believe it ...
Pete | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:52 am | #

Pat,
We definitely need to see how this thing pans out as the weekend goes by. My inclination, however, leads me to believe that if Stewart's parents are behind ND, it will take a very strong reason to make him transfer (such as being incredibly unhappy to the point where it is irreversible).
ND17 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:53 am | #

I realize the trivia question was asking for the last RB to have 100 yards in his debut, but for trivia buffs, I believe Carlyle had 100 rushing yards in his first start in 2001.
Steve R | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 11:06 am | #

Key stats. There's a reason to highlight these from the MST game - our rushing, performance on short 3rd downs, and overall mistakes and turnovers are key metrics for this young team going forward. Win or lose, we want to continue to see improvement in these areas against Purdue.

For what it's worth, here's what I want to see tomorrow:

A secondary that can shut down the big play against a very competent passing attack.

A sustained drive on our first or second touch.

And if the fairy godmother isn't already scoffing, improved performance on special teams.

Improvement! GO IRISH!
indy | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 11:10 am | #

Who is Darius Walker.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:02 pm | #

The official NCAA stats can be found on the right sidebar of BGS. Look for the "ND Stats 2007" link under the Stats Links header.

Here's the direct link.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:15 pm | #

Wow, guess I missed the boat. I thought Darius Walkers 100+ yards against UM his freshman year would have counted. I guess I forgot he didn't START that game. Hmm.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:18 pm | #

Speaking of numbers, I went through the top five recruiting classes from 2006 and counted up their total transfers, and ND's situation doesn't look much different than theirs. (Though we have had fewer players arrested.) USC lost 6 of 25, FSU 4 of 31, UGA 3 of 28, and Texas 5 of 25. The one exception is Florida, which has lost only one of 27. For details, click my "Homepage".
John | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:38 pm | #

How many of those 154 5th-year yards are from bad Price punts? :) j/k
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:44 pm | #

Seriously, though, we should remember how many of those 5th-year all-purpose yards are Zibby punt returns. und.com lists 6 returns for 72 yards, but that doesn't seem large enough given the 60-yarder that he had during the PSU game. That leaves just 82 yards, which I assume all belong to TT. 82 rushing yards in 4 games? It almost seems like he's given up more yards than that in dumb penalties?
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 12:45 pm | #

Pat,

I find your stat regarding yards per class to be the best explanation of our struggles this year. Basically we are playing BCS schools with a really good high school team.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 1:34 pm | #

I should say "really talented" not necessarily "really good".
Michael | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 1:35 pm | #

You noted that we have 30 instances of 3rd and short. At the risk of causing some heart attacks, can we know how many instances we've had 3rd and 11+ to go? I thought they showed it at the beginning of the MSU game and it's something like 27 times. Rediculous. Can't win games when the defense can unload the sink on you 6 or 7 times per game in 3rd and long.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 1:40 pm | #

Grimes only has 27 yards receiving? Isn't he a junior this year? Or is he a "red shirt" sophomore?
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 1:40 pm | #

thanks for the stats, Pat. Well done, if disheartening ...
Pete | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 1:50 pm | #

Michael,

Agreed that we're basically playing with an excellent high school team right now, at least as far as productivity is concerned.

You know how whenever the next big college program comes together (a la 2005 USC pre Rose Bowl), and some schmo makes the claim that the team could beat some pro teams out there right now?

This is what would happen.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 2:04 pm | #

Typo Erik '04. It should have been 87, not 27. I also fixed the freshmen and sophomore numbers which were off a bit.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 2:10 pm | #

Pete,

It kind of reminds me of watching a high school all-star game where everybody is pretty good, but all they can run is hand-offs because no-one has actually played together before. Every once in a while someone will throw a couple of bombs and hope that the receiver is more athletic than the DB. Unfortunately, we have the high school allstars and the other side is Michigan.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 2:31 pm | #

Michael,

Another very astute observation. Unfortunately, we don't get the luxury of playing against similarly inexperienced, ramshackle squads with a translucent playbook.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 3:08 pm | #

How many think that Charlie has enough patience to pound the ball at Purdue for the first 25 plays and see what happens? It would be great to see us control the line of scrimmage for once and make them a little impatient on offense. I would love to see us control the clock for once.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 8:21 pm | #

Well said.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 8:31 pm | #

The "The Shirt" should say, "Win Just One..."
Brian | Email | Homepage | 09.28.07 - 10:39 pm | #