Coach:
Bob Davie
21-16, 3 years |
1999 Record: 5-7
Aug 28 |
Kansas |
Won
48-13 |
Sep 04 |
@Michigan |
Lost
22-26 |
Sep 11 |
@Purdue |
Lost
23-28 |
Sep 18 |
Michigan State |
Lost
13-23 |
Oct 02 |
Oklahoma |
Won
34-30 |
Oct 09 |
Arizona State |
Won
48-17 |
Oct 16 |
Southern California |
Won
25-24 |
Oct 30 |
Navy |
Won
28-24 |
Nov 06 |
@Tennessee |
Lost
14-38 |
Nov 13 |
@Pittsburgh |
Lost
27-37 |
Nov 20 |
Boston College |
Lost
29-31 |
Nov 27 |
@Stanford |
Lost
37-40 |
|
|
1999
Final Rankings
|
AP-NR, BCS-NR,
Coaches-NR
|
2000 Outlook
|
Yes, Bob Davie is on the hot seat.
After twelve consecutive winning seasons, Notre Dame
finished with four straight losses in 1999 leaving them
with no bowl game and unranked at 5-7. To make matters
worse, the Irish were slapped with probation by the
NCAA Infractions Committee over the winter for previous
violations, the first time in the history of life under
the Golden Dome. There is alot of pride hurt in South
Bend, especially on the defensive side of the ball where
only five starters will return from a year ago. To make
sure that Coach Davie will be fighting an uphill battle
the administration has provided him with the 3rd rated
toughest schedule in the nation for 2000. ND opens with
five teams that played in bowls just last season. At
least fans will find out how far the Luck of the Irish
will take them from the getgo as Texas A&M, Nebraska,
and Purdue come into Notre Dame Stadium in September.
. Some great recruiting classes continue to roll through
and this year some of the talent must rise up to salvage
a Top 25 finish.
Projected Record: 7-5
Notre
Dame 2000 Schedule
|
NOTRE
DAME
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB - 1.5 |
DL - 2 |
RB - 4.5 |
LB - 2.5 |
WR - 3 |
DB - 3 |
OL - 4 |
|
|
|
|
NOTRE DAME
FIGHTING IRISH
2000 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
|
|
|
2000
OFFENSE
|
Strengths:
There is a solid core of experienced veterans at the tailback
spot led by Tony Fisher, who started every game and led all
rushers in 1999. The depth chart is deep and talented and it
will be a fierce battle for playing time with Julius Jones and
Terrance Howard getting plenty of hand-offs all season. The
fullback spot will miss Joey Godspeed but coaches feel Tom Lopienski
is quite capable of filling in. To even further compliment the
running game is a very solid offensive line, unlike last year
when Notre Dame was struggling up front. Five regulars starring
on the line include Black, Jones, Gandy, Teasdale, and one of
the best tight ends in the country, 1999 Honorable Mention All-American
Jabari Holloway. A couple of big names disappear at wide out
but six of the top eight pass catchers from last season are
back. |
Weaknesses:
The quarterback spot is a
major concern in South Bend. Lost is Jarious Jackson, who broke
single season records in 1999 for passing yardage and passes
completed in a single season. Jackson was the sole captain last
year. Taking his place will be untested junior Arnaz Battle.
Over the last two years Battle played in eleven games and has
thrown 35 passes. The scariest problem is that Gary Godsey is
the only other scholarship QB and did not play in 1999. Hopes
are the offensive line and running backs will take the weight
off of the shoulders of Battle. Also gone is last years leading
receiver Bobby Brown and teammate Raki Nelson. |
OFFENSIVE
DEPTH CHART
|
QB |
Arnaz
Battle |
6-1 |
218 |
Jr. |
|
Gary
Godsey |
6-7 |
240 |
So. |
FB |
Tom
Lopienski |
6-1 |
245 |
Jr. |
|
Jason
Murray |
6-1 |
259 |
Sr. |
TB |
Tony
Fisher |
6-2 |
225 |
Jr. |
|
Julius
Jones |
5-10 |
201 |
So. |
WR |
Javin
Hunter |
6-0 |
186 |
Jr. |
|
Jay
Johnson |
5-11 |
191 |
Sr. |
WR |
Joey
Getherall |
5-7 |
175 |
Sr. |
|
David
Givens |
6-3 |
217 |
Jr. |
T |
Jordan
Black |
6-6 |
310 |
Jr. |
|
Kurt
Vollers |
6-7 |
310 |
Sr. |
G |
Jim
Jones |
6-2 |
310 |
Sr. |
|
Sean
Mahan |
6-3 |
288 |
Jr. |
C |
Jeff
Faine |
6-3 |
292 |
So. |
|
Ryan
Gillis |
6-3 |
292 |
So. |
G |
Mike
Gandy |
6-4 |
315 |
Sr. |
|
Rob
Mowl |
6-4 |
300 |
Sr. |
T |
John
Teasdale |
6-5 |
305 |
Sr. |
|
Casey
Robin |
6-7 |
305 |
Sr. |
TE |
Jabari
Holloway |
6-3 |
260 |
Sr. |
|
Dan
O'Leary |
6-3 |
260 |
Sr. |
K |
David
Miller |
5-11 |
195 |
Jr. |
|
Nick
Setta |
5-11 |
160 |
So. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Bobby Brown-WR, John Merandi-C, Jarious Jackson-QB,
Joey Goodspeed-FB,
Raki Nelson-WR, Jim Sanson-K
|
|
2000
DEFENSE
|
Strengths:
Leading the Notre Dame defense in the trenches will be senior
Grant Irons and junior Anthony Weaver as both played major roles
last year. The middle of the field returns some quality talent
in linebackers Rocky Boiman and Anthony Denman who lead the
Irish in team tackles a year ago with 89 of them. The defensive
backfield lost three starters but Coach Davie feels this may
be the largest group in numbers there since taking over the
program. Jefferson is the lone returning starter and will join
forces with Brock Williams, Ron Israel, and free safeties Gerome
Sapp, 1999 Team Rookie of The Year, and counterpart Justin Smith.
Even more impressive is that the starter may be highly recruited
tailback Tony Driver after switching over from that spot on
and off during his career. |
Weaknesses: The Irish
defense will be the number one priority for 2000. The once
proud group has been as pourous as swiss cheese over the last
few years and was exceptionally hurting in 1999 as ND gave
up an average of 383 yards per game and permitted 27.6 points
per game. The blue and gold defenders have been giving up
way too many big plays. There are numbers in the backfield
but alot of inexperience. ND has got to improve on performance
against the pass. Over all it is safe to say coaches feel
there will be alot of positions open everywhere.
|
DEFENSIVE
DEPTH CHART
|
DE |
Grant
Irons |
6-5 |
275 |
Sr. |
|
John
Owens |
6-3 |
255 |
Jr. |
DT |
Anthony
Weaver |
6-3 |
276 |
Jr. |
|
Cedric
Hilliard |
6-2 |
295 |
So. |
DT |
Lance
Legree |
6-1 |
285 |
Sr. |
|
Andy
Wisne |
6-3 |
272 |
Sr. |
DE |
Ryan
Roberts |
6-2 |
251 |
Jr. |
|
Darrell
Campbell |
6-4 |
275 |
So. |
OLB |
Rocky
Boiman |
6-4 |
240 |
Jr. |
|
Justin
Thomas |
6-1 |
245 |
So. |
ILB |
Anthony
Denman |
6-2 |
235 |
Sr. |
|
Carlos
Pierre-Antoine |
6-3 |
242 |
Jr. |
ILB |
Tyreo
Harrison |
6-2 |
242 |
Jr. |
|
Pat
Ryan |
6-3 |
235 |
So. |
CB |
Clifford
Jefferson |
5-9 |
180 |
Jr. |
|
Jason
Beckstrom |
5-10 |
190 |
So. |
CB |
Brock
Williams |
5-10 |
190 |
Sr. |
|
Shane
Walton |
5-11 |
183 |
Jr. |
SS |
Ron
Israel |
6-3 |
208 |
Sr. |
|
Donald
Dykes |
5-11 |
195 |
Jr. |
FS |
Gerome
Sapp |
6-0 |
212 |
So. |
|
Tony
Driver |
6-2 |
215 |
Sr. |
P |
Joey
Hildbold |
5-10 |
175 |
So. |
|
Nick
Setta |
5-11 |
160 |
So. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Antwon Jones-DT, Brad Williams-DT, Lamont Bryant-DE,
Joey Ferrer-LB,
Ronnie Nicks-LB, Deveron Harper-CB, A'Jani Sanders-SS,
Deke Cooper-FS
|
|
|
|
|
|