Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JUNE/JULY 2017 11 UNDER THE DOME 2 Two Notre Dame players — fifth-year senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey and senior left guard Quenton Nelson — are projected by the Associated Press and former Auburn guard and ESPN/SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic to be among seven offensive linemen taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Only two offensive linemen were selected overall in the first round this year, the fewest since 1965. 3.496 Grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the Notre Dame men's soccer program to lead the athletic department with the highest average GPA over the last two semesters. The award was presented May 4 at the school's annual O.S.C.A.R.S (Outstanding Student- Athletes Celebrating Achievement and Recognition Showcase). 8 Former Notre Dame players who were on 2016 NFL rosters despite never getting drafted, most all of whom played under head coach Brian Kelly. The group included running back George Atkinson III, wide receiver Chris Brown (injured reserve), defensive linemen Romeo Okwara, Ian Wil- liams and Ishaq Williams, defensive backs Matthias Farley and Cody Riggs, and long snapper J.J. Jansen. 22 Ranking of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly among CBS Sports' 65 Power Five head coaches. The 4-8 season last year dropped Kelly 10 spots from his No. 12 position last year. Among the 2017 Fighting Irish opponents whose coaches have higher rankings are Stanford's David Shaw (No. 8), Michigan State's Mark Dantonio (No. 11) and Miami's Mark Richt (No. 15). In- terestingly, two of the toughest opponents on this year's Irish slate saw their head coaches way down the list, mainly because of not having an extensive track record. USC's Clay Helton is No. 45 despite debuting with a 10-3 record, including nine straight wins to end the season, and a No. 3 final ranking in 2016. Georgia's Kirby Smart (No. 54) finished 8-5 in his inaugural campaign. 94 Was the age former Notre Dame head coach ARA PAR- SEGHIAN (1964-74) turned on May 21, making him the oldest living national champion coach in college football (Florida State's Bobby Bowden is second, and will turn 88 on Nov. 8). Parseghian was 95-17-4 (.836) during his 11-year reign, with consensus national titles in 1966 and 1973. 100 M ay 2 5 m a r ks the centennial of former Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh's C.S.C., birth, four days be- fore former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Hes- burgh served as the school president from 1952-87 and held the title presi- dent emeritus thereafter. During his tenure he be- came recognized as one of nation's most influential and celebrated leaders in education and reli- gion. He died Feb. 26, 2015, at age 98. 494 Notre Dame players picked all time — per the school's media relations office — since the first NFL Draft held on Feb. 8, 1936. Quarterback DeShone Kizer and defensive lineman Isaac Rochell were the most recent this April. Only USC has had more drafted with 498, including five this year. Ohio State's 436, with seven in April, make it the only other school with at least 400. 1977 The last year where Notre Dame had no one selected in the NFL Draft — although running back Al Hunter would later be taken in the first supplemental draft that summer after he was dismissed from school. Only two schools — Notre Dame and Oklahoma — have had at least one player drafted in 80 of the 82 drafts that have been held since 1936. The other year the Irish were shut out was 1937. If one includes the 1977 supplemental draft, then Notre Dame would have a streak of 80 consecutive drafts with at least one player picked — the longest in the nation. BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND