Blue and Gold Illustrated

January 2019

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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16 JANUARY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Irish student-athletes excelling on the field and in the classroom Patrick Berneski — Soccer The fifth-year senior defender from War- rington, Pa., was named to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team Dec. 5. The team captain started all 21 matches at the center back position and totaled a career-high six goals, which tied for the team lead. He also anchored a back line that held op- ponents to one or no goals in 17 of 21 matches. Berneski also earned CoSIDA Academic All- District status along with a second-team All- ACC nod. Ryann DeJarld — Volleyball The senior libero from Chicago was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Nov. 26. She led the Irish with 532 digs and an average of 5.02 digs per set, and was the leader of a defense that led the confer- ence by limiting opponents to a .164 hitting percentage. DeJarld is the first Irish player ever to win the award, and is also the lone figure in program history to reach the 2,000-dig mark (2,340). Brianna Martinez — Soccer The freshman defender from Albuquerque, N.M., was one of 20 players named to the U-20 Women's National Team for the upcom- ing 2018 Women's Nike Inter- national Friendlies. As a fresh- man, she started 16 of Notre Dame's 17 games and played a total of 1,369 minutes. Martinez was ranked No. 33 by Top Drawer Soccer in their midseason top-100 freshman list. Cam Morrison — Hockey The junior forward from Aurora, Ontario, was named the Big Ten's Third Star of the Week Dec. 3. He helped the No. 5 Irish pick up three wins in five days the previous week, tallying four points (two goals and two assists). Morrison had an assist in a win over Northern Michigan Nov. 23 and scored a goal in each victory over RPI Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, highlighted by the game-winner in the second game. TOP OF THE CLASS ✦ GIMME FIVE In his eight starts this season, junior quarter- back Ian Book averaged 307.0 passing yards per game, with his season and career high of 352 coming in the 24-17 victory at USC in the most recent outing. In its 36 previous bowl appearances, Notre Dame has had a quarterback eclipse 300 pass- ing yards only two times, and in one of them — a 49-21 win versus Hawai'i in the 2008 Hawai'i Bowl — Jimmy Clausen already had 300 yards through the air by halftime while building a quick 28-7 lead. He would finish with 401 passing yards. Current Fighting Irish quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees also had 319 passing yards in the 29-16 Pinstripe Bowl win versus Rutgers in 2013. However, against top competition in a ma- jor bowl setting, no Notre Dame quarterback has surpassed 300 passing yards, and the five highest totals were all losses. Here are the top five passing outputs in major bowls, and the result: Player (Season) Yards Result 1. Brady Quinn (2005) 286 L, 34-20 Ohio State 2. DeShone Kizer (2015) 284 L, 44-28 Ohio State 3. Everett Golson (2012) 270 L, 42-14 Alabama 4. Ron Powlus (1994) 259 L, 41-24 Colorado 5. Joe Theismann (1969) 231 L, 21-17 Texas Getting To Know … SENIOR GUARD REX PFLUEGER Hometown: "Dana Point, Calif." High School: "Mater Dei." Major: "Marketing." Favorite Food: "Hot buffalo wings and fries." Favorite Place To Eat In South Bend: "I really just love Chipotle." Favorite Movie: "'The Dark Knight.'" Favorite Music: "It's everything, honestly." Favorite Musician: "Either The Weeknd or Drake." Favorite TV Show: "It has to be 'Game of Thrones.'" Favorite Part About Play- ing For Notre Dame: "It's everything Notre Dame en- tails, whether it's academ- ics, athletics, the people, the tradition or the alumni base. Literally ev- erything that Notre Dame offers is my favorite part about it." Who's The Best Player You've Ever Lined Up Across From?: "I'd say probably [former Duke Blue Devil and current Boston Celtic] Jayson Tatum. He's got an unlimited skill set and I'm a fan of his game. I like watching him in the pros." CHARTING THE IRISH NO. 3 SEEDS HAVE NOT FARED WELL IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Notre Dame was selected as the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff following a 12‑0 regular season that included three wins over teams that made the committee's final rankings: No. 7 Michigan (24‑17), No. 20 Syra‑ cuse (36‑3) and No. 22 Northwestern (31‑21). It marked the first time the Fighting Irish earned a spot in the CFP since its inception in 2014. Notre Dame will take on the ACC champion and No. 2‑seeded Clemson Tigers, while No. 1 Alabama faces No. 4 Oklahoma in the other national semifinal. History won't be on Notre Dame's side, however. During the first four years of the CFP, the No. 3 seeds have posted just a 1‑4 record with an aver‑ age margin defeat of 27.8 points per game in the losses. Last year marked the first time the No. 3 seed won its semifinal matchup, with Georgia defeating No. 2 Oklahoma 54‑48 in overtime. The Bulldogs ultimately fell 26‑23 in overtime against the Crimson Tide in the champion‑ ship game. HISTORY OF NO. 3 SEEDS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Season Team (Pre-Playoff Record) Semifinal Result 2017 Georgia (12-1) Defeated Oklahoma 54-48* 2016 Ohio State (11-1) Lost 31-0 to Clemson 2015 Michigan State (12-1) Lost 38-0 to Alabama 2014 Florida State (13-0) Lost 59-20 to Oregon * Georgia lost 26-23 in overtime to Alabama in the national championship game Moving? Let us know! Call 1-800-421-7751

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