The 2013 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth year under head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish compiled a 9–4 record, outscored opponents by a total of 354 to 291, and were ranked No. 20 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. They lost to No. 17 Michigan, No. 14 Oklahoma, unranked Pittsburgh, and No. 8 Stanford, and finished the season with a victory over unranked Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tommy Rees (3,257 passing yards), running back Cam McDaniel (705 rushing yards), wide receiver T.J. Jones (70 receptions for 1,108 yards), linebacker Dan Fox (95 total tackles), and kicker Kyle Brindza (98 points scored, 38 of 38 PAT, 20 of 26 field goals).
In November 2016, the NCAA infractions panel vacated all wins from Notre Dame's 2012 and 2013 seasons based on its finding that ineligible students had played for the 2012 and 2013 teams. A student athletic trainer committed academic misconduct, including completing coursework, for two players and provided impermissible academic extra benefits to six other players. Another player was found to have committed academic misconduct on his own in a total of eight courses. The penalties were upheld after an appeal by Notre Dame.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
‡Former NCAA Attendance Record (September 7, 2013 – September 10, 2016)
Rankings
Before the season From the 2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team that advanced to the national championship game, the Irish lost multiple key players to the 2013 NFL draft, including tight end Tyler Eifert (first round), linebacker Manti Te'o (second round), safety Jamoris Slaughter (sixth round), running back Theo Riddick (sixth round), defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, and safety Zeke Motta (seventh round).
Starting quarterback Everett Golson also left the program after being suspended due to an academic violation.Everett Golson banned from Notre Dame Fighting Irish for 'poor academic judgment' – ESPN Several Notre Dame players also transferred out of the program, including reserve quarterback Gunner Kiel,Gunner Kiel to transfer from Notre Dame Fighting Irish, source says – ESPN wide receivers Davonte NealDavonte' Neal transferring from Notre Dame, reportedly – SBNation.com and Justin Ferguson. and Chris Badger.BYU football: Notre Dame safety Chris Badger transferring to BYU | The Salt Lake Tribune
Incoming transfers for the 2014 season included Alex Wulfeck.Wake Forest punter to transfer to Notre Dame – ESPN
The only "change" in the coaching staff after the 2012 season was that Brian Kelly turned over play-calling duties to offensive coordinators Chuck Martin.
Game summaries Temple
Michigan
Following its game against Temple, Notre Dame played the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Notre Dame won the previous meeting 13–6. Billed as "Under the Lights II", this was the second night game in Michigan Stadium's history; the previous game also featured Notre Dame. Tom Harmon was honored as a Michigan Football Legends, and his #98 jersey was unretired and given to quarterback Devin Gardner.
Michigan won the game, 41–30. The game attendance of 115,109 was the largest crowd ever to watch a college football game. Quarterback Devin Gardner completed 21 of 33 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns while throwing one interception. Gardner has also rushed for 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns in the first two games of the season. Gardner contributed 376 yards of total offense against Notre Dame ranks as the tenth best performance in Michigan history, as reflected in the following list. The only two Michigan players to contribute more total yards in a single game are Denard Robinson and John Navarre. Wide receiver Jeremy Gallon caught eight passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 14 yards. Gallon's 184 receiving yards against Notre Dame is tied for the sixth highest single-game performance in Michigan history. On defense, cornerback Blake Countess had two interceptions for Michigan.
References to chickens were a widely reported side story to the game. After Notre Dame announced one year earlier that it would terminate the rivalry after the 2014 season, Michigan head coach Brady Hoke said Notre Dame was "chickening out". When ESPN commentator Lee Corso made his pick for the game during the College GameDay show (which was in Ann Arbor for the game), he brought out a live chicken, and fans in the background carried signs with poultry references, including "Cluck of the Irish." At the end Michigan's 41–30 victory, in what Chantel Jennings of ESPN.com called the "Dig of the Day", the speakers at Michigan Stadium loudly played the "Chicken Dance" as Michigan fans "danced in the stands."
The win made Michigan favorites in the Big Ten Conference.
Purdue
Michigan State
Oklahoma
Arizona State
USC
1st quarter scoring: USC – Silas Redd 1-yard run (Andre Heidari kick); ND – Troy Niklas 7-yard pass from Tommy Rees (Kyle Brindza kick)
2nd quarter scoring: USC – Heidari 22-yard field goal; ND – TJ Jones 11-yard pass from Rees (Brindza kick)
Air Force
Navy
Pittsburgh
Although Notre Dame's sports teams have joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (which Pittsburgh has also joined), the Panthers will be the only ACC team on Notre Dame's football schedule this year, as the agreement to play five ACC teams each year does not begin until 2014.
BYU
Stanford
Rutgers (Pinstripe Bowl)
Personnel
Players 2013 Notre Dame Fighting Irish RosterQuarterbacks 13 Will Cronin – senior 6 Charlie Fiessinger – junior 12 Andrew Hendrix – senior 11 Tommy Rees – senior 8 Malik Zaire – freshman
Running backs 4 George Atkinson III – junior 1 Greg Bryant Jr. – freshman 3 Amir Carlisle – junior 25 Tarean Folston – freshman 32 William Mahone – sophomore 33 Cam McDaniel – junior
Wide receivers 46 Josh Anderson – sophomore 2 Chris Brown – sophomore 10 DaVaris Daniels – junior 15 Will Fuller – freshman 81 Omar Hunter – freshman 16 Torii Hunter Jr. – freshman 7 T. J. Jones – senior 37 Eric Lee – junior 83 Gerard Martinez – sophomore 14 Luke Massa – senior 17 James Onwualu – freshman 20 C. J. Prosise – sophomore 88 Corey Robinson – freshman 87 Daniel Smith – senior Tight ends 9 Mike Heuerman – freshman 18 Ben Koyack – junior 85 Troy Niklas – junior 80 Durham Smythe – freshman 82 Alex Welch – senior
Offensive line 67 Kevin Carr – senior 73 Scott Kingsley – freshman
Offensive tackles 57 Hunter Bivin – freshman 79 Steve Elmer – freshman 70 Zack Martin– Graduate Student 68 Mike McGlinchey – freshman 78 Ronnie Stanley – sophomore
Offensive guards 65 Conor Hanratty – junior 75 Mark Harrell – sophomore 51 Bruce Heggie – senior 74 Christian Lombard – senior 62 Colin McGovern – freshman 66 Chris Watt – Graduate Student
Centers 77 Matt Hegarty – junior 72 Nick Martin– junior 60 John Montelus – freshman
Defensive ends 91 Sheldon Day – sophomore 95 Marquis Dickerson – freshman 50 Chase Hounshell – junior 94 Jarron Jones – sophomore 86 Arturo Martinez – senior 89 Jacob Matuska – freshman 90 Isaac Rochell – freshman 69 Tony Springmann – junior 7 Stephon Tuitt – junior 53 Justin Utupo – senior Nose guards 1 Louis Nix III – senior 96 Kona Schwenke – senior 92 Tyler Stockton – Graduate Student
Inside Linebackers 44 Carlo Calabrese – Graduate Student 42 Michael Deeb – freshman 48 Dan Fox – Graduate Student 59 Jarrett Grace – junior 8 Kendall Moore – senior 19 Doug Randolph – freshman 38 Joe Schmidt – junior
Outside Linebackers 30 Ben Councell – junior 52 Austin Larkin – freshman 93 Connor Little – junior 45 Romeo Okwara – sophomore 56 Anthony Rabasa – junior 55 Prince Shembo – senior 9 Jaylon Smith – freshman 11 Ishaq Williams – junior
Cornerbacks 43 Josh Atkinson – junior 34 Jesse Bongiovi – freshman 21 Jalen Brown – junior 12 Devin Butler – freshman 2 Bennett Jackson – senior 26 Rashad Kinlaw – freshman 36 Cole Luke – freshman 35 Joe Romano – senior 6 KeiVarae Russell – sophomore 23 Lo Wood – senior Safeties 29 Nicky Baratti – sophomore 40 Connor Cavalaris – junior 28 Austin Collinsworth – senior 41 Matthias Farley – junior 16 Eilar Hardy – junior 46 Eamon McOsker – sophomore 39 Drew Recker – freshman 10 Max Redfield – freshman 22 Elijah Shumate – sophomore 42 Ernie Soto – junior 31 John Turner – sophomore
Kicker 43 John Chereson – freshman 97 Danny Omiliak – sophomore 40 Nick Tausch – Graduate Student
Punter 84 Andrew Antognoli – freshman 98 Alex Wulfeck – senior
Kickers/Punters 27 Kyle Brindza – junior 39 Jude Rhodes – senior
Long snappers 61 Scott Daly – sophomore 99 Hunter Smith – sophomore
Coaching staff Name Position Year at Notre Dame Alma mater (Year)Brian KellyHead coach4thAssumption (1982)Chuck MartinOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks4thMillikin (1990)Bob DiacoDefensive coordinator, linebackers/assistant head coach4thIowa (1995)Kerry CooksCo-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks4thIowa (2000)Mike DenbrockOutside wide receivers/passing game coordinator4th (second stint)Grand Valley State (1987)Tony AlfordRunning backs, slot wide receivers/recruiting coordinator5thColorado State (1992)Harry HiestandOffensive line/run game coordinator2ndEast Stroudsburg (1983)Scott BookerTight ends/special teams coordinator2ndKent State (2003)Mike ElstonDefensive line4thMichigan (1998)Bob ElliottSafeties2ndIowa (1976)Paul LongoDirector of football strength and conditioning4thWayne State (1981)
Recruiting class Notre Dame received 24 commitments in its 2013 recruiting class, including four five-star recruits: outside linebacker Jaylon Smith, defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, running back Greg Bryant, and defensive back Max Redfield. Vanderdoes later decommitted to play at UCLA, citing family health issues that required him to be closer to home.Family health issues drove Vanderdoes to stay in California – CBSSports.com
Statistics Passing Tommy Rees - 224 of 414 (54.1%) for 3,257 yards, 27 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 135.4 passer rating. Andrew Hendrix - 2 of 14 (14.3%) for 56 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 47.9 passer rating
Rushing Cam McDaniel - 705 yards on 152 carries, 4.6-yard average, 3 touchdowns George Atkinson III - 555 yards on 93 carries, 6.0-yard average, 3 touchdowns Tarean Folston - 470 yards on 88 carries, 5.3-yard average, 3 touchdowns Amir Carlisle - 204 yards on 47 carries, 4.3-yard average, 0 touchdowns
Receiving T. J. Jones (WR) - 70 receptions for 1,108 yards, 15.8-yard average, 9 touchdowns DaVaris Daniels (WR) - 49 receptions for 745 yards, 15.2-yard average, 7 touchdowns Troy Niklas (TE) - 32 receptions for 498 yards, 15.6-yard average, 5 touchdowns Chris Brown (WR) - 15 receptions for 209 yards, 13.9-yard average, 1 touchdown Ben Koyack (TE) - 10 receptions for 171 yards, 17.1-yard average, 3 touchdowns Will Fuller (WR) - 6 receptions for 160 yards, 26.7-yard average, 1 touchdown Corey Robinson (WR) - 9 receptions for 157 yards, 17.4-yard average, 1 touchdown
Scoring Kyle Brindza (K) - 98 points, 38 of 38 PAT, 20 of 26 field goals T.J. Jones (WR) - 66 points, 11 touchdowns DaVaris Daniels (WR) - 42 points, 7 touchdowns Troy Niklas (TE) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns
Tackles Dan Fox (LB) - 95 total tackles, 45 solo tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss Carlo Calabrese (LB) - 91 total tackles, 43 solo tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss Bennett Jackson (CB) - 64 total tackles, 41 solo tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss Jaylon Smith (LB) - 58 total tackles, 35 solo tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss KeiVarae Russell (CB) - 51 total tackles, 40 solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss Stephon Tuitt (DL) - 49 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks
Awards and honors