2008 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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ImageSize=150 px
Conference=NCAA Division I-A Independent Schools|Independent
Division=
ShortConference=Independent
CoachRank=
APRank=
Record=4-2
ConfRecord=
HeadCoach=Charlie Weis
OffCoach=Michael Haywood
DefCoach=Corwin Brown
OScheme=Pro-style
DScheme=3-4
StadiumArena=Notre Dame Stadium (c. 80,795, grass)
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult=

The 2008 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame in the 2008 college football season. The team's head football coach is Charlie Weis. The Irish play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. This is Weis's fourth season as Notre Dame's head coach, who is entering the season with a 22-15 record, coming off a 3-9 season after posting back-to-back BCS seasons.

Pre-season

Coaching changes

Despite the turmoil of the previous football season, head coach Charlie Weis did not make many changes to the coaching staff. The one major change to the staff was the addition of Jon Tenuta, former defensive coordinator of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, as the new linebackers coach and assistant head coach.cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022108aab.html|title=Jon Tenuta Press Conference Transcript (Feb. 21) |publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=February 12, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04] Tenuta's addition followed the retirement of Bill Lewis from active coaching.cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/013108aab.html|title=Bill Lewis to Join Notre Dame Athletics Community Relations Staff |publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=January 31, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04] Other changes included reassignment of football duties. On offense, Weis announced that he would be turning over control of the offense, including game day play calling, to offensive coordinator Michael Haywood.cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020808aaa.html|title=Charlie Weis Press Conference Transcript (Feb. 8) |publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=February 8, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04] Weis did this to focus more on the development of the entire team. On defense, Corwin Brown switched from coaching linebackers to coaching defensive backs following Lewis' retirement. Tenuta assumed coaching the linebackers. Finally, citing the poor play on special teams, Weis made Brian Polian the sole special teams coach and announced that he would helping Polian when needed. The previous year, all coaches had a hand in helping with special teams.

Roster changes

Graduating players

Seniors tight end John Carlson, defensive end Trevor Laws, safety Tom Zibikowski and center John Sullivan were all drafted by NFL teams. Three players that were not drafted quickly signed with NFL teams as free agents following the NFL Draft: linebacker Joe Brockington, long snapper J.J. Jansen and running back Travis Thomas.cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042708aae.html|title=Four Notre Dame Players Selected in 2008 NFL Draft |publisher=UND.cstv.com|date=2008-04-27 |accessdate=2008-07-06] . Quarterbacks Darrin Bragg and Justin Gillete, defensive end Dwight Stephenson Jr., cornerback Ambrose Wooden and punter Geoff Price also graduated and exhausted their remaining eligibility. Notre Dame also had several players who graduated and decided not to apply for a fifth year of eligibility: running back Junior Jabbie, cornerback Leo Ferine and linebacker Anthony Vernaglia.

Transfers

After the end of the spring practice session, sophomore-to-be linebacker Aaron Nagel transferred from Notre Dame to the Northwestern Wildcats. [cite news|last=O'Leary|first=Ryan|url=http://www.blueandgold.com/content/?aid=5459|title=No Hard Feelings |publisher=blueandgold.com |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-07-09] In July, wide receiver D.J. Hord announced he was transferring from Notre Dame to a yet unnamed Division I Football Championship Subdivision school, where he would have two years eligibility remaining.cite news|last=Watson|first=Graham|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3483732|title=Notre Dame starting corner to leave school for personal reasons |publisher=espn.com |date=2008-07-11 |accessdate=2008-07-11] Once a highly touted recruit, injuries had hampered his progress and he left with 2 catches for 7 yards in his Notre Dame career. It was also announced the same day that starting cornerback Darin Walls would not enroll and play football this season for undisclosed personal reasons, but would return the following spring. On August, 15, several days into fall practice, reserve wide receiver Richard Jackson announced he would be leaving Notre Dame for a school closer to his home in Florida. [cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/SPORTS0604/80815054/1004/SPORTS |title= Reserve WR Jackson leaves Notre Dame|publisher= indystar.com |date=2008-08-15 |accessdate=2008-08-17]

Recruiting

The Irish added 23 players to its roster with high school recruits. Included in the class were five-star wide receiver recruit Michael Floyd, five-star quarterback recruit Dayne Crist, and five-star defensive lineman Ethan Johnson. Five-star tight end Kyle Rudolph also bolstered a class that included six four star recruits on offense, and nine four star recruits on defense. The class was named #2 by both Rivals and Scout. After the final rankings came out, factoring in players recruited by other schools that did not enroll with their classmates, Rivals revised Notre Dame's ranking to #1. [cite web |last=Crabtree |first=Jeremy |url=http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=843421 |title=New No.1 in enrolled team recruiting rankings |publisher=rivals.com |date=2008-08-28 |accessdate=2008-08-29 ]

College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Robert Blanton
position = CB
hometown = Matthews, NC
highschool = David W Butler HS
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 176
40 = 4.5
commitdate = 6/20/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 76College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Braxston Cave
position = C
hometown = Mishawaka, IN
highschool = Penn HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 293
40 = 5.09
commitdate = 3/03/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Lane Clelland
position = OG
hometown = Owings Mills, MD
highschool = Mc Donogh HS
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 267
40 = 4.9
commitdate = 5/03/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Dayne Crist
position = QB
hometown = Sherman Oaks, CA
highschool = Notre Dame HS
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 226
40 = 4.68
commitdate = 4/19/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = 84College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Sean Cwynar
position = DT
hometown = Woodstock, IL
highschool = Marian Central Catholic HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 283.5
40 = NA
commitdate = 3/06/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Joseph Fauria
position = TE
hometown = Encino, CA
highschool = Crespi Carmelite HS
feet = 6
inches = 7
weight = 250
40 = 4.75
commitdate = 7/24/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Steve Filer
position = LB
hometown = Chicago, IL
highschool = Mount Carmel HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 220
40 = 4.65
commitdate = 4/21/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Darius Fleming
position = SLB
hometown = Chicago, IL
highschool = St. Rita HS
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 230
40 = 4.57
commitdate = 4/21/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Michael Floyd
position = WR
hometown = St. Paul, MN
highschool = Cretin Derham Hall
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 197
40 = 4.55
commitdate = 10/21/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = 83College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Michael Golic Jr.
position = OG
hometown = West Hartford, CT
highschool = Northwest Catholic HS
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 263
40 = 5.1
commitdate = 2/19/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = John Goodman
position = WR
hometown = Fort Wayne, IN
highschool = Bishop Dwenger HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 189
40 = 4.5
commitdate = 3/03/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Jonas Gray
position = RB
hometown = Beverly Hills, MI
highschool = Detroit Country Day School
feet = 5
inches = 11
weight = 214
40 = 4.40
commitdate = 10/22/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 82College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Ethan Johnson
position = DE
hometown = Portland, OR
highschool = Lincoln HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 265
40 = 4.85
commitdate = 6/27/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 82College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Kapron Lewis-Moore
position = DE
hometown = Weatherford, TX
highschool = Weatherford HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 225
40 = 4.83
commitdate = 2/06/2008
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Dan McCarthy
position = S
hometown = Youngstown, OH
highschool = Cardinal Mooney HS
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 190
40 = 4.49
commitdate = 7/16/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 80College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Anthony McDonald
position = MLB
hometown = Sherman Oaks, CA
highschool = Notre Dame HS
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 220
40 = 4.53
commitdate = 4/11/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Brandon Newman
position = DT
hometown = Louisville, KY
highschool = Pleasure Ridge Park HS
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 302
40 = 5.07
commitdate = 5/26/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = David Posluszny
position = WLB
hometown = Aliquippa, PA
highschool = Hopewell Senior HS
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 210
40 = 4.61
commitdate = 4/06/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Trevor Robinson
position = OG
hometown = Elkhorn, NE
highschool = Elkhorn Secondary School
feet = 6
inches = 6
weight = 304
40 = 5.20
commitdate = 12/14/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 80College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Kyle Rudolph
position = TE
hometown = Cincinnati, OH
highschool = Elder HS
feet = 6
inches = 7
weight = 180
40 = 4.55
commitdate = 3/26/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Jamoris Slaughter
position = S
hometown = Tucker, GA
highschool = Tucker HS
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 183
40 = 4.50
commitdate = 6/27/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 82College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Deion Walker
position = WR
hometown = Christchurch, VA
highschool = Christchurch School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 185
40 = 4.44
commitdate = 1/05/2008
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Hafis Williams
position = DT
hometown = Elizabeth, NJ
highschool = Elizabeth HS
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 290
40 =
commitdate = 5/02/2007
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit End
40 = yes
year = 2008
rivals ref title = Notre Dame Commit List 2008
scout ref title = Scout.com Football Recruiting: Notre Dame
espn ref title = 2008 Player Commitments - Notre Dame
rivals school = 55
scout s = 109
espn schoolid = 87
scout overall = #2
rivals overall = #1
accessdate = 2008-07-06
collapse = yes

Award candidates

The following players were announced to award watch lists prior to the start of the 2008 season:

*David Bruton - Bronko Nagurski Trophycite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051208aaa.html|title=David Bruton And Maurice Crum Jr. Named To Nagurski Trophy Watch List|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=May 12, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04]
*Jimmy Clausen - Maxwell Award cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070208aak.html|title=Jimmy Clausen Named To Maxwell Award Watch List |publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=July 2, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04]
*Maurice Crum Jr. - Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Awardcite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/070208aal.html|title=Maurice Crum Jr. Placed On Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=July 2, 2008|accessdate=2008-07-04]

Roster

tatistics

Team

cores by quarter

Receiving

Post season

Awards

NFL Draft

See also

* Notre Dame Fighting Irish
* Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

External links

* [http://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=961&CID=468316 Schedule] at Irish Illustrated.com

References