Notes on ND vs Purdue, Sept 16, 2000

• Notre Dame now leads the series with Purdue by 47-23-2, including 24-10 at home and 21-9 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish have won 13 of their last 15 games against the Boilermakers.

• The Irish win over the Boilermakers marks their 12th consecutive at Notre Dame Stadium, dating back to a 31-20 Purdue win in 1974.

• Irish quarterback Gary Godsey -- making his first career start -- becomes the 11th of the last 12 rookie Notre Dame quarterbacks to lead the Irish to victory and the second in the last three weeks (Arnaz Battle vs. Texas A&M).

• Nick Setta's 38-yard game-winning field goal was the first since Scott Cengia kicked a 20-yarder with 0:05 left to defeat Hawaii in 1997.

• Notre Dame's 236 total yards of offense (78 rushing, 158 passing) marked the fewest since the Irish gained 217 yards (123 rushing, 94 passing) in a 10-0 loss to USC in 1998.

• Notre Dame's 78 rushing yards marked the lowest total since the Irish ran for 72 yards in a 37-27 loss to Pittsburgh in 1999.

• Two weeks after its win over 23rd-ranked Texas A&M, Notre Dame's win over 13th-ranked Purdue marks the earliest in a season the Irish have beaten two ranked teams (two ranked wins in the first three games in '00) since the '90 team opened the season with wins over fourth-ranked Michigan and 24th-ranked Michigan State.

• Today's sellout of 80,232 marks the 152nd consecutive sellout in Notre Dame Stadium (the first 130 coming at the old 59,075 capacity). Today's game marks the 200th home sellout in the last 201 games (dating back to 1964) and the 121st sellout in the last 139 games involving Notre Dame, including the first 10 games of 1998 and first 11 in '99.

• Gary Godsey's nine-yard rushing touchdown was the first of his career and the first for an Irish QB since Jarious Jackson had a 57-yard TD run against Navy in '99.

• Glenn Earl's blocked punt on Purdue's opening drive marked Notre Dame's first punt block since Jonathan Hebert had a block against Michigan State in 1999. It also marked the second consecutive season the Irish have blocked a punt against the Boilermakers (Tony Driver in '99).

• Shane Walton's first-quarter, 60-yard interception of Drew Brees for a touchdown was the first for the Irish since A'Jani Sanders had a 29-yard interception touchdown return against Arizona State (10-9-99). The interception was the second for Walton in as many weeks after his first career INT against Nebraska.

• Walton's interception return for touchdown was the first for a Purdue opponent since Penn State's Courtney Brown (10-23-99). It also marked the seventh interception return for a touchdown against Drew Brees in his career (1 in 1998, 5 in 1999 and 1 in 2000).

• Ryan Roberts' third-quarter sack of Brees marked the third consecutive game the Irish junior -- who made his first career start against Purdue -- has recorded a sack.

• Tyreo Harrison made the first fumble recovery of his career in the first quarter on a fumble by Montrell Lowe that was forced by Rocky Boiman.

• Nick Setta's 47-yard field goal marked the longest of his career and the longest for Notre Dame since Jim Sanson connected from 48 yards against Army (10-24-98).

• In the last two games, the Irish have returned a kickoff (Julius Jones 100 yards vs. Nebraska), a punt (Joey Getherall 83 yards vs. Nebraska) and an interception (Shane Walton 60 yards vs. Purdue) all for touchdowns.

• Purdue did not score in a quarter for the first two times this season. The Boilermakers failed to score in the first and third quarters.

• Vinny Sutherland caught the 15th and 16th touchdown receptions of his career -- fifth on the Purdue's all-time list.

• The 54-yard Brees to Sutherland pass was Purdue's longest play from scrimmage this season.

• The pass attempt by Travis Dorsch was the second of his career. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Chris Randolph (following a blocked field goal) at Central Florida in 1999.

• Tim Stratton caught his 100th career pass in the fourth quarter -- the 16th player in Purdue history to reach the milestone.

• Stewart Schweigert's fourth quarter interception was the first of his career and Purdue's first of the season.