This article documents a current sports-related event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	#8
AP	#11
2006 Record	7-1
Head Coach	Charlie Weis
Offensive Coordinator	Mike Haywood
Offensive Scheme	Pro-style
Defensive Coordinator	Rick Minter
Base Defense	4-3 Multiple
Home Stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (c. 80,795, grass)

The 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame during the 2006 college football season. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Notre_Dame_helmet. ... Notre Dame helmet The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, sometimes called Notre Dame or the Irish, is an American football team that competes as an Independent school in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A and represents the University of Notre Dame on the gridiron. ... Charlie Weis (b. ... It has been suggested that American football defensive schemes be merged into this article or section. ... Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, one of the most celebrated college football teams in history. ... The University of Notre Dame IPA: is a leading Catholic institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana, immediately northeast of South Bend, Indiana, United States. ...

The Fighting Irish are coached by Charlie Weis. Charlie Weis (b. ...

Pre-Season

After finishing 9-3 in 2005, Notre Dame began the 2006 season ranked #3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and #2 in the Associated Press Poll. These were Notre Dame's highest preseason rankings since 1994, when they occupied the same positions in both polls.

Returning key players such as quarterback Brady Quinn, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, running back Darius Walker, and safety Tom Zbikowski from the previous year's squad, Notre Dame received much preseason hype as a possible national championship contender.^[1] Brady Tyler Quinn (born October 27, 1984 in Dublin, Ohio) is an American football quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team. ... Jeffrey Alan Samardzija (pronounced sa-MAR-JEE-ya; born January 23, 1985 in Merrillville, Indiana) is a Serbian-American athlete. ... Darius ADunte Walker was born on October 21, 1985 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. ... Tom Zbikowski is an All-American defensive back and punt returner for the University of Notre Dame football team. ...

Quinn also entered the season as one of the favorites to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.^[2] The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award (also known simply as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman), named after former college football player and coach John W. Heisman, is considered the most prestigious award in American college football. ...

Award Candidates

The following Fighting Irish football players were named to national award watchlists for the 2006 season:

• Brady Quinn - Maxwell Award^[3] , Walter Camp Award^[4]
• Jeff Samardzija - Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award
• Darius Walker - Maxwell Award
• Tom Zbikowski - Nagurski Award^[5], Bednarik Award^[6]
• Ryan Harris - Outland Trophy^[7]
• Victor Abiamiri - Ted Hendricks Award^[8]
• John Sullivan - Dave Rimington Trophy^[9]

Notre Dame's three players on the Maxwell Award watchlist tied Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and USC for most nominees. The Maxwell Football Club presents the Maxwell Award for the College Player of the Year. ... The Walter Camp Award, named in honor of the father of football, is given annually to the College football Player of the Year, as selected by Division 1A coaches and Sports Information directors. ... The Maxwell Football Club presents the Maxwell Award for the College Player of the Year. ... The Walter Camp Award, named in honor of the father of football, is given annually to the College football Player of the Year, as selected by Division 1A coaches and Sports Information directors. ... The Maxwell Football Club presents the Maxwell Award for the College Player of the Year. ... The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the best all-around defensive college football player. ... The Chuck Bednarik Award, named for the College and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Chuck Bednarik is given annually to the College Defensive Football Player of the Year. ... The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college footballs top defensive end. ... The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best center in college football. ... The 2006 Miami Hurricanes football team represents the University of Miami during the 2006 college football season. ... The 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team will represent the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2006-2007. ... The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represents the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. ... The 2006 USC Trojans football team will represent the University of Southern California in the 2006 college football season The team is coached by Pete Carroll and will play their homes game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. ...

Schedule

September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team will represent the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2006-2007. ... Bobby Dodd Stadium is the football stadium located on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Nickname: Hotlanta, The Big Peach, The ATL, A-Town Location in Fulton County in the state of Georgia Coordinates: Country United States State Georgia Counties Fulton, Dekalb Mayor Shirley Franklin (D) Area    - City 343. ... [1] ABC Sports is a division of ABC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Penn State Nittany Lions are an elite college football program. ... Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, one of the most celebrated college football teams in history. ... Notre Dame, Indiana is a post office serving an unincorporated community in St. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team will represent the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2006-2007. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Michigan State Spartans are a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference. ... Spartan Stadium was opened in 1923 in East Lansing, Michigan. ... Flag Seal Location Location in Michigan Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Michigan Ingham & Clinton Counties Mayor Samir Singh Geographical characteristics Area     City 11. ... [1] ABC Sports is a division of ABC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Purdue Boilermakers are a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Having no offical mascot, the athletic teams at Stanford University are referred to as Stanford Cardinal. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is located in Annapolis, Maryland. ... M&T Bank Stadium is the home to the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimores National Football League franchise. ... This article is about the city in the US state of Maryland. ... CBS Sports is a division of CBS which airs many of the sports telecasts in the United States. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, coeducational, research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article contains information about the football team at the United States Air Force Academy. ... Falcon Stadium is a stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. ... Colorado Springs is a middle-sized city, located just east of the geographic center of the state of Colorado in the United States. ... College Sports Television (CSTV) Networks, Inc. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA (or Army, for NCAA purposes), is a United States Army fort and military academy. ... NBC Sports logo NBC Sports is a division of NBC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... November 25 is the 329th (in leap years the 330th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 USC Trojans football team will represent the University of Southern California in the 2006 college football season The team is coached by Pete Carroll and will play their homes game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. ... For other uses, see Memorial Coliseum (disambiguation) and Coliseum. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... [1] ABC Sports is a division of ABC, responsible for the televising of many sports events on the network. ... Time Zone is also a historical computer game. ...

Roster^[10]

Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Todd Sauerbrun punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... Placekicker is the title of the player on an American football team who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and, in many cases, kickoffs. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Placekicker is the title of the player on an American football team who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and, in many cases, kickoffs. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... In American football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nose guard. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... Todd Sauerbrun punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... In American football, the guards are the two players that line up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Todd Sauerbrun punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... Brady Tyler Quinn (born October 27, 1984 in Dublin, Ohio) is an American football quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Placekicker is the title of the player on an American football team who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points, and, in many cases, kickoffs. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Jeffrey Alan Samardzija (pronounced sa-MAR-JEE-ya; born January 23, 1985 in Merrillville, Indiana) is a Serbian-American athlete. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... In American football, the guards are the two players that line up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... Center (C) is a position in American football. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... Darius ADunte Walker was born on October 21, 1985 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... Tom Zbikowski is an All-American defensive back and punt returner for the University of Notre Dame football team. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ...

Coaching staff

• Charlie Weis - Head Coach
• Michael Haywood - Offensive Coordinator & Running Back Coach
• Rob Ianello - Recruiting Coordinator & Receiver Coach
• John Latina - Assistant Head Coach (Offense) & Offensive Line Coach
• Bill Lewis - Assistant Head Coach (Defense) & Defensive Back Coach
• Rick Minter - Defensive Coordinator & Linebacker Coach
• Jappy Oliver - Defensive Line Coach
• Bernie Parmalee - Tight End & Special Teams Coach
• Brian Polian - Assistant Defensive Backs & Special Teams Coach
• Peter Vaas - Quarterback Coach
• Shane Waldron - Offensive Graduate Assistant
• Jeff Burrow - Defensive Graduate Assistant

Charlie Weis (b. ... The head coach in sports coaching is the coach who is in charge of the other coaches. ... An offensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League (or at others levels of American football) who is in charge of the offense. ... High school running back A running back, halfback or tailback is the position of a player on an American and Canadian football team who lines up in the offensive backfield. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with American football. ... Bill Lewis is a football coach with varying levels of success at different stages in his career. ... Defensive back (DB) is a player in American football whose role is primarily pass coverage; that is, the defensive back will stay near a receiver and try to deflect or intercept any passes thrown to him. ... A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League (or at other levels of American football) who is in charge of the defense. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. ... Special teams are units in American football and Canadian football that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal and extra point attempts. ... NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. ...

Game Capsules

Georgia Tech^[11]

Pregame Line: ND -7.5

Georgia Tech drew first blood when quarterback Reggie Ball connected on a four-yard touchdown pass with receiver Calvin Johnson at the end of the first quarter. Georgia Tech's defense continued to menace 3rd-ranked Notre Dame's offense, while a Travis Bell field goal increased Tech's lead to 10-0. It was the last time Georgia Tech would score, however. Notre Dame orchestrated a 14-play, 80-yard drive right before the half, punctuated by a five-yard rushing touchdown from Brady Quinn, to close the score to 10-7 at the half. Coach Charlie Weis adjusted at halftime and began the second half determined to establish the Irish running game. The move paid off when running back Darius Walker hit paydirt on Notre Dame's first drive of the second half, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown run to put the Irish ahead for the first time in 2006, 14-10. Both defenses tightened, as the teams traded punts. With Notre Dame facing a 4th-and-1 at the Georgia Tech 47 yard line with 1:10 left to play in the game, Georgia Tech appeared to be on the verge of getting the ball back with a chance to win the game. However, Weis gambled and elected to go for the first down rather than punt. Weis' gamble was rewarded when Quinn picked up the yard on a quarterback sneak, giving Notre Dame the first down and enabling them to run the clock out for the 14-10 victory. Calvin Johnson (born September 25, 1985 from Tyrone, Georgia) is an American football player for the Georgia Institute of Technology. ... Brady Tyler Quinn (born October 27, 1984 in Dublin, Ohio) is an American football quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team. ... Darius ADunte Walker was born on October 21, 1985 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. ...

Quinn completed 23 of 38 passes for 246 yards. Quinn rushed for a score, but was held without a passing touchdown. Walker rushed 22 times for 99 yards and one touchdown, while Rhema McKnight was Notre Dame's leading receiver with 8 receptions for 108 yards. Despite being confounded by Georgia Tech's defense all night, Notre Dame was able to seize control during the second half and walk away with the victory in its 2006 season opener.

Penn State^[12]

Pregame Line: ND -8.5

Penn State came to South Bend for the first time since the 1992 Snow Bowl game between the two. The game began as a defensive battle with Notre Dame scoring the only points of the first quarter on a field goal. However the Irish offense picked up in the second quarter as quarterback Brady Quinn threw two touchdown passes (his first of the season) to Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight. With another field goal, Notre Dame led 20-0 at the half. In the third quarter Penn State quarterback, Anthony Morelli fumbled the ball during a lateral pass as he ran an option play. Tom Zbikowski picked up the fumble and ran it for a touchdown. Penn State would score their first points later in the quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Kevin Kelly, but the Irish scored again on a 1-yard touchdown run by Travis Thomas. In the fourth quarter Brady Quinn threw a third touchdown to Darius Walker, Morelli threw his only touchdown of the day to Deon Butler, and Penn State running back Daryll Clark ran a 5-yard touchdown with time running out. The game ended with Notre Dame winning 41-17.
Image:Psu-morelli. ... In American football and Canadian football a lateral pass — usually called simply a lateral, but officially called a backward pass in American football, and also called an onside pass in Canadian football — is a sideways or rearward throwing of the football to a teammate. ... The option is a system of offensive running plays in American Football. ...

Michigan^[13]

Pregame Line: ND -5.5

The Michigan Wolverines came to South Bend having lost 3 of the last 4 games to the Irish and having not won in at Notre Dame since 1994, the year before Lloyd Carr became head coach. The game began with Notre Dame receiving the ball on the opening kickoff. On the second play, Brady Quinn's pass was intercepted by Prescott Burgess who ran it back for a 21-yard touchdown to put Michigan ahead 7-0. After a punt on Notre Dame's next drive Michigan quarterback Chad Henne threw an interception to Chinedum Ndukwe which was returned to the 4-yard line to set up a Brady Quinn touchdown pass to Ashley McConnell. Michigan would score the next 27 points with three touchdown passes by Henne to Mario Manningham and a run by Mike Hart. The Irish would score with a touchdown pass to Jeff Samardzija before halftime to leave the score 34-14. In the third quarter Michigan kicked two more field goals, one after Brady Quinn's second interception in the game. Brady Quinn threw a touchdown in the fourth quarter to Rhema McKnight to end the Irish scoring. The Wolverines ended any chance of a comeback when, while being sacked, Quinn's fumble was returned for a 54-yard touchdown by LaMarr Woodley. The game ended as a Wolverine blowout of 47-21, giving Lloyd Carr his first win in South Bend. Lloyd H. Carr (born July 30, 1945) has served as head coach of the University of Michigan college football team since 1995. ... Chad Henne (born July 2, 1985 in West Lawn, Pennsylvania) is an American football quarterback (QB) who plays for the Michigan Wolverines. ... Mario Cashmere Manningham (born May 25, 1986 in Warren, Ohio) is a football wide receiver who plays for the University of Michigan. ... Mike Hart is total pwnage. ...

Michigan State^[14]

Pregame Line: ND -3.0

The game between Notre Dame and Michigan State in East Lansing seemed doomed to be overshadowed by pregame hype. A controversial incident where Spartan players planted a flag in Notre Dame's field after Michigan State's 2005 win was talked about in the week leading up to the game. Spartan officials said the incident occurred because Notre Dame didn't present the Megaphone Trophy after the game and players needed to celebrate. Irish officials stated that they never presented rivalry trophies after games, but sent them later in the week. More controversy was sparked when it was reported that Irish head coach Charlie Weis told a group of Notre Dame Alumni during the summer of 2006 that he would never lose to Michigan State again as head coach. Weis denied it, but nevertheless Spartans used it as motivation. Added to these controversies was the fact that 2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the Game of the Century between the teams. Before the game Michigan State brought back players from that team and retired Bubba Smith's jersey. The Megaphone Trophy is awarded each year to the winner of the football game between the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University. ... The phrase Game of the Century refers to several contests in the history of college football in the United States. ... Charles Aaron Bubba Smith (born February 28, 1945 in Orange, Texas) is a former professional American football player in the 1960s and 1970s who became an actor in the 1980s. ...

The game was played in windy and rainy conditions for most of the night. Notre Dame won the coin toss and took the ball as Charlie Weis normally does. Michigan State chose to play with the wind at their backs for the first quarter. The commentators for the game, especially Bob Davie, questioned Weis' decision, believing that the windy conditions would affect play significantly. It seemed to as Notre Dame was held without a score for the entire first quarter, while the Spartans threw two quick touchdowns, one after a fumble on a punt return by Tom Zbikowski, and added a field goal before having to change sides. In the second quarter Notre Dame switched to a no-huddle offense with worked to confuse the Spartan defense for a drive allowing Brady Quinn to throw a 32-yard touchdown to Rhema McKnight. On their next drive, however, Quinn threw an interception to Ervin Baldwin which was returned for a 19-yard touchdown to give the Spartans a 24-7 lead. Quinn would throw another touchdown to Jeff Samardzija and Spartan quarterback Drew Stanton would add another touchdown pass to Kerry Reed to end the half with the Spartans leading 31-14. People named Bob Davie include: Bob Davie, a football coach and sports commentator Bob Davie, a songwriter This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Drew Stanton (born May 7, 1984 in Farmington Hills, Michigan) is an American football quarterback (QB) who plays for the Michigan State University Spartans. ...

The second half began with a defensive stop by the Irish which allowed Quinn to throw a third touchdown of 62-yards to John Carlson to cut the Spartan lead to 10. However later in the quarter Michigan State's Jehuu Caulcrick would run for a 30-yard touchdown. The Spartans failed in a two point conversion attempt leaving the score 37-21 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State had the ball at the Notre Dame 42-yard line and looked to score again. However a series of miscues and holding penalties halted the Spartan drive and forced them to punt. Quinn took advantage and threw a fourth touchdown to Jeff Samardzija. The Irish attempted a two point conversion to make their defecit only 8, but failed, leaving the score 37-27 with 8 minutes left in the game. On the ensuing drive, a Stanton fumble was recovered by the Irish on the Spartan 24-yard line. Aided by a pass interference call on 3rd down and 25-yards to go, Quinn would throw his fifth touchdown pass of the evening to Rhema McKnight. The extra point was missed leaving the Spartans ahead 37-33. On the next drive, Stanton threw an interception to Terrail Lambert whcih was returned 23-yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Irish led 40-37 with almost 3 minutes left. Stanton would take the Spartans to the Notre Dame 44-yard line before throwing a pass which was tipped twice and which Terrail Lambert would catch off of the back of a Spartan wide receiver to end the game, with the Irish winning 40-37.

Purdue^[15]

Pregame Line: ND -14.0

The Purdue Boilermakers came to South Bend undefeated, but still underdogs to the Irish. Notre Dame started the scoring with a 70-yard opening drive capped with a 11-yard run by George West for a touchdown, their first opening drive touchdown of the year. Purdue tied the game later in the quarter with a 7-yard run by Kory Sheets. However the Irish completed another long drive with a 14-yard touchdown run by Darius Walker to put them in the lead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. Brady Quinn threw his first touchdown of the game to Rhema McKnight for 6-yards halfway through the second quarter. With a little over a minute remaining before halftime, the Irish faked a field goal and Jeff Samardzija, the holder, ran for a 5-yard touchdown. However, 30 seconds later, Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter threw an 88-yard touchdown pass to Selwyn Lymon to put the halftime score at 28-14, in favor of Notre Dame.

The only score in the third quarter was a 12-yard touchdown pass by Brady Quinn to Rhema McKnight to give the Irish a 21-point lead. In the fourth quarter, Curtis Painter threw a 9-yard touchdown to Selwyn Lymon to give the final score of 35-21, Notre Dame winning. At the end of the game, Lymon had 238 receiving yards, the second most yards ever for a Purdue receiver and the most receiving yards ever against the Irish. The teams combined for 955 total yards, and only 242-yards were from rushing. Darius Walker ran for 146 of those yards himself.

Stanford^[16]

Pregame Line: ND -29.5

The Stanford Cardinal came to South Bend winless and big underdogs. However, in the first half the Cardinal kept the game closer than expected. The Irish started the game taking their opening drive for a touchdown. Brady Quinn threw an 8-yard pass to Jeff Samardzija to cap off a 91-yard drive which consumed more than seven minutes off the clock. The Cardinal's opening posession took advantage of a porous Irish defense which was without linebacker Travis Thomas and safety Tom Zbikowski, both out with injuries. Stanford drove to the Irish 3-yard line before being forced to kick a field goal after a sure touchdown was dropped. The Cardinal took six minutes off the clock themselves and the first quarter ended with Notre Dame winning 7-3. The second quarter was uneventful until the Notre Dame's final drive, which began with just over two minutes left in the half. Brady Quinn orchestrated a 72-yard drive which resulted in a 16-yard pass to Rhema McKnight to put the Irish up 14-3 at halftime.

In the third quarter the Irish began to pull away. Darius Walker ran for a 32-yard touchdown, his longest run of the season, to give the Irish an 18-point lead. Later in the quarter, Carl Gioia added a 32-yard field goal to put the Irish up 24-3 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Cardinal used a trick play to get on the scoreboard again. On a toss play to running back Anthony Kimble, Kimble threw a 57-yard touchdown to a wide open Kelton Lynn. The score brought the Cardinal within 14. Later in the quarter, Brady Quinn would throw his third touchdown of the game to tight end John Carlson to give the final margin of victory, 31-10, in favor of the Irish.

UCLA^[17]

Pregame Line: ND -13

After trailing UCLA for most of the game, Brady Quinn was able to lead Notre Dame to a miraculous last minute comeback that may have saved Notre Dame's BCS hopes, as well as Quinn's Heisman candidacy. Brady Tyler Quinn (born October 27, 1984 in Dublin, Ohio) is an American football quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team. ... The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award (also known simply as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman), named after former college football player and coach John W. Heisman, is considered the most prestigious award in American college football. ...

Notre Dame got on the board first when Quinn capped a 7 play, 44 yard drive with a two yard touchdown pass to Jeff Samardzija. UCLA would roar back, however, scoring fourteen unanswered second quarter points before Notre Dame would add a field goal as the quarter expired. Down 14-10 heading into the locker room at halftime, the situation looked grim for the Irish, who were unable to deal with the rentless UCLA defense. Jeffrey Alan Samardzija (pronounced sa-MAR-JEE-ya; born January 23, 1985 in Merrillville, Indiana) is a Serbian-American athlete. ...

Notre Dame would cut the Bruins' lead to one when Carl Gioia capped a long, 14 play, 60 yard drive with a 33 yard field goal near the end of the third quarter. UCLA would answer with a field goal of its own midway through the fourth quarter to push its lead to 17-13.

The UCLA defense continued to frustrate the Notre Dame offense, and it appeared the Bruins had the game won after stopping Notre Dame on a fourth-and-1 attempt from the UCLA 35 with 2:25 remaining in the game. UCLA, though, was unable to run the clock out. UCLA was forced to punt after running three straight running plays that netted 6 yards. UCLA was only able to take 1:19 off the clock with its three running plays.

After Aaron Perez's 59 yard punt resulted in a touchback, Notre Dame took over on its own 20 yard line with :55 remaining in the game, needing a touchdown to avoid its second loss of the season. Rather than blitz Quinn, UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell opted to rush only his four down linemen. UCLA was unable to generate any kind of a pass rush against the Notre Dame offensive line, allowing the masterful Quinn to pick apart the Bruin defense with surgical precision. On the first play of the drive, Quinn dropped back deep, but was initially unable to find an open man. Quinn started to roll out to his right before he spotted Samardzija along the right sideline and fired a 21 yard strike that moved the Irish to the Notre Dame 41 yard line. Quinn picked up 14 yards on the next play with a completion to wide receiver David Grimes, bringing Notre Dame to the UCLA 45. Karl Dorrell is the fifteenth head coach in the history of the UCLA Bruins men’s college football team, a position he took on December 18, 2002. ...

Before the Bruins knew what hit them, Notre Dame had taken the lead. After taking a five step drop, Quinn pump-faked and began to roll to his right in search of an open receiver. Quinn spotted Samardzija open on the right side of the field and delivered a bullet to the Irish receiver. Samardzija caught the ball at the 30-yard line and then jutted towards the middle of the field, weaving in and out of Bruin defenders before momentarily losing his balance after taking a hit from UCLA safety Dennis Keyes near the 15 yard line. Samardzija was quickly able to regain his footing, jumping the final yard into the end zone and scoring the winning touchdown with the ball raised aloft.

The touchdown, which came with just :27 left in the game, was only the third game winning touchdown in Notre Dame history come with less than :30 remaining in the game, the other two occurring in the 1979 Cotton Bowl and a 1992 game against Penn State. The Cotton Bowl can refer to: The Cotton Bowl annual college football game The Cotton Bowl stadium that plays host to the above football game and other events. ... The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related land-grant university in Pennsylvania, with over 80,000 students at 24 campuses throughout the state. ...

Quinn finished the game 27 of 45 for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns, thrusting himself back into the forefront of the Heisman race with his late game heroics. With the victory, Notre Dame improved its record to 6-1 on the season.

Navy^[18]

Pregame Line: ND -13.5

Notes