Tag: shane walton

Watch: Larry King Attends Notre Dame Game With Regis Philbin

The broadcasting world was shaken Saturday with the news that Larry King died at the age of 87.

The broadcasting world was shaken Saturday with the news that Larry King died at the age of 87. Anybody who was somebody appeared on his CNN talk show. One of those somebodies was Notre Dame alumnus Regis Philbin, who passed away in July. When the Irish battled Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium in 2002, Philbin invited King to the game, and the two appeared on WNDU-TV’s pregame show:

The Cardinal were a bad team in 2002, so it should be no surprise that the Irish crushed them that afternoon, 31-7, in the first of a rivalry-long seven consecutive wins in the battle for the Legends Trophy. Notre Dame’s two-headed rushing monster of Ryan Grant and Rashon Powers-Neal combined for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. On defense, Courtney Watson and Shane Walton returned interceptions for touchdowns from 34 and 18 yards out, respectively. To say the least, King was in South Bend on a good day.

Shrek fans know that King and Philbin worked together on those films. They were the respective voices of Doris and Mabel, the ugly stepsisters. But whatever they did together, they were broadcasting legends who happened to be legends. Let’s be happy that they didn’t have to be separated from each other for very long.

Notre Dame Tight End Commit has Massive Night…at Quarterback

Notre Dame tight end recruit Mitchell Evans brought back memories of a former Notre Dame hero on Friday night.

One of Notre Dame’s 2021 recruiting class members had a massive Friday night at a position he isn’t expected to be playing once he arrives on campus.

Mitchell Evans, a three-star tight end prospect from Wadsworth, Ohio put on a show in Wadsworth’s 54-21 win over North Royalton as he threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns on 15 of 24 passing.

Evans didn’t play after the third quarter, otherwise those numbers could have been even more impressive.

I know I’m not alone in having flashbacks to a former Notre Dame tight end when I see this kind of production at quarterback from a tight end recruit.

“IN GODSEY WE TRUST” — anyone?

20 years ago this year Gary Godsey replaced an injured Arnaz Battle at quarterback and helped lead Notre Dame to a victory over a Purdue team that was led by some guy named Drew Brees.

Godsey went 14 of 25 passing that day for 158 yards and threw one interception.  His biggest play was deciding to take the ball himself in the first quarter as he scrambled to a touchdown run.

A great defensive performance that included a pick-six by Shane Walton and a heroic Nicholas Setta kick at the buzzer helped make the legend that is Gary Godsey.

At least until he was benched a week later for freshman Matt LoVecchio.

Related:  Meet the already-committed 2021 Notre Dame recruits

How Did Drew Brees Perform vs. Notre Dame?

There was one thing Brees never did in his time with the Boilermakers, though, and that’s win at Notre Dame Stadium.  Here’s the Drew Brees career stat-lines versus the Fighting Irish:

In the wake of the news Drew Brees is heading to NBC Sports and having a role on Notre Dame telecasts once he retires from the NFL, I was curious how Brees fared against Notre Dame in his memorable time at Purdue.

Brees led Purdue to only their second appearance in a Rose Bowl back in 2000, a year he should have been awarded the Heisman Trophy over Chris Weinke if we’re being honest.  There was one thing Brees never did in his time with the Boilermakers, though, and that’s win at Notre Dame Stadium.  Here’s the Drew Brees career stat-lines versus the Fighting Irish:

Three starts (1998, 1999, 2000)
1-2 win/loss record
60/98 passing, 799 yards, five touchdown passes, four interceptions, one rushing touchdown

The games:
1998 – Notre Dame 31, Purdue 30
Notre Dame fell behind 14-0 and trailed 30-21 with under eight minutes to play before a Jim Sanson field goal with under a minute left eventually won it for the Irish.
Brees:  24 of 26 for 261 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions

1999 – Purdue 28, Notre Dame 23
Notre Dame jumped out to a 10-0 lead in West Lafayette before Brees guided the Boilermakers to victory.  He finished the afternoon with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and ran in a two point conversion in the Purdue victory.
Brees:  24 of 40 passing for 317 yards, one touchdown pass, one interception and a two point conversion run

2000 – No. 21 Notre Dame 23, No. 13 Purdue 21
In Godsey We Tust…as long as the defense plays ridiculously well. That’s what happened on this afternoon in 2000 when a Shane Walton pick-six of Brees put the Irish up 14-0 in the first quarter.  The Irish wouldn’t find the end-zone again that afternoon but three Nick Setta field goals, one of which came as time expired, did the eventual Big Ten Champions in.
Brees:  13 of 22 passing for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception