Led Irish to seven straight victories and a Fiesta Bowl berth as the starting quarterback in 2000 ... an exceptional decision maker Sset the Notre Dame record for interception avoidance at .0080 as a freshman ... threw 11 touchdowns and one interception in 2000 ... level-headed and even-keeled player who doesn't rattle easily ... brought many intangibles to the team. AS A SOPHOMORE: Returned as Irish starter at quarterback in 2001 after gaining the starting job beginning with Stanford game in 2000 ... threw first touchdown pass of year, a six-yard throw to Javin Hunter vs. Michigan State ... Irish starter in first two games of '01 vs. Nebraska and Michigan State ... played in the second half of the A&M game, replacing starter Carlyle Holiday who left the game at halftime with a neck injury ... did not see action vs. Pittsburgh or West VirginiaSplayed one series vs. USC after Holiday bruised his knee in the second quarter ... played part of last offensive series for Irish after Holiday hurt his knee vs. Boston CollegeSplayed vs. Navy and completed his only pass attempt for season-high 24 yards ... also played vs. Stanford. AS A FRESHMAN: Began season as number-three Irish signalcaller but ultimately assumed starting role after injury to Arnaz Battle ... ended up playing in each of last nine Irish games in 2000 and starting the last eight (including 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State), including seven straight wins to end the regular season ... would have ranked seventh nationally in passing efficiency at 151.70, but did not meet the NCAA minimum of playing in 75 percent of team's regular-season games ... that passing efficiency figure was the best by an Irish quarterback since 1990 ... his .0080 (1 int., 125 att.) interception percentage shattered the previous Notre Dame season record of .0172 set by Ron Powlus in '96 (4 int., 232 att.) ... honorable mention pick on Rivals.com true freshman All-America team ... threw just one interception in 30 regular-season quarters and finished the regular season with 22 straight quarters without throwing an interception (since second quarter vs. Navy) ... first Irish quarterback to win his first seven starts since Kevin McDougal won his first nine in 1993 ... in his regular-season starts, the Irish averaged 400.6 yards of total offense and scored 36.0 points per game ... his .584 (73 of 125) completion percentage ranks as the fourth best single season percentage in school history (record is Ron Powlus' .611 in '97) ... threw at least two TD passes in each of his first four starts, making him the first Notre Dame quarterback to have multiple touchdown passes in four straight games since Rick Mirer in 1992 ... was one of just two freshmen (Omar Jenkins) to play on offense, one of just four overall and was the only freshman to start ... played in first career game vs. Michigan State, appearing in two series ... completed first career pass on only attempt of the game, a 43-yard play to Javin Hunter to the Spartan two-yard line, setting up a Julius Jones touchdown which pulled the Irish to within 21-14 ... was also Notre Dame's second leading rusher with 21 yards on four carries ... made first career start vs. Stanford and played the entire game, leading Irish to 20-14 victory to become the 12th Irish quarterback out of the last 13 to win in his first start ... became the first freshman to start at quarterback since Paul Failla in 1991 and just the fourth since 1951 (Notre Dame has won all five freshman QB debuts) ... was four-for-four passing for 40 yards with three rushes for 17 yards in leading Irish on 91-yard scoring drive on opening series vs. Stanford, the longest drive of the season ... capped it off with first career TD pass, a 17-yard strike to David Givens to put Notre Dame ahead 7-0 ... hit Givens again just before halftime for an eight-yard score to give the Irish a 13-0 lead ... finished the game 10-for-18 passing for 100 yards, while also accruing 36 rushing yards on 13 carries ... finished 13-of-20 passing vs. Navy for 183 yards, including 11-yard third-period TD pass to Dan O'Leary and 32-yard TD throw to Tony Fisher in fourth period ... named offensive MVP vs. Navy by Florida Citrus Sports ... was eight for 16 for 94 yards vs. West Virginia, including two TD passes to Tony Fisher, a 36-yard play just before halftime and a seven-yarder in the third quarter ... was 10 for 25 for 171 yards and three TDs vs. Air Force ... opened the scoring with a 10-yard TD to Hunter and added 28- and 68-yard scores to Joey Getherall in the third quarter ... the last time the Irish had a longer completion was 1992, when Rick Mirer hit Michael Miller vs. Northwestern for a 70-yard score ... rushed for career-high 73 yards and was nine-of-12 passing for 86 yards vs. Boston College ... completed season-high 13 of 19 passes for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns vs. Rutgers ... put Irish on top 7-3 with a 43-yard TD pass to Getherall and hit Hunter later from 25 yards out ... also ran 68 yards for a touchdown that was called back on first play of second Irish drive of game ... was nine-of-14 passing for 142 yards vs. USC and ran for first two touchdowns of his career ... put Irish on top for good, 14-7, with 13-yard touchdown scamper in second quarter vs. Trojans and added a one-yard score in the third period ... named Independent Player of the Week by Collegefootballnews.com for effort versus USC ... completed 13 of 33 throws vs. Oregon State in starting effort at 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl for 138 yards. HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Honorable mention pick on USA Today prep All-America team ... named to list of top 100 national prospects by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 10 quarterbacks) and Dallas Morning News (one of 11 quarterbacks) ... rated second best player in New Jersey in '99 by Newark Star-Ledger ... helped Bergen Catholic to 10-1 record and New Jersey state title (Parochial Group 4) in '99, completing 94 of 160 passes for 1,503 yards and 17 touchdowns ... also rushed for 302 yards and a pair of scores as senior ... earned four letters in football as quarterback at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J. ... career totals featured 3,400 passing yards and 48 TDs ... Associated Press first-team all-state quarterback in New Jersey as senior ... team captain in '99 ... set school records for TD passes in a season and career ... helped team to 12-0 record and state championship as junior in '98 ... started at defensive back as sophomore ... first-team all-state as junior while throwing for 1,750 yards (92 of 149) and 29 TDs ... completed eight of 16 passes for 117 yards and two TDs in 35-9 '98 state title win over three-time defending state champion St. Joseph ... chosen for Governor's Bowl all-star game between New York and New Jersey stars ... also a starter in basketball, earning four letters and captaining team as senior ... averaged 12 points and six rebounds as senior ... attended Notre Dame summer football camp in '99 ... full name is Matthew Lawrence LoVecchio ... oldest of two children ... born 2-2-82 in Englewood, N.J. LoVecchio's Career Statistics
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