Saturday was the 213th consecutive sellout at Notre Dame Stadium. Since 1966, every home football game for the Irish has been a sellout except one - a 1973 Thanksgiving Day game vs. Air Force. Notre Dame has now played in front of sellouts in 261 of its last 262 home games.
Notre Dame's initial touchdown drive of the game went for 84 yards on seven plays. The Irish only had four longer touchdown drives in 2009.
Notre Dame did not register a sack in the first half against Purdue, but collected three in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter alone.
Season Openers...
The Irish are 102-15-5 (.857) in season openers and have taken 20 of the last 24.
Notre Dame is 97-19-5 (.822) in home openers and has won 10 of its last 13.
When Notre Dame's season and home openers are one and the same, the Irish are 40-7-1 (.840).
Notre Dame has captured eight of its last nine such openers (five-game winning streak was snapped against Georgia Tech in 2007).
The Irish have captured their last 13 season openers when scoring first, a span that dates back to the 1986 defeat to Michigan.
Since 1958 (when play-by-play became available), the Irish are 32-3 when scoring first and 13-5 when the opponent scores first.
Kelly Keeps Collecting Victories...
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has had almost unparalleled success recently as a head coach, leading his team to victory in 19 consecutive regular-season games. Only one active FBS head coach (Chris Peterson, Boise State with 25) has won more consecutive regular-season contests than Kelly.
First-year Head Coaches Open Strong...
Brian Kelly continued a long trend of success among Irish mentors in their first career game. Dating back to 1896, Irish skippers are 26-3 (.897) in their debut contests. Only Frank E. Hering in 1896 (4-0 loss to Chicago Physicians & Surgeons), Elmer Layden in 1934 (7-6 loss to Texas) and Lou Holtz in 1986 (24-23 loss to Michigan) failed to win their first game at Notre Dame. This record includes two wins by interim head coaches -- Ed McKeever in 1944 (58-0 win at Pittsburgh) and Hugh Devore in 1945 (7-0 win over Illinois) spelled Frank Leahy while he was off serving his country in World War II.
We've Been Here Before...
Notre Dame has opened its season with Purdue on eight occasions. The Irish hold a 7-1 record in those season-opening meetings with the Boilermakers. Only two other programs, Michigan and Northwestern, have opened against Notre Dame more often that Purdue.
Freshman WR TJ Jones registered his first career reception on Notre Dame's fourth offensive play from scrimmage. The catch went for 15 yards and resulted in a first down on a third and six play.
Sophomore RB Cierre Wood picked up his first career carry on Notre Dame's initial scoring drive. The rush went for 16 yards. He followed up that carry with another rush on the next play for 15 yards.
Junior signal caller Dayne Crist snapped Notre Dame's four-game losing streak with a first-time starting quarterback under center.
Since 1985, the Irish are now 14-6 under a first-time starting quarterback. Interestingly enough, Notre Dame is 9-2 under a first-time starting quarterback when playing in Notre Dame Stadium (also since 1985).
Crist's 205 yards passing are the third-most by a first-time starting Irish quarterback since 1985. Brady Quinn threw for 297 yards against Purdue on Sept. 27, 2003 and Ron Powlus had 291 yards against Northwestern on Sept. 3, 1994.
Notre Dame in September...
Notre Dame is 127-49-4 (.717) all-time during the month of September.
The Irish are 81-18-2 (.812) in September home games.
Against the Boilermakers...
Notre Dame limited Purdue to three points in the opening half today. It is the fewest points allowed by the Irish against Purdue in a half since the opening 30 minutes of the 2005 contest (ND led 28-0 at intermission).
Gave the Irish a 7-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown run at 2:01 of the first quarter. The touchdown was his eighth overall and seventh on the ground in his career. The scamper was the longest scoring run of his career.
In the first half, Crist completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards. He hooked up with seven different receivers in the opening half.
Crist found freshman WR TJ Jones open for a five-yard touchdown with 10:20 left in the third quarter to give the Irish a 20-3 lead. The touchdown pass was the second of Crist's career.
In the first half, Gray registered eight tackles, seven solo. The eight tackles equaled his career-high and seven solo stops surpassed his previous career-high.
Did not get credit with a pass breakup on Ian Williams interception on Purdue's fourth down play from the Irish five-yard line, but did deflect the pass before Williams registered the pick.
Recorded a five-yard touchdown reception with 10:20 left in the third quarter to give Notre Dame a 20-3 lead. The TD catch was the first of his career.
Converted a 22-yard field goal with 11:09 to go before halftime to give Irish a 10-0 advantage. He has connected on all six of his career field goal attempts.
Extended his streak for consecutive field goals to seven following a career-long 46-yard boot, which gave Notre Dame a 13-3 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the first half.
Pushed the streak to eight straight with a 37-ayrd field goal to give the Irish a 23-12 lead with 4:30 left in the game.
Williams played in his 38th career game today (one of only two players to play in every game since 2007).
Picked up his first career sack midway through the third quarter to force a Purdue punt.
Picked up second career interception stopping Purdue on fourth down and one from the Irish five-yard line. Williams only previous career pick came last season against Washington State in San Antonio.
Ripped off 16 and 15 yards on the ground in consecutive rushes, the first two carries his career.
Added another 15-yard rush on Notre Dame's initial scoring drive of the afternoon. Wood totaled 41 yards on four carries on the drive (41 of the 84 yards on the drive came via the legs of Wood).
Wood added a 41-kickoff return to set up great field position for the Irish early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame started the drive at Purdue 41-yard line, but went three-and-out.
