2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team explained

Year:2006
Team:Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Conference:Independent
Coachrank:19
Aprank:17
Record:10–3
Head Coach:Charlie Weis
Hc Year:2nd
Off Coach:Michael Haywood
Oc Year:2nd
Def Coach:Rick Minter
Dc Year:4th
Captain:Brady Quinn
Captain2:Travis Thomas
Captain3:Tom Zbikowski
Off Scheme:Pro-style
Def Scheme:Multiple 4–3
Stadium:Notre Dame Stadium
Bowl:Sugar Bowl vs. LSU
Bowl Result:L 14–41

The 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Charlie Weis and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The team completed the season with a record of ten wins and three losses that culminated in a post-season appearance in the 2007 Sugar Bowl and a number 19 ranking in the nation.

Preseason

After finishing 9–3 in 2005, Notre Dame began the 2006 season ranked No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 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.

Roster changes

The Irish lost nine former starters to graduation and the NFL after the 2005 season, including five offensive starters, three defensive, and placekicker D.J. Fitzpatrick.[1] [2] However, the Irish returned many 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 pre-season hype as a possible national championship contender.[3]

Recruits

In Weis' first full year of recruiting, the Irish signed 28 recruits. The top ten ranked recruiting class, included three five star recruits on offense and 14 four star recruits with eight on offense and six on defense.

Award candidates

Quinn also entered the season as one of the favorites to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.[4] Along with Quinn, the following Fighting Irish football players were named to national award watchlists for the 2006 season:

Notre Dame's three players on the Maxwell Award watchlist tied Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and USC for most nominees.

Rankings

See also: 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stevenson Becomes Third Notre Dame Football Player Taken In 2006 NFL Draft. 2007-07-15.
  2. Web site: 6 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL STARS SIGN FREE AGENT PACTS WITH NFL TEAMS. 2007-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20070608180525/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050106aab.html. 8 June 2007 . live.
  3. Web site: Notre Dame will be the national champion . 2006-09-27 . SportingNews.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20060721110429/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=106564 . 2006-07-21 . dead .
  4. News: 2006 NCAA Football Preview – The Crystal Ball . 2006-09-27 . SportsIllustrated.com . 2006-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20060901213357/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2006/08/30/crystal.ball/1.html. 1 September 2006 . live.
  5. Web site: Three Irish Players Name To Maxwell Award Watch List . 2006-09-28 . und.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909014143/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061306aaa.html. 9 September 2006 . live.
  6. Web site: Walter Camp News Release . 2006-09-28 . waltercamp.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20070701023106/http://www.waltercamp.org/newsrelease/release1.htm . 2007-07-01 . dead .
  7. Web site: Bronko Nagurski Watchlist . 2006-09-27 . touchdownclub.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20060814235847/http://www.touchdownclub.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=show_page&page_id=5. 14 August 2006 . dead.
  8. Web site: Tom Zbikowski Named to 2006 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List . 2006-09-28 . und.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20060909014155/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/061306aab.html. 9 September 2006 . live.
  9. Web site: 2006 Outland Trophy Watch List . 2006-09-28 . und.com . 2006-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060626092330/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062006aaa.html . dead .
  10. Web site: Victor Abiamiri Lands on 2006 Hendricks Award Watch List . 2006-09-28 . und.com . 2006-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060626092330/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062006aaa.html . dead .
  11. Web site: Rimington Trophy Watchlist . 2006-09-27 . rimingtontrophy.com .
  12. Web site: No. 2 Notre Dame edges Georgia Tech in defensive struggle. https://archive.today/20130103154841/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?confId=&gameId=262450059. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-09-11. 2006-09-28.
  13. Web site: Quinn is mighty for No. 4 Irish in trouncing of No. 19 Penn State. https://archive.today/20130103002835/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?confId=&gameId=262520087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-09-11. 2006-09-25.
  14. Web site: Michigan stuns Notre Dame, puts up 47 points in South Bend rout. https://archive.today/20130103064703/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=262590087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-09-16. 2006-09-26.
  15. https://www.espn.com/college-football/preview?gameId=272650087 ESPN – Michigan State Spartans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview, September 22, 2007 – NCAA College Football
  16. Web site: A season saved? ND comes back from 17 down to topple MSU. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023200403/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?confId=&gameId=262660127. dead. October 23, 2012. ESPN. 2006-09-23. 2006-09-27.
  17. Web site: Quinn, Irish offense come to life in victory over Purdue. https://archive.today/20130103062103/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?confId=&gameId=262730087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-09-30. 2006-10-06.
  18. Web site: After Slow Start, Quinn, Walker, Power Irish Past Cardinal. https://archive.today/20130103030243/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?confId=&gameId=262800087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-10-07. 2006-10-08.
  19. Web site: Notre Dame stuns UCLA on last-minute 45-yard TD. ESPN. 2006-10-21. 2006-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20061107115350/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=262940087&. 7 November 2006 . dead.
  20. Web site: Quinn, Irish continue mastery of Navy with 24-point win. https://archive.today/20130103124854/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263012426. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-10-28. 2006-10-28.
  21. Web site: Quinn, Samardzija power Irish offense in easy win over UNC. https://archive.today/20130103035629/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263080087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-11-04. 2006-11-04.
  22. Web site: Efficient Irish offense picks apart Air Force in blowout. https://archive.today/20130103122540/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263152005. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-11-11. 2006-11-11.
  23. Web site: Quinn keeps Notre Dame in national championship chase. https://archive.today/20130103151349/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263220087. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-11-18. 2006-11-18.
  24. Web site: USC delivers BCS statement with sound beating of Irish. https://archive.today/20130103030017/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263290030&confId=null. dead. January 3, 2013. ESPN. 2006-11-25. 2006-11-25.
  25. Web site: Geoff Price Named Ray Guy Award Semifinalist. 2007-07-15. 2008-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516142750/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110306aah.html. dead.
  26. Web site: Tom Zbikowski Named Thorpe Award Semifinalist. 2007-07-15. 2006-11-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20061119131835/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110806aac.html. dead.
  27. Web site: John Carlson Finalist For The Mackey Award. 2007-07-15. 2006-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20061228030157/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120106aab.html. dead.
  28. Web site: Brady Quinn Finishes Third in Heisman Trophy Balloting. 2007-07-15. 2007-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070128174933/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121006aab.html. dead.
  29. Web site: Brady Quinn A Finalist For the Unitas Award. 2007-07-15. 2008-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516142742/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110306aai.html. dead.
  30. Web site: Brady Quinn Named Finalist For Maxwell And O'Brien Awards. https://archive.today/20120717113047/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112106aah.html. dead. July 17, 2012. 2007-07-15.
  31. Web site: Brady Quinn Named Maxwell Award College Football Player Of The Year. 2007-07-15. 2007-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20070126142528/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aab.html. dead.
  32. Web site: Brady Quinn Selected as Cingular All-America Player of the Year. 2007-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20070711012642/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010907aaa.html. 11 July 2007. dead.
  33. Web site: Sam Young Named First Team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News. 2007-07-15. 2007-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20071108230623/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aap.html. dead.
  34. Web site: Five Irish Players Earn All-America Honors From Sports Illustrated. 2007-07-15. 2007-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20070126142558/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aar.html. dead.
  35. Web site: Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Tom Zbikowski Earn Mention On AP All-America Teams. 2007-07-15. 2007-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20070402011050/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121306aab.html. dead.
  36. Web site: Samardzija & Zbikowski Named Walter Camp Football Foundation Second Team All-Americans. 2007-07-15. 2007-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20070711013436/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aah.html. dead.
  37. Web site: Jeff Samardzija Named Football Writers Association of America First Team All-American. 2007-07-15. 2007-01-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20070129050136/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121006aad.html. dead.
  38. Web site: Jeff Samardzija Named Consensus All-American. 2007-07-15. 2008-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080630064741/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010906aaa.html. dead.
  39. Web site: Notre Dame WR Jeff Samardzija Named To NCAA Consensus All-America Football Team. 2007-07-15. 2007-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070128041229/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011507aaa.html. dead.
  40. Web site: Seven Notre Dame Football Players Drafted Into NFL; Four Others Sign Free Agent Contracts. 2007-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20070703090141/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/043007aac.html. 3 July 2007. dead.
  41. Web site: Texans Sign Notre Dame Running Back Darius Walker. 2007-06-30.
  42. Web site: Jeff Samardzija Signs Five-Year MLB Deal With Chicago Cubs. 2007-06-30. 2007-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20070128041239/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011907aak.html. dead.

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