University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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showers brought reigning hopes scnrnrngging With April showers came an mitamislieSiope for the students of Notre Dame as their new coach, Tyrone Willingham, and the Notre Dame football team proudly stepped onto the field. April 27 was the 2002 football team ' s season debut in what is blown as the Blue-Gold game. This was the first time Notre Dame fans were able to watch their new coach pace in anticipation on the stadium ' s sidelines- sidelines that bring with them seventy-two years of history. As ' Ty ' took the field, many fans were wondering if he had just what it took to live up to the coaching legends that walked those same steps before him. With the rain begini-iing just after kickoff and continuing through most of the afternoon, offensive execution was not what it should have been. Halfway through the third quarter, Setta kicked a 37 -yard field goal scoring the only three points of the game. Tliis field goal gave the Gold team a 3-0 win over the Blue team. Although the tradition of the Blue-Gold game was no different this year from past years, some aspects of the game did change. Tlie format was different from recent years in that both squads were comprised of both offense and defense, rather than scrimmaging the offense against the defense. The time of play was also different this year. Four twelve-minute quarters with a running clock were played, making the entire game last less than an hour and a half. Players that made themselves especially notable at this year ' s scrimmage were Ryaii Grant, who rushed for 45 yards on seven carries and was named offensive MVP, Amaz Battle, who caught five passes for 73 yards, and Gerome Sapp, who had five tackles and picked off a pass to earn defensive MVP. Drenched from the pouring rain, students, players, and coaches alike left the stadium full of excitement for the season to come. by Kate DiNardo shows his talent in this year ' s scrimmage by catch- ing five passes and aishing for 73 yards. PfuJto hv Dan RoHiiettc 208 ie ' V-iyt- ' P aA£HJ

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tliat wvrc torrmxl K-nvctn tlie kixcrs JunnK the six-wieek tnuiiinj; pcriinJ shcMvd thdr strength in tlie final rounds di the Lll

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prwvcs to be stronsjcr thiui the offense in this play ot the scrimmage. Plv ui hi Dcm Kolvtu ' ttc iNTUie Willingkim nwkes his first ' in-actiiin ' appear- ;uice iw he;id awch in the 2002 Blue-G.Jd game. PIvKo hy Daii Robineae