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THERE'S NO QUESTION that Notre Dame is among college football's most storied programs. But since 1997, when South Florida began playing football, Notre Dame's overall record is 99-72, including a 2-7 bowl record. USF in that time is 103-62 with a 4-2 bowl record.
MICHAEL CONROY | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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usf at Notre dame football schedule 2011 | 3:30 p.m. (nbc)
"We're not going to get off the bus with a camera around our neck," Holtz said. "This is a business trip, it's not a tourist trip."
USF opens at Notre Dame today at 3:30 on NBC, in a matchup of one of the oldest icons of college football against the youngest BCS program in the country.
Notre Dame began playing football in 1887. USF started 110 years later in 1997.
Notre Dame has had 80 first-team All Americans. USF has had six.
Notre Dame claims 13 national championships dating to 1919. USF, which joined a BCS conference just six years ago, is still looking for its first Big East title.
"We're the youngest BCS program in the entire country," Holtz said. "Notre Dame's been playing football for about 120 years. We just celebrated our 100th win last year.
"By the time our school was founded in 1956, Notre Dame had already won seven national championships."
Actually, it was nine, but who's counting?
Recently, though, Notre Dame's history has been less than stellar. Since USF started playing football in 1997, Notre Dame's overall record is 99-73, including a 2-7 bowl record. USF is 103-62 in that same span with a 4-2 bowl record.
For that reason, some of USF's players might not have the same awe of Notre Dame that older football fans might, says USF offensive coordinator Todd Fitch.
"Notre Dame's been a little bit off the map for these guys. Us older people know a little bit more about Notre Dame," Fitch said.
That doesn't mean it isn't a big game for the Bulls, Fitch added. Notre dame football schedule 2011
South Florida Vs. Notre Dame notre dame, notre dame football schedule 2011, penn state football - With 19 starters returning from last season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish once again carry grand expectations heading into the season. Senior quarterback Dayne Crist will have a fine crop of receiving targets to throw to, including the 6-3, 224-pound Michael Floyd. Floyd was reinstated to the team in August following a DUI arrest in March. He will be available for the season opener against USF and beyond and should put up big numbers provided he stays on the field. Defensively, the Irish return all four starters in the secondary and and five of seven starters up front, including inside linebacker Manti Te'o.