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9. Notre Dame

The signs of change are everywhere. The stadium has been expanded from 59,075 seats to 80,225. The campus golf course has been torn up, soon to be rebuilt. Even the Golden Dome is getting much-needed structural repairs.

Now it's up to neophyte coach Bob Davie to spruce up the Irish football program. Notre Dame, after all, has won only one national championship since 1977, and none in the '90s. On top of that, only one Irish player has been taken in the first round of the NFL draft since 1994. Davie must find a way to get the talent back—and return his school to the top—if he wants to fill those stadium seats into the next millenium.

The good news for Notre Dame fans is that the Irish always seem to play better when they have something to prove. With 15 starters back from a team that went 8-3 a year ago, the tools are there for a successful reclamation project. "There's so much enthusiasm around here," says Davie, who was elevated from defensive coordinator after Lou Holtz resigned last November. "I can't help but feel we're going to do very well."

The centerpiece of the offense will once again be Ron Powlus, a four-year starter who holds the school record for career touchdown passes (43) and could break several more marks. Powlus, who graduated in May with a degree in marketing, bypassed a shot at the NFL because he wanted to play for the more pass-oriented Davie. "It was a chance to be part of something exciting," Powlus says. "I wanted to help build something here."

ALSO

Notre Dame team page 1997 schedule

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The results in spring practice were impressive. Freed from Holtz's manacles, Powlus gunned the ball around, using more three-step drops and quick passes. He even made Notre Dame's suspect receiving corps look good. "This is the offense he's been waiting for," senior tackle Mike Doughty says. "He looks awesome."

When Powlus doesn't throw the ball, he'll hand it off to one of the best running back trios in the country. Junior Autry Denson, a slasher in the Warrick Dunn mold, rushed for 1,179 yards last season, the fifth-highest single-season total in Irish history. Both fullbacks, junior Jamie Spencer and sophomore Joey Goodspeed, are bruisers with speed. They'll run behind an experienced line that averages 6'6", 297 pounds and features three fifth-year seniors.

On defense Notre Dame must replace five of its starting front seven, but the Irish aren't overly concerned. Junior linebacker Kory Minor and senior end Melvin Dansby are emerging stars. Senior cornerback Allen Rossum, an indoor track All-America who led the nation in punt returns last season with a 22.9-yard average, leads an experienced secondary.

The Irish lack a game breaker reminiscent of Tim Brown or Rocket Ismail, and the placekicking is shaky. In addition the schedule is difficult, with trips to Michigan, Stanford and LSU. Still, there's no denying that a new spirit reigns in South Bend with Davie calling the shots. Says Powlus, "He believes we can win every game this year."
—Marty Burns

TELLING STAT
6 Kicks (five punts, one kickoff) returned for touchdowns last season by Autry Denson, Joey Goodspeed and Allen Rossum, each of whom is back this year.
TWO GAMES TO WATCH
SEPT. 27 AT MICHIGAN The rivalry is renewed after a two-year break. New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison gets to face his old team. OCT. 18 VS. USC Notre Dame has bad memories of last season's 27-20 overtime loss, which kept it out of an Alliance bowl.
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing	Ron Powlus, Sr.	133 comp., 232 att., 1,942 yds., 12 TDs
Rushing	Autry Denson, Jr.	1,179 yds., 8 TDs
Receiving	Malcolm Johnson, Sr.	25 catches, 449 yds., 2 TDs
Tackles	SS Benny Guilbeaux, Jr.	62
Interceptions	Guilbeaux	4