[Bigdaddydvo]

[ QUOTE ]
Okay, I found Auburn's participation stats. I'd love to see Florida's too, but here are ours compared to ND's. I combined the Sr and 5th yr senior totals for ND since I don't have Auburn's separated.

NOTRE DAME - eight games played
Fr - 15
So - 48
Jr - 45
Sr - 68

Auburn (8 games):
Fr - 38
So - 37
Jr - 43
Sr - 58

NOTRE DAME OFFENSIVE LINE
Fr - 0
So - 16
Jr - 16
Sr - 8

Auburn:
Fr - 20
So - 0
Jr - 16
Sr - 4

QB:
NOTRE DAME
Fr - 6
So - 1
Jr - 1
Sr - 0
5th- 0

Auburn:
Fr- 1
Sr- 7

Also the overall numbers don't include special teams. Auburn's kicker and punter are both freshmen. Most of our KO returns have been by a freshman. Our punt returner is a junior, but was replaced by a freshman @ LSU. I have no idea what ND's special teams experience is, but you can't get younger than that.

So all in all, Auburn is actually less experienced by a decent margin. ND's schedule is 2nd toughest according to Sagarin. Auburn's is #3. So that excuse doesn't hold either.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice work compiling these.

Obviously, Auburn has done a much, much better job of working in their young talent into the lineup. CW's approach to the same problem has thus far proved to be disasterous. It was the first time in 3 yrs as the ND coach that he's had to contend with a problem like this, and he's failed miserably thus far.