Quinn Makes His Mark

Quarterbacking at Notre Dame is not about records. (Brady Quinn set 17 school records this year.) It is not about yardage or touchdown passes. (Quinn's new records include several in both categories.) Quarterbacking at Notre Dame is about winning, and tonight Brady Quinn made his biggest mark yet in the annals of Notre Dame football.

After starting the game with an 80 yard pass to WR Jeff Samardzija, Quinn struggled, throwing two first half interceptions. He was off his game throughout the night, leaving the Irish to rely heavily on Darius Walker's 191 yards on 37 carries. In part due to Quinn's struggles, Stanford stayed in the game and took its first lead, 31-30, with 1:46 to go. Then, Quinn took the ball with his best chance yet to prove his mettle as an Irish quarterback.

The Irish offense started on the 20 with 1:37 to go and two timeouts. On the drive, Quinn went 3/3 for 68 yards, including a 21 yard pass to Maurice Stovall with less than a minute to go, setting up a Darius Walker six yard touchdown run. Walker added two points with a three yard run on a direct snap, walking through a wide hole left by the Irish offensive line.

The win makes the Irish eligible for a BCS bowl for only the second time. The Irish win in the bowl game will be the team's first since Jan. 1, 1994.