<h2><font size="2">Notre Dame goes 0-4 for first time in school history</font></h2> SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame's offense got into the end zone- twice, in fact. It wasn't nearly enough to end the misery for the Fighting Irish.</p> For the first time in 119 seasons of Notre Dame football, the Irish are 0-4.</p> Michigan State, which blew a big lead to Notre Dame a year ago in a loss that sent its season in a tailspin, got a measure of revenge against the floundering Fighting Irish with a 31-14 victory Saturday.</p> Now it's Notre Dame's season that's spinning out of control. The Irish have lost six in a row, the second longest losing streak in school history, and allowed at least 30 points in each game.</p> Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said he wasn't focusing on the worst start ever.</p> "Records to me is not the critical factor," he said. "I'll critically evaluate this game and get ready for Purdue."</p> Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who became the first Spartans coach to win his first four games, called the victory a statement. He said the painful 40-37 loss last year in East Lansing had taken a toll on the players and the program.</p> "Our guys have been mocked, and our guys have been made fun of, and we lost coaches; there was a coaching change, and a lot of things happened," he said. "So we internalized this and turned it to our favor today."</p> Brian Hoyer threw four touchdown passes -- two to Kellen Davis and one each to Devin Thomas and Mark Dell -- and Javon Ringer rushed for 144 yards on 26 carries and Jehuu Caulcrick ran for 83 yards on 20 carries to pace the Spartans.</p> "It was an emotional win for us," Davis said. "Getting this victory here was kind of like vindication or redemption for us, especially for those who started last year."</p> Michigan State also became the first opponent to win six in a row at Notre Dame Stadium.</p> Last season, Brady Quinn led the Irish back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This season it was the Michigan State quarterback who was the star.</p> Hoyer was 11-of-24 passing for 135 yards as the Spartans amassed 354 yards total offense.</p> "Anytime you throw four touchdown passes you have to be pretty pleased," Hoyer said. "It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."</p> The most memorable play was the final touchdown. On fourth-and-2 from the 30-yard line, Hoyer fumbled the snap -- on purpose, as it turns out -- picked it up and threw a TD pass to Davis.</p> "We've practiced that thing since the spring," Dantonio said.</p> Hoyer said he was worried doing it on fourth down, but said the Irish fell for it.</p> "I guess it helped that I fumbled on the second play of the game," he said.</p> Notre Dame finally found some offense, scoring two TDs and finishing in the black in yards rushing for the first time this season, but the Irish defense was woeful.</p> Notre Dame finally scored its first offensive touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run by Travis Thomas to cap a 9-yard drive in the first quarter. The score was setup by a Michigan State fumble.</p> Notre Dame later added an 80-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 43-yard run by James Aldridge, who ran for 104 yards on 18 carries. The Irish ran for 117 yards; Michigan State 219 yards.</p> Freshman Jimmy Clausen was 7 of 13 passing for 53 yards for Notre Dame. Evan Sharpley, who played the fourth quarter, was 4-of-7 passing for 33 yards. The Irish, who had given up 23 sacks through their first three games, were sacked four times by the Spartans. MSU defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic sacked Clausen for a 17-yard loss and stripped the ball from the quarterback.</p> The Irish played their best game of the season, but just couldn't keep up. They have now scored 27 points through four games -- the third fewest ever in school history. The 1933 team managed just 12 points and the 1928 team coached by Knute Rockne scored 25.</p> Notre Dame scored both of its touchdowns in the first half and trailed 17-14 at halftime. The first came on a short drive after Hoyer fumbled the snap and Irish defensive end Trevor Laws recovered. The second touchdown came on a 3-yard run by Robert Hughes.</p> The Irish have only had 12 losing seasons in the history of the program -- though three have come in the past nine years. With Purdue, UCLA, Boston College and USC up next for the Irish, losing season No. 13 will be tough to avoid.</p> "You keep going until there's a payoff," Weis said. "Hopefully it's against Purdue."</p> </p>
Should he be fired? Yes; Tyrone Willingham was fired for less. Well he be fired? No, and I'm leaning on race being a large factor.
