SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Braxston Cave is named after the fullback from Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team. He’s a lifelong fan of the school, growing up not far from campus, and signed with the team after it posted a school-worst 3-9 record in 2007, convinced his class would help bring the storied program back to glory.

“We knew with the group we had that we could do something special,” Cave said. “There’s six of us left now, and it’s finally coming together.”

The fifth-year senior center has been through a lot during a mediocre first four seasons, a time in which the Irish went a combined 29-22 and saw coach Charlie Weis get fired.