1.   As usual, the Fighting Irish suffered significant graduation losses.

2.   Connecticut took heavy graduation losses, too, including Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, all-Americans who had season-ending injuries.

3.   Early departures to the NFL, graduation losses, injuries and, for one player, legal trouble, created the situation.

4.   The Bruins were hurt by graduation losses, and three players left early for the NFL, including linebacker Jamir Miller and safety Marvin Goodwin.

5.   Year in and year out, Coach Leon Barmore replaces graduation losses with guards who can fly and post players with muscle.