SOUTH BEND, IND. ? Numbers are thought to be dry and dull, the purview of egghead mathematicians and science wonks.

But for the last 359 days, nothing has inspired, infuriated, pushed and prodded Notre Dame’s football players more than the number 38.

Thirty-eight is the nadir and the “never again,” a final score so hideous that avenging it has been a yearlong project.

On Sept. 13, 2003, Notre Dame was steamrolled by rival Michigan, 38-0.

The game was the Wolverines’ largest win over the Irish in 41 meetings and their first shutout of Notre Dame since 1902.

So today, as the Irish (0-1) line up across from the eighth-ranked Wolverines (1-0) at Notre Dame Stadium, they will be looking not just for victory but for redemption.

“Notre Dame-Michigan is a huge rivalry,” defensive end Kyle Budinscak said. “Not to hold up our end of the bargain on a rivalry like that, it is an embarrassment, and it’s something that … it’s pretty shameful.”

The score, said defensive end Justin Tuck, has not only been branded on their brains but incorporated into their training with strength coach Mickey Marotti.

“A concept of 38 reps of any certain drill — 38 reps of pushups, 38 reps of sprints, 38 pullups. Just anything Mickey could physically exhaust us with the number 38, we did,” Tuck said.

“And you’re thinking about (how) I’m going to finish these reps because of what that stands for, what 38-0 stands for,” Budinscak added.

Last season, then-quarterback Carlyle Holiday said, Notre Dame’s early struggles snowballed into a seeming paralysis by the offense, the defense and the special teams.

“As the game rolled on, we just lost confidence, and the final score showed that,” said Holiday, who finished 5 of 14 passing for just 55 yards. “That was one of the worst defeats in Notre Dame history, and to be a part of that, to be on a team that experienced that, that really hurts.”

That is exactly why Wolverines wide receiver Jason Avant expects the Irish to put the hurt into Michigan early and often today.

Despite its season-opening loss Slast weekend at Brigham Young, Notre Dame is hungry, angry and dangerous, Avant said.

“I think they are feeling a fire in their souls,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter what they did against BYU. They still remember last year’s game, they’ve been getting prepared for us, and I know they are going to be ready.”

Fellow wide receiver Braylon Edwards agreed.

“A lot of people think that they’re going to go into a shell or into a funk, but I believe that they’re going to forget about last week and come out and play like wild men,” Edwards said.

Budinscak wouldn’t dispute that.

Walking off the field last year at Michigan Stadium was ” indescribable,” he said. “It was a letdown you can’t even explain. It’s hard to talk to people even close to you after a game like that and a performance like that.”

“The fact that they beat us 38-0, that’s been eating away at me personally,” Tuck said. “I know it’s been eating away at my teammates too. So we’re looking to avenge that loss this weekend. There’s going to be a lot of emotion to this game.”