OK it all comes down to this. This team just seems like a special team, they don't have a Manti Te'o who put the defense on his back and carried us to the National Title game. This team has stars of course, but they just seem like a TEAM. Kudo's to Kelly, Clark Lea and Chip Long. Just for history here's a good video on the Greatest Intersectional Rivalry in College Football. Notre Dame vs USC. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XoXCnRvz6Gw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>
Ah so many memories. They mentioned the 64 crushing defeat and the smashing victory in '66 the week after the 10-10 tie with MSU (52 yrs. ago today) but I like to recall the first USC game I attended in 1965. I'm sure Sid can recall that the constant chant of the week was REMEMBER. The Irish had a great defense and great running backs but their QB Zloch was not much of a passer. SC had the Heisman winning Mike Garrett as their featured RB. The Irish defense smothered him all afternoon. When the game ended (28-0 Irish) all 4 Irish backs including Zloch had gained more yds. than Garrett. That I REMEMBER.
ND <r>Another great ICON video:<br/> <br/> <URL url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq73g7HiYao">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq73g7HiYao</URL></r>
Grass field in the Coliseum got quite a work out last night in the Chiefs/Rams game, I'm sure it'll be fine by Sat night. Good thing we've played 2 of our last 3 games on grass. It will make the transition from Turf in ND Stadium to natural grass a lot easier. I'm sure we have a grass practice field but you have to wonder if we'll practice outside this week given the weather. I like that pickup of Bertrand for the Irish. He's really really wanted to come to ND, that gives us 4 linebackers in this class. There is still the SDE Foskey out there and he's reportedly a ND lean. So this is going to be a full class and like last year there will be some challenge getting down to the 85 by August. As always there will be some transfers, I don't think we'll have players kicked out like we did last spring to help with the numbers. The team has so far been well behaved! Some talk about why he and Georgia parted ways, apparently they have 2 top 10 players at LB already and expect a 3rd top 10 player and he was encouraged to seek out another team ( unofficially). On the mens basketball front Sr. Elijah Burns has left the team and will graduate in Dec and transfer. Question is as a Graduate Transfer could he play the 2nd semester at another school, assuming he enrolls somewhere in January, or will he sit out the Spring and play the full season someplace in 2019-2020? Womens Basketball heads to Vancouver to play Gonzaga on the 22nd and the men play Duquense tonight. Mens Soccer will take on fellow ACC member Virginia this weekend
:twisted: The heat is on Helton at USC. He recruits as well as anybody, but 25 players have walked out on him the last three years. The natives are restless in LaLa-land...
As of this point in time I would say take the Irish, lay the points and take the Over. This team is driven, focused and really is that good. We should crush USC.
This software platform has a mind of its own. I only pressed the submit button once. Other times I can't even get in here or post anything. Sorry about that. And don't make me repeat myself.
ND <t>If you took he "rivalry" factor out of this game I would say we should win fairly easily but.....it's is a BIG rivalry game for both teams so anything can happen. To win, usc would have to have it's best game of the season and we would have to have a lot of turnovers and penalties to help them. "stuff" happens, but we should win. They haven't put up a lot of points in any game this season thus far and I doubt they can keep us under 30, so just like syracuse if we keep them under 30 we should be fine. Just like syracuse, I'll take a win by 100 or 1. Just win Irish, just win.</t>
ND <r>Happy Thanksgiving From Notre Dame!<br/> <br/> <URL url="https://youtu.be/knX6OOTdD2M">https://youtu.be/knX6OOTdD2M</URL></r>
ND <t>Don,<br/> Thanks for the vote of confidence on an Irish win but I get worried when just about every so called analyst and talking head on in the sports reporting world seems to think it’s a forgone conclusion the Irish will handily take<br/> care of usc. It’s still a game in their stadium. It’s still a long standing historic rivalry game and they have more than enough high quality players to make a real good game out of this and pulling out a win to be eligible for a bowl game could make a difference. I’ll be happy when it’s over and the scoreboard shows ND with 1 more point on the board than usc. Until then I’ll consider myself cautiously optimistic. <br/> <br/> Just win this Irish, just win boys.</t>
I hate these mofos. The Pac12 Network lineup of channels has been pumping programming like all of USC's great wins over ND and 'greatest USC tailbacks" and I'm just sick of it all. I understand that this is our rival and there is a certain amount of respect that should go with these games, but I just don't buy into that ********. This should be a hate game. I promise you, for the legions of ND fans in southern California, this is a hate game. Two very different histories, two very different schools, two very different styles of play, two very different student bodies. The only thing that ties these two is this game. I promise you, they don't like us one bit. We can't beat these SOBs by enough, ever... but I'll take a one point win.