OK Irish, this is where the rubber meets the road!! I'll start this off with Lane Kiffins Sunday presser. <iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7zzZgpYEcY4" frameborder="0"></iframe>
I don't think he will experience any last minute heartbreak this year 8) I expect the Irish to physically pound these girlie boys into the turf and beat them soundly. The spread right now is 8.5 and I think we will cover that three times over.
Alrighty then! I think this will be Kelly's signature game. I think he gets them down and then grinds them into dust. I'm thinking 45-17.
Please don't get me fired up like that. I thought we would grind Michigan into the dust as well this year, and last year. Didn't work out that way.
Swarbrick and Kelly out beating the drums to make ND stadium louder for the game. Jumbotron being talked about as well. It's funny but ND Stadium has to be the last major stadium in existence to not have a Jumbotron. Personally I don't really care and don't miss it at all. But it's always a hot topic on ND boards. I found it funny in reading on my Texas boards how they are so frustrated with the laid back nature of Texas fans, complain about too many old alumns, too many wine/cheese types, one guy actually used ND as an example of a stadium that is louder than Texas stadium.
Maybe in the game at ND that he saw but not all the time. This has been a bone of contention for me for many years. I don't believe age is a factor. The same "what have you done for me lately" attitude that prevails among a large portion of ND fans exhibits itself in the stadium. For big games you can't beat the noise level, but it is inconsistent. At the Air Force game last week, the students started a wave when we were on offense. I've always interpreted the wave as a sign of boredom. I know I'm in a small minority, but I don't care if it's a blowout, I consider it an insult to the team to do the wave during the game. Just an example of how (IMO) the ND crowd is inconsistent in its fervor. A jumbotron is not going to change that. P.S. George, if we beat Southern Cal by 25 or more points, I'll happily buy you lunch the next time we meet, which will be the first time.
Hey, you don't need to drive all the way here. If I'm buying, that means we clobbered the Trojans. I'll gladly meet you halfway.
New category, where is half way from your place to Sid? For me I think that's Memphis! If Sid's buying I'm there!
Ha-ha! I'm game. I thing Pittsburgh would be about halfway between George and me. The atlas says it's 359 miles from Indy and 306 from Philly. I'm guessing George is about an hour or so from Philly.
Some thoughts... Little Kiffin is such a sniveling, cocky, weasel, that you know there's a long line ahead of you to kick his arse... It's a typical USC team from all of the usual places; Catholic schools like Mater Dei, Serra, Loyola and a big, hairy, MLB from Servite named Galippo; beach schools like Newport, Laguna, Redondo; LA City schools from the harbor area like Carson and downtown like Crenshaw; Inland Empire kids from my area like Chino, Corona, Norco and the world's largest Korean from Chino Hills, 6'3" 300lb OG Patrick Kim from Ayala HS. What's different about this team is the curious absence of players from Bishop Amat or Long Beach Poly. I've seen as many as NINE Bishop Amat players suit up for USC at one time and as many as seven from Poly. They're just not there and now I'm wondering where they're going...? Strengths: QB Matt Barkley- Was a 4-year starter at Mater Dei and he's started every year at USC too. He's a 1st round draft pick. Robert Woods- Was the best player in the state at Serra HS. He was a freshman last year. We need to contain him and he's their kick returner too. Chris Galippo- The hero from Servite had his worst game against the Irish last year and caught hell because of it. He's looking for payback. Matt Kalil- Is another monster from Servite at 6' 7", 300. He's from a family of USC football players and another potential 1st rounder. My opinion- I hope our lads hit all these fine Catholic school kids like protestants... Weakness: With the exception of Kalil, USC's offensive line just isn't that good. They've had trouble opening holes for their ground game and they've had trouble protecting Barkley. If the Irish can contain Robert Woods (a big "if") then the Trojan offense could be in a heap of trouble... Dbacks- Were already in trouble with lack of depth and small size, with the biggest CB being only 5'9"...then one of them broke his ankle against Cal and they've had to shift some safeties down to the corner and some true freshmen up the depth chart, ready or not. Other players to watch: - George Farmer (Serra HS) is a kid the Irish wanted and he's very similar to our George Atkinson...very fast. - Randall Telfer (Rancho Cucamonga) is a kid that Corey and I saw play in high school. He's a very fast TE. Summary: If Barkley or Woods want to win awards or big NFL contracts, this is the game to do it. Otherwise, USC's best hope is Notre Dame turnovers, but the Irish haven't turned it over in weeks...
The Daily Bull is our local newspaper in the Inland Valley. Here we have Little Kiffin heaping praise on Manti Teo and Michael Floyd, while calling this Saturday's matchup "just another game." Even more interesting, he just lost one of his prize recruits. Arik Armstead, who's older brother plays for the Trojans has pulled a decommit and will attend the game as a guest of the Fighting Irish... http://www.dailybulletin.com/sports/ci_19135222
ND <t>I say ND needs to start out running the ball and just keep on running it. I'm fairly sure that we can do well running the ball and being more physical. In the past it seems that when ND has hit these guys in the mouth early and often they have had success. <br/> <br/> If Barkley comes out firing successfully early it will be a long evening.</t>
Don, Take this for what it's worth, knowing I'm a Southern Cal-hating ND fan. I gave ND 18 points only because I felt that the potential outcomes of the LSU and Alabama games were more certain. As much as I would like to put 20 on the Irish, the Southern Cal game has not been a gimme since the days of Lou Holtz.