USC is the wounded tiger now, very dangerous. They have plenty of talent, Cody Kessler didn't forget how to throw the ball, those WR's didn't forget how to run fast, etc. But knowing what we know now it's pretty easy to see how they have underachieved this year, I mean if your HC has an alcohol abuse problem how well are you going to be prepared for games? There are all sorts of reports of him being drunk in staff meetings, at practices, etc. So now that he's out of the picture, and Clay Helton has taken over. You can bet they will get their focus on the Irish and be ready to play their best game of the year. All I have to do is look at the turmoil that the Texas Longhorns were going through after losing three in a row and esp being thumped 50-3 by TCU. All that seemed to bring the team together on game day and they went out and beat a pretty good Oklahoma team, that had none of those issues going on in their clubhouse. So Irish players and coaches better prepare to face the USC team that everybody expected to see on the field this year and not some worn down and don't give a crap team that is feeling sorry for itself. I'm sure all of you have by now seen that Daelin Hayes a highly rated USC commit at LB has dropped them and there is a feeling that he could end up with ND. That would be sweet. I wonder if we'll see Quentin Nelson back for USC or will Alex Bar's get the start. Kelly said Jerry Tillery and Nick Martin were both fine and should practice this week. We have a fall break after this game, it comes at a very good time for the team.
You beat me to it Tim. Good pickup for the Irish. Steve Hare says he's been a Silent since the Texas game. Glad he came out! Big weekend coming up, not just for the 2015 Irish facing USC, but also it'll be our biggest recruiting weekend of the year.
Nd <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> Terry,<br/> <br/> You can bet that the Irish haven't forgotten how the Trojans humiliated them last year out in Caly. Time for some payback.</r>
They put a whippin' on us last year. When Sid and I were at ND we'd see "Remember" signs everywhere on campus. And we'd play with a nasty chip on our shoulder. I hope we come out with bad intentions on Sat.
If we are truly a premier team and I think we are, we should beat these guys by at least 17. If we jump on them hard at the opening whistle they will go down easy. Too much adversity.
I'm sure that's what Stoops told his guys before the game with Texas, and he got it from a relative of Custers who said don't worry about those Indians they don't even have proper uniforms.
:idea: :arrow: I agree with Terry. You can't kick a junkyard dog any worse than he's already been kicked. Sometimes a wounded team gathers together with the feeling that they have nothing to lose. USC has a ton of talent and should be better now that the source of their problems has been removed...
Soap opera drama aside, if we can't beat this team by double digits at home then we can begin planning our holiday shopping around a bowl game.
Soap opera drama aside, if we can't beat this team by double digits at home then we can begin planning our holiday shopping around a bowl game.
Well we are slight favorites. I don't know how the game will turn out, and the team should be up for the game and motivated for the game. But USC still has a boat load of talent, they still have great team speed. It could be a net positive for them that Sark won't be around this week, they might have a good week of practice with sober coaches in charge. They are no doubt down with the 2 losses and the turmoil going on around the program. But that could also focus them on the rivalry and beating the Irish as the cure for their ills. I'll be happy with a close win. I know it won't gain us anything in the polls to beat USC right now, even if we beat them by a large margin. But we still need this win and then we have the week off. BEAT USC.
We were a "wounded tiger", "junkyard dog" when we arrived in LA last year and we laid down and got our asses ripped. If we have any pride at all we'll repay the favor.
Well we were truly a wounded tiger with all our injuries, we barely could field a defense and it showed. Anything they tried worked, if Sark had wanted he could have hung 70 on us. But USC, while not 100%, I think they lost their starting center. Is not a physically wounded team, they have to overcome all the stuff going on with Sark and the media. Easier to overcome IMHO. I would agree though that if there is any pride on this team, and most of those guys who got their asses whipped last year in L.A. are still playing other than the guy who played his usual turnover machine game and was finally benched for Zaire...those guys should want to beat them and not just beat them but beat them soundly. I'll still take a 1 point win and move on. ...not as happy as with a 14-21 point win...but never the less.
ND <t>Having watched the USC/Washington game and the Stanford game you can see USC has some special talent at key offensive positions and when they play well are hard to stop but they don't always seem to play up to their abilities and both Washington in particular and Stanford took advantage of it. Actually Washington should have beaten them by 20 pts but they have their own offensive problems. Stanford just came out and started slugging them in the face and they finally caved. ASU lost to them cause they just couldn't do anything right that night at all and had what seems like a ton of turnovers. <br/> <br/> ND can beat this team in South Bend but they need a turnover free game and get some pressure on Kessler.</t>
Looks like it could be a chilly Saturday in South Bend. I've been to a number of these games. The Irish stand on the sidelines in bare sleeves and the Trojans huddle under their coats. I get the impression that they're thinking about getting on the plane and flying back to their favorite beach. Cold rain not much of a possibility which is too bad. That always adds to their misery.
I was at the '89 USC/ND game and it was really cold, I was bundled up and still cold. It was one time I was grateful for the way they pack fans into the seats at ND. Body heat! It's also our biggest recruiting weekend of the year. Some are worried that kids from the South or West will decide...no way I want to come here and freeze my butt off. But they way I look at it, better they get an idea of the real world of attending school in the Midwest, so if they come they don't leave after a year or so because of the cold. Of course the most famous visitor to a cold and also snowy ND game, was that kid from Hawaii ..Manti' something, and he ended up signing with the Irish over sunny So. Cal.
Hey These kids all think that they're going to play in the NFL. Let them see what it's like to play in Boston, Buffalo, Green Bay or Chicago. The campus will be beautiful with the leaves changing. The tailgates will be wafting the smell of brats over the stadium. There will be a lot of heat in the stadium. Should be a great experience for the serious recruits. (We always get a bunch of Cali kids who just want to go to an SC away game.)