Don’t underestimate a talented USC team who is playing their last game in front of a home crowd. Underperforming for the of the year I will admit. But a win against an undefeated Notre Dame team heading for the playoff would be a huge feather in the helmet. The say their head coach is loved by his players. His future in doubt at this point. Don’t tell me USC will come in ‘flat’ or ‘fold’ as I have read below. They have ever reason to want this game. We could copy our advise to our team.....”Stay Hungry and Humble’
Good luck IRISH!
One doesn't have to underestimate this USC team to expect a comfortable ND win, we just have to know what to expect based on both teams' performances over a nearly full season.
USC has a possibly lame duck head coach that most were surprised it hired. It starts a true frosh QB who should be in high school. It lacks the big-play capability we're used to seeing, and the OL has trouble establishing the run and protecting the QB against good defenses. It has lost four of five games, only beating 2-8 Oregon State in the process. It just lost to a UCLA team that entered the game with a 2-8 record. After blowing a 14-0 halftime lead to Cal in the span of about 10 minutes a couple weeks ago, USC didn't even come close to scoring when it needed one point for the final 20 minutes of the game. Its best drive after halftime was 10 plays for 33 yards and a punt. For the half, it ran 31 plays for 30 yards and -2 points.
This USC team is barely top 50 and I'm assuming that rating is living off the two-month-old home victory over Washington State. The two best defenses it has faced - Utah and Cal - held USC to 205 and 277 yards, respectively. USC is 5-6 for a reason. Just imagine Notre Dame is getting ready to play a different 5-6 team whose history doesn't frighten you.
...seriously, I love the " imagine Notre Dame is getting ready to play a different 5-6 team whose history doesn't frighten you." We are sadly a bit of a emotionally damaged fan base.
I know, I get it. Davie, Ty, Charlie, Purple Face's 4-8 from a few years ago. It's traumatic, and I understand it leaves emotional scars. We've been through a similar thing ourselves. Still going through it, actually.
This is your best team in 30 years. This is our worst team in 18 years. Do the math.
Our coach is inept; our fans have quit; and I think our players have quit. I'm going to the game -- I never miss SC-ND -- but I'll probably leave the car running so I can make a quick getaway.
I don't ask for many favors from you guys. But I have one. Whatever you do, don't let up. We can't win this game; I already know that. So I don't want any moral victories. I need to make sure we get rid of this guy. 2-8 UCLA did their part. Time for you to do yours.
(no message)
First time in my life I ever saw SC fans showing empathy and trying to console Irish fans.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
Many of the players hate Helton at this point (he plays favorites...sound familiar?).
They also have no pride.
of this team is far different than we've seen in recent past. It's a business trip
and will be viewed as such. Ask yourself this question: if I go back even just 2-3 years, how
confident was I with ND winning no matter who they played? Answer: not very, and in some cases
against the better teams, not at all. Now ask yourself this question: how confident am I now that ND will
win, no matter who they play? MY answer: highly confident, and I haven't felt this way since the Holtzian
years. The key to this entire season has been, and will continue to be, consistent QB play. He's had his highs and lows
but neither one has been excessive. We know USC will be emotional for any number of reasons and we simply have to match and counter that emotion
from the start.
(no message)
....I felt the same damn way after the NC State (or was it Wake Forest?) game last year, leading into Miami. I really thought we were for real, and then POW. To be sure, this team is exponentially better than that team, but the emotional scars remain! :)
I left ND Stadium after the NC State game, a very cold day by the way, thinking...OK, IM in...this team has a chance..Im still not sure what happened, except they looked out of gas, and some injuries crept in..While very happy with the Citrus bowl comeback win over LSU..I still didn't think that was the same team that was 7-1 after NC ST
The jersey still says USC. They are still a rival. The game is still prime time. Considering it is also for a playoff bid, I can't imagine ND not being hungry.
...hey, so am I. I think this game, while it SHOULD be a relatively comfortable win, is wrought with significance. It's arguably the most significant game since 2012 BCS Championship game (ugh, flashback, I was there). We win this game in any way, shape, or form, and we're 99.9% into the playoffs, barring near-impossible scenarios. Our recruiting has been excellent this year, and would likely go to a further elite level with a playoff appearance: and I truly believe ND can beat Clemson, and perhaps not embarrass themselves against Alabama as well. A good playoff showing could set this program up for sustained success none of us have seen for multiple decades. So the STAKES ARE VERY HIGH.
And I agree with you, USC won't roll over. The key will be our superior talent on both sides of the ball, and on the sidelines. As long as the players don't spend this week doing what we're doing and obsessing over the IMPLICATIONS of this game, as opposed to their jobs in front of them, they will lock down this offense, and they will score points - and thus they will win. We do have to worry about sketchy refereeing, and about 1-2 punches in the mouth (a blown coverage, a slip/fall leading to a long TD, etc.), as they haven't played from behind in ~6 weeks. But I think BK 2.0 has gotten them ready, and in the right mindset, to take a punch or two and keep truckin'. LET'S GO IRISH!
I was looking over the current recruiting class and I didn't see any (overly) high ranked players. I mean in the UHNDs position rank our best recruit is a punter? I'm sure some of the players will pan out just fine, but it's not gleaming or anything.
...and DEPTH. two 4 stars incoming at every defensive position! I admit I don't follow recruiting very closely, so I can't say we have incoming transcendent players, but I think we will be very good, and a playoff berth will certainly help significantly.
(no message)
...ND wins on Saturday 24-21 on a last second FG;
...Michigan beats OSU 40-10, then beats Northwestern 35 - 3 in the Big 10 champ game;
...Georgia beats Alabama 20-17 on a last second FG in the SEC Championship game
...Clemson wins out
I would fear -- as ridiculous as I believe it to be -- that the above could result in: 1) Clemson; 2) Michigan; 3) Georgia; 4) Alabama ... and weeping and gnashing of teeth throughout the Irish faithful. I believe the above to have a 0.1% chance of happening, but if those things DID happen, I put odds at 50% of the Committee F#$@#$ing us over
vying for that 4th spot.
In your scenario it would be 1) Clemson 2) Notre Dame 3) Georgia 4) committee would get to pick between Bama, michigan and OU...I know who my money would be on.
Bama would have to lose twice to not make the playoffs
(no message)
....we have a lackluster performance against USC and Michigan curb stomps OSU and Northwestern. As vile as that is (not to mention highly unlikely -- I actually think the OSU-UM game is a toss up, though UM will prob win), I do think there's a lot of anti-ND bias on the Committee, and they'd overlook the H2H in favor of UMs Conference Championship and style points in the last two (plus if UM blows out NW, it has that "common opponent" neutralized).
Just being Devil's Advocate here: these things are highly unlikely to occur. For one, Georgia is NOT beating Alabama!
And again IF their is a tough decision to be made on that #4 spot, we probably aren't even one of the teams in the discussion because we'd be at #2 right on Clemson's ass. Just look at how narrow the margin is between us and Clemson in the human polls..
...though I am definitely in favor of an 8 team playoff!
I'm in favor of keeping with the history and roots of college football and the Top 10 has always been that elite group of top teams that is considered the cream of the crop...I'd love to keep that alive by having the Top 10 make the playoff cut. Logistically it's not optimal, but I think the end is worth the means.
(no message)
I couldn't agree more. Last time I made the trip down to LA to watch these two play, the Irish were very highly rated and USC was not. Their fans were very nervous about the game, they were cool, played games with us etc. But they ended up beating us. It was so bittersweet to get to see the Irish play only to lose. I agree with your Mike 100%.
(no message)
(no message)
My sock choice can have a dramatic impact on the game...
...I just know it.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
What am I missing here?
(no message)