■ Pac-10 game of the week
No. 9 Notre Dame next on No. 1 USC s list
This weekend the Trojans will bring their 27-game
winning streak and national title defense to Indiana
BY JEFFREY DRANSFELDT
SPORTS REPORTER
When Charlie Weis left the two-time
defending champion New England Pa
triots, he brought the spread offense to
Notre Dame. To say the adjustment
process has gone smoothly is an un
derstatement.
Notre Dame has outsmarted, out
played and outscored its opponents.
Currently ranked No. 9, Notre Dame
has tackled previously ranked teams
Pittsburgh, Michigan and Purdue. If
not for a few miscues against Michigan
State, Notre Dame’s record would re
main unblemished.
Saturday, Weis will see the closest
thing to an NFL program, when No. 1
USC visits South Bend, Ind. Kickoff is
set for 11:30 a.m. on NBC.
Last week, Notre Dame had a bye
and was able to watch USC struggle at
times against Arizona, tied for last
place in the Pacific-10 Conference with
Washington. Before Arizona, USC
struggled in the first half against Ore
gon and Arizona State, hampered by
injuries and offensive inefficiency.
USC has areas to be exploited,
namely penalties and a weakened sec
ondary. In three Pac-10 Conference
games, USC has averaged 77 penalty
yards and has sustained injuries to
Kevin Ellison and Terrell Thomas.
The hype leading up to the
USC/Notre Dame game started early
with a press conference, where Weis
addressed the match-up nine days pri
or to game time. Weis has an NFL con
nection with USC coach Pete Carroll as
they both worked with the Patriots,
though not at the same time.
“He has been good for college foot
ball,” Weis said. “He came in there
when that program was a little down.
Obviously, they are the bar now.”
The influence former pro coaches
add to programs can’t be overstated,
Weis said, especially in terms of re
cruiting and the excitement former
NFL personnel bring to college.
“When you can sit there and tell a
guy about your experiences in the
NFL, I think it really can have a very
positive effect on many kids you end
up recruiting,” Weis said.
The USC program is made of Car
roll recruits, while Weis is working
mostly with ex-coach Tyrone Willing
ham recruits, Notre Dame’s coach has
quarterback Brady Quinn playing like
the Patriots’ Tom Brady, and Darius
Walker running with the efficiency of
Corey Dillon, averaging 105.6 yards per
game. Wide receivers Jeff Samardzija
and Maurice Stovall average 99.8 and
77.6 yards per game, respectively.
Notre Dame is averaging 37 points
per game and 504 yards of total of
fense. They will be going against a
tough USC defense, though having
some issues is sound under Carroll,
Weis said.
“He always has safeties who will
come up and make plays,” Weis said.
“He always has guys who can rush the
passer. He always has linebackers who
can run.”
Though USC gives up averages of
337 yards of total offense and 19.2
points per game, it has the ability to
make big plays at key moments. Last
week, with USC leading 35-21 with 10
minutes left and Arizona threatening
to cut the lead to single digits, line
backer Collin Ashton tipped quarter
back Richard Kovalcheck’s pass to
safety Ryan Ting, who intercepted it
and ended the Wildcats’ upset hopes.
USC remains the nation’s top pro
gram as its problems, compared with
the average program, can be consid
ered trivial. Against Oregon, Arizona
State and Arizona, USC again showed
its ability to make adjustments after a
rough first half.
Tinkering resulted in second half ex
plosions by running backs LenDale
White and versatile Reggie Bush, as
USC broke away each time.
The offensive numbers are over
whelming. Against Arizona, Bush ran
for 110 yards as White had 179 yards
and a career-high four touchdowns.
Quarterback Matt Leinart threw for
360 yards and two touchdowns. Wide
receivers Steve Smith and Dwayne Jar
rett contributed 135 yards and 116
yards, respectively. As a team, USC
had 724 yards in total offense.
White and Bush ran for more than
100 yards apiece for a third consecu
tive game, a USC school record.
Suffice it to say, USC isn’t struggling
very much. Its biggest concern might
be Bush’s status as he sustained a mi
nor right knee sprain last week.
Weis watched USC against Arizona
on television and the Tiojan’s perform
ance against Arizona State. Saturday’s
showdown between ranked teams will
be a game with large bowl implica
tions and Weis said Notre Dame will
be ready.
“Am I anxious for this opportunity
to go against the best team in the coun
try? Yes. I would be lying if I said other
wise,” Weis said.
jdmnsfeldt@dailyemeraLd.com
Courtesy
Top-ranked USC and running back Reggie Bush travel to No. 9 Notre Dame Saturday. The
Trojans have a NCAA-best 27-game winning streak.
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