Bring On the Irish!

What’s next for USC? Rivalry game vs. Notre Dame

USC and Notre Dame are coming off bye weeks, with some uncertainty about each team’s QB status, and the Trojans looking for a coach…

USC at No. 13 Notre Dame

When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4) / 790 AM

Records: USC 3-3 overall, 2-3 in Pac-12; Notre Dame is 5-1

USC update: The Trojans are coming off their bye week, which was spent trying to gather up the pieces after another demoralizing loss, this time to Utah at home. … The big storyline for USC entering the week is whether true freshman QB Jaxson Dart (meniscus) will be fully cleared to return, thus setting up a competition for the starting job with Kedon Slovis. … USC held a young-player scrimmage Thursday, with the hope of giving some freshmen and sophomores the chance to prove they deserve more playing time. LB Raesjon Davis and CB Jaylin Smith were expected to get a heavy look from the coaching staff. … DT Ishmael Sopsher (compartment syndrome surgery) is nearing a return to action, with the primary question at this point being if he has the stamina for extended play.

Notre Dame update: The Fighting Irish are also coming off a bye week following a 32-29 win over Virginia Tech. … Notre Dame’s season-long quarterback conundrum was on full display in the win, with senior Jack Coan being benched after the first quarter for his shaky performance. But Coan came back to replace freshman Tyler Buchner following his two interceptions, and Coan led two fourth-quarter scoring drives to complete a comeback win. … The Irish have won three straight against USC, and four in a row in South Bend. …This game will be a renewal of the storied rivalry after the two programs did not play in 2020 due to the shortened season in the midst of the pandemic. It was the first time USC and Notre Dame did not play in a season since the 1943-45 hiatus due to World War II.

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)

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Steveg
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Steveg
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October 19, 2021 6:56 pm

We just got back from a week in Louisiana. We were there when Orgeron’s exit was announced. In a crowd of about 40 people I would have to say it was 50/50 either way to keep him or fire him. Several guys told me they did it now to protect themselves from USC getting their top pick. I told them it doesn’t matter, USC will get the best guy, LSU can have seconds. They wanted to feed me to the alligators.

alfa1
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alfa1
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October 20, 2021 5:52 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I’m somewhat confused by Arlege’ post, does he allege William Jewell the MIT of football, is it there considered more a discipline than a sport?

Steveg
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Steveg
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October 19, 2021 3:46 pm

I have never bet on the USC/ND game. A lot of emotion is involved, you just never know what will happen. I go back to the Bush push, you just never know.

Rock2112
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Rock2112
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October 19, 2021 12:15 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I remember getting a lot of blowback here in the preseason when I questioned the sufficiency of our receiver group. I wish I had been wrong (but I obnoxiously wasn’t going to let y’all get away without an “I told you so”)! Now it’s Drake London and then not much else. As to Graham Harrell, he does not have the “my receivers turned out to not be that good” excuse, as this article suggests. First of all, it’s his fundamental responsibility to assure the receivers that we have play better than they have. Second, when he was hired, we heard… Read more »

Rushmore
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Rushmore
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October 19, 2021 5:25 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

…and the only prescription is more football.

TrojanRJJ
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October 19, 2021 1:47 pm
Reply to  Rock2112

Rock, Turns out that you were correct on the WRs. Turns out I was correct on the DL and the LBs. Unfortunately, the DBs turned out even worse than I thought. And, as Allen notes, GH has bombed as an OC. The O has gotten worse every year under his leadership. It is not the Air Raid per se (as both Lincoln Riley and KK have shown). It turns out it was GH. He simply was not ready for this level of responsibility (due to having an incompetent as a HC) and obviously made significant errors. But, look at the… Read more »

Steveg
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Steveg
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October 19, 2021 6:19 am

What is nice is this week nobody is staying up late watching football, we should be all done by 8:00pm on the west coast.

HOF19
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HOF19
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October 18, 2021 5:48 pm

Just browsed through Yahoo Sports schedule for next weekends college football games ….I noticed that Yahoo Sports attaches the current point spread for each game , Was a bit surprised (to me at least) that ND is only a 7 point favorite vs SC this weekend . I was feeling that ND would be about a 8 or 9 point favorite over SC .

HOF19
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HOF19
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October 18, 2021 6:28 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Yea 10 points spread would not have been a surprise to me .

San Diego Trojan
October 18, 2021 8:26 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It’s one thing to stand up for what you think is right, it’s another to commit professional suicide, I wonder if he wasn’t happy there and was just looking for a way out? I wonder if he still gets paid? Wouldn’t it be something if they offered the job to Ed O and he accepted?

volunteerTrojan
Major Genius
October 18, 2021 8:37 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Do I smell a lawsuit coming on?

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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October 19, 2021 11:34 am

I hope so. I am so tired of living in a world dominated by woke stupid nazis. Bankrupt the Washington University System, Coach Rolovich!

Rushmore
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Rushmore
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October 18, 2021 1:05 pm

To borrow a cheer from the West Point Cadets during their agonizing 14 game losing streak to Navy (2002-2015): Go USC! Beat the spread!!

San Diego Trojan
October 18, 2021 7:59 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Dan Patrick has said that there is nothing like seeing an Army game at West Point. Have you ever had the chance?

San Diego Trojan
October 18, 2021 9:01 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It was such a special and exciting time to be a Trojan. The games at the Coliseum were like Hollywood Productions. When it was happening, you just wanted and hoped it would last forever, but knew it couldn’t. I was surprised when Pete bailed, pending sanctions aside, because with no NFL team in town, his pick of recruits, and national notoriety and respect, he was king of the hill. And his Better LA work with gangs was really making a difference. I just misjudged the power that ego, and new, or unfulfilled challenges can have with certain people.

TrojanRJJ
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TrojanRJJ
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October 18, 2021 9:27 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Went to just about every home game during the Carroll era. It was an amazing time. I still remember we took two of our young grandkids to the Stanford upset game. It was a night game and the kids started acting out. So we had to leave at half. Never took them again but they saved me seeing Stanford pull off the upset! I still remember having to get there four hours before kickoff. Loved the Lawry’s tailgate!

San Diego Trojan
October 18, 2021 9:14 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I truly didn’t think he was going to make it in the NFL. A flash in the pan guy. It just shows how luck and timing can be almost everything. He works for a GM who had no problem getting rid of Rosen after one year, and drafting Murray, and an owner that lets him spend the money to sign expensive free agents and character guys

LawyerJohn
LawyerJohn
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October 18, 2021 11:16 am

“Mildly impressed” with ND says RialtoTrojan. I was heavily impressed with the ivy covered campus buildings, the turning of the leaves, the ND band playing John McKay’s favorite fight song and leading the way into the stadium, and feeling the entire campus vibe that this place was something special. Oh, and the fans are the best I have ever encountered. One year ND was trailing 20-3 in the second half, and that crowd willed their team back into the game. They were cheering and rooting for first downs as if they were touchdowns. And wouldn’t you know it, the Irish… Read more »

RialtoTrojan
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RialtoTrojan
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October 18, 2021 10:52 am

I have made the pilgrimage to Touchdown Jesus only once and I was mildly impressed. I don’t remember how old the stadium was, but improvements or keeping it modern was not a problem for the Catholic school, as opposed to having the State of California doing something. Many of my friends attended Damien High School and are ND fans, so it is especially important for me to not get stomped this year. I expect the Trojans took the time off to assess where they are as a team and might have some answers for the Sham Rocknes I’ll be watching… Read more »

San Diego Trojan
October 18, 2021 8:08 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

No, you aren’t. There has been really nothing to hang our hats on except maybe they play better every other game. When I saw the spread was 6.5, I thought it was a typo. I just can’t bet against SC, but if I wasn’t emotionally attached, I would lay the points for sure. The only chance I think SC would have would be the energy boost, and performance that Dart would provide

TMC4USC
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October 18, 2021 12:20 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

That’s funny re:Damien High School. Both of my sons attended Damien (Class of ’09 and Class of ’18). There was far less ND love on campus than I expected. There were some hardcore Irish fans but I found more hardcore Trojan fans among the parents in both boys classes.