This should answer any questions about jerseys, green or otherwise.
October 8, 2005
Keeping The Trojans In Perspective
by TIM PRISTER
Nobody likes a challenge more than Charlie Weis. The anticipation of his 4-1 squad taking on No. 1-rated Southern California taps into his historical perspective of the Irish-Trojans series. After all, he was at Notre Dame for the original “green jersey game” in 1977 when the Irish knocked off USC, 49-19.
But as excited as Weis will be and as cranked up as his squad will be when Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush et al come walking into Notre Dame Stadium, look for the Irish head coach to be the picture of calm.
“We will have practiced this thing this time because this is where we’re going to be for the next five games,” said Weis of his adjustment after losing to Michigan State in Notre Dame’s only home game so far this season.
“These distractions will now become part of our week’s practice. I now have to incorporate them into what we do because this is the way it’s going to be until Stanford.”
Does that mean Weis is looking at the USC game just like any other game?
“I’m excited about this game, but we try to talk about staying on an even keel, and if I get too wired, then the players get too wired, and then you’re setting yourself up for a huge fall,” Weis said. “Am I anxious for this opportunity to go against the best team in the country? Yes, I’d be lying if I said otherwise.
“But like I told you all along, on game days you’ll see me yell at officials, which I’ll always do. That will never change. You’ll see me coaching guys pretty sternly when I see something I don’t like. But you’ll never see me lose my cool when it comes to the operation of the game.”
Weis is unlikely to break out those green jerseys again because this is not a “gimmick game.” The Irish aren’t going to defeat the Trojans on emotion. It will take tremendous execution mixed with that emotion for Notre Dame to pull it off.
“I’m not a jump around type of guy. First of all, I’m not physically capable of it,” Weis chuckled. “But on top of everything else, that’s not how I operate. I go to every kid before the game, shake his hand, wish him well and say a couple nice words of encouragement to him. That’s the same thing you’ll see against USC.”
Weis knows his players will be ready for the Trojans. In the back of his mind, he’s more concerned about the emotions of his squad the following week when Brigham Young comes to town. No coach has to say anything to get a team emotionally prepared for a team that hasn’t lost a regular season game in 2 1/2 years. Every coach must deal with the potential of an emotional letdown against an overall poor team (BYU is 1-3) that can be dangerous with the passing game (No. 6 in the country at 340.8 yards per game).
In the meantime, however, it’s time for the Irish to stay calm, enjoy the weekend off, and then hone in against a nemesis the Irish owe big time. Weis has his weekend mapped out.
“First I’ll give Charlie a haircut Saturday morning, and then I’m going to videotape Maura riding her horse. Then at 2:30 I’ll be sitting on my couch watching Fox Sports Net’s national coverage of the USC-Arizona game on Direct TV channel 620 or 636 through 638,” laughed Weis, reading from a prepared sheet after anticipating the question of his upcoming weekend plans. “Then we’ll be in Sunday morning early to game-plan USC.”
Sounds like a plan.
in October of 2002 when the Eagles soared into town and left with a "W," this decision haunted his entire career @ ND
