Do we have a chance against SC next year??

[Clausen2Kamara]

I think that we do and I'm bein a realist when I say this...The first game will tell a lot but I finally think that ND is talented and experienced enough to give the Trojans a run for their money...SC's d is really good but they are losing a lot of players...esp if Taylor Mays goes pro...kids a beast...Rey is gone and so is Cushing...I think this is our best chance to beat them in a long time...Sanchez is good but I think we'll have one of the best secondary's in football next year...I like our O...if we can establish somewhat of a running game than I think Jimmy will be able to sling it at will against SC...Every position will be improved for us...I think we could actually give them a game if we play up to our potential...It helps playing them early and at our house...I know a bit premature but just excited for next season already...

 

[NDOM]

Can we beat them? No. It will be close but not next year. 2010 is when we will start beating them IMHO.

 

[HawaiianIrish]

We gonna tap that Trojan ass in 2009

 

[chyrspchuck]

Without Cush, Ray, Taylor, Sanchez, Matthews, its all young kids, and in the middle of the season. I hope we can......

 

[phgreek]

Can we beat them? No. It will be close but not next year. 2010 is when we will start beating them IMHO.

Leanin' your way on this...I saw another level of speed, and decisiveness against HI, but I'm not sold on our O-line. I believe until we can sustain some drives with the run, its too easy to scheme us...especially when you have athletes like SC has.

 

[NDboy15]

SC is scary. They don't rebuild, they reload-literally. Crappy cliche, but it's so true for them.


When does everyone see the demise of SC football happening? I know FSU was crazy good in the 90's too, but SC is getting close to that and who knows when it will stop.

 

[phork]

SC demise will coincide with Sneaky Petes departure to the NFL in 2 years. Its at that point that NDs rise will be in full swing, if we have the right coach.
Sorry, but I think SC is just too damn talented at all positions for us to compete until something like that actually happens.

 

[phork]

Plus they have the song girls.

 

[NDboy15]

SC demise will coincide with Sneaky Petes departure to the NFL in 2 years. Its at that point that NDs rise will be in full swing, if we have the right coach.
Sorry, but I think SC is just too damn talented at all positions for us to compete until something like that actually happens.

Yeah, I was thinking when Pete Carroll goes, they may slip a little. But I don't see after a failed attempt with the Jets, why Pete would want to go back to the NFL, he has an awesome job now.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Yeah, I was thinking when Pete Carroll goes, they may slip a little. But I don't see after a failed attempt with the Jets, why Pete would want to go back to the NFL, he has an awesome job now.

Totally agree.

Look at all the head coaching jobs available this year alone. Yet, Pete's name has not yet been mentioned once for the Lions, Raiders, Jets, etc.. because HE DOES NOT WANT THE JOB!!! It all comes down to a single factor: Pete doesn't want to go back to the NFL. He's going to stay at USC until he dies. Or the next LA Riot when Manny doesn't resign.

 

[NDFan537]

All I can say is SC is the best team we will play next year, so if we can beat them in my mind we shouldn't lose a single game.

I think we will lose but it will be a game......

 

[NDinL.A.]

Totally agree.

Look at all the head coaching jobs available this year alone. Yet, Pete's name has not yet been mentioned once for the Lions, Raiders, Jets, etc.. because HE DOES NOT WANT THE JOB!!! It all comes down to a single factor: Pete doesn't want to go back to the NFL. He's going to stay at USC until he dies. Or the next LA Riot when Manny doesn't resign.

Phork is right guys, IMO. Here's why I disagree Wabash: EGO. Of course Pete would be an idiot if he leaves USC. He's got the best job in the country. He's like a GM, SC is the L.A. pro sports team, he gets any athlete he wants, he's a constant winner, he's a GOD here in SoCal, the USC Song Girls are here, etc.

But here's the one perception he can't shake: He FAILED in the NFL. Twice. He was USC's 4th choice, and he somehoe turned them into the best program in the nation. But he still has this nagging feeling that won't go away inside him, that feeling of failure. Don't dismiss that feeling just because he has it all at USC; a guy that successful has a some ego in him for sure. Don't forget, he had a face-to-face meeting with Wayne Huzeinga (sp) for the Miami Dolphins job just a couple of years ago. That was real. And he's been rumored for other jobs as well. In fact, this is one of the first years that his name HASN'T surfaced, and I think that is for 2 reasons:

1) They're all crappy jobs in cold-weather cities (Det, Cle, Jets). Pete's representatives aren't going to send out feelers for those types of jobs. But wait until Norv Turner gets fired in San Diego. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Pete's name gets mentioned.

2) What you hear around people from USC (alumni 'with inside info'...LOL), is that Pete is waiting for an L.A. pro team, and then he's gone. Once L.A. gets a pro team, Pete's gonna dip his hand back into the pro game.

I'm not saying he'll leave USC for sure, but don't dismiss it just because he has everything a coach dreams of at SC. He took that Miami interview for a reason, and he NEVER says that he won't turn pro. He just answers the question by saying how much he loves USC without ever saying he won't leave. I hope we get a pro team out here soon, so Sneaky Pete will leave and USC will be human again...

 

[wahoo]

I think that we do and I'm bein a realist when I say this...The first game will tell a lot but I finally think that ND is talented and experienced enough to give the Trojans a run for their money...SC's d is really good but they are losing a lot of players...esp if Taylor Mays goes pro...kids a beast...Rey is gone and so is Cushing...I think this is our best chance to beat them in a long time...Sanchez is good but I think we'll have one of the best secondary's in football next year...I like our O...if we can establish somewhat of a running game than I think Jimmy will be able to sling it at will against SC...Every position will be improved for us...I think we could actually give them a game if we play up to our potential...It helps playing them early and at our house...I know a bit premature but just excited for next season already...

It looks like a lot of players from U$C will be doing pro. The unfortunate thing is that lately when they lose a player, another one steps in to take their place. Their program has the depth that I hope one day the Irish can have. The can be beat but it will take a much better effort than what the Irish have played in the past.

 

[ARALOU]

I guess we can still try to see the USC "FEMALE" cheerleaders hiney during commercial breaks. Until what 2010?

 

[chyrspchuck]

ahhhhhh song girls.

 

[ACamp1900]

In my opinon absolutely... SC is still stacked but that Defense will be TOTALLY rebuilt and who knows how many on offense will jump early... then consider this will be the first year in three where upper classmen are our leaders and you got to figuree we'll be a different team... if only we can fill the holes on defense, depth continues to be a big problem... BUT you never know, next year WILL be the most evenly macthed to the teams have been since the Vontez Duff, Shane Walton era IMO

 

[JohnnyIrish12]

I think we can beat USC... but I don't think we will.

 

[NDinL.A.]

We'll have our best shot in a while, that's for sure. We'll be a veteran team, and like everyone has sais, they lose a bunch a key guys on defense. The 2 things that scare me:

1. If Sanchez returns, then they return most of their line, their running backs (Johnson says he's staying), their top receiver and several other good receivers, with a senior QB who threw 34 TD's to only 10 INTS in his first year as a starter. That's not good for us.

2. Their defensive backups are a bunch of 5 stars. Did you see them in the 4th quarter against us? My Lord they were fast and big. They won't be bad on defense, that is for sure. Their top linebacker will be Gallippo, and he is a STUD; the top recruit his senior year.

Now, our offense all returns, as does most of our defense and special teams, so next year will be a great chance for us, esp at home. i wish USC would overlook us like they do one opponent every year, but that will never happen. Too big a rivalry for that. But I can't wait for the game. For my annual trek back to SB, I'm having a hard time choosing between USC and Boston College. I went to the USC game 2 years ago, and I see them all the time out here, so I'm leaning towards BC. Tough call, cause I'm sooo ready to whip some USC ass, and their fans are the worst, so talking shit to them would be a GREAT thing...

 

[wicket]

i think we are far from being favourite or even odds to them but next year we should at least give them a run for their money. I just dont buy their defense getting much more. Last year they lost 3 defensive guys to the first round of the draft and still their defense got better. So yes we have a chance but it'll be tough really tough

 

[ARALOU]

Is it just me dreaming or did we play them down to the wire three years ago with juniors? I see this year as a legit shot at USC.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Is it just me dreaming or did we play them down to the wire three years ago with juniors? I see this year as a legit shot at USC.

Yeah, but it was 4 years ago. We've been blown out 3 years in a row. 3 games ago, at USC, we got clobbered by 20 with our seniors. 4 games ago, we almost beat them with our jrs in the Bush Push game.

 

[ARALOU]

Yeah, but it was 4 years ago. We've been blown out 3 years in a row. 3 games ago, at USC, we got clobbered by 20 with our seniors. 4 games ago, we almost beat them with our jrs in the Bush Push game.

Damn that was four years ago? Shit its hell getting old. All the years run together. Are you sure? Man I need some ginko goloba. Or whatever you call it.

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

im thinking 2010...

 

[phork]

Yah the Bush Push seems a distant memory, and I bet the admin wished they'd waited for that extension.

 

[NDsuperfan09]

Their top linebacker will be Gallippo, and he is a STUD; the top recruit his senior year.

He is going to be better than Cushing or Maualuga. Kid is unbelievable. However they need two more LB's to step up.

 

[NDboy15]

He is going to be better than Cushing or Maualuga. Kid is unbelievable. However they need two more LB's to step up.

And the scary thing is, they will probably have more than 2 step up and be capable of starting.

 

[phork]

Don't doubt USC, clearly they are talented 5 deep. Its whether we can catch up.

 

[irishopeful]

Don't doubt USC, clearly they are talented 5 deep. Its whether we can catch up.

They scare me and it looks like they are going to have another top 5 recruiting class. It would be even better, but some recruits are scared off becuase of the competition.

 

[NDFan537]

Look SC is always gonna be good. We just have to get to thier level. Maybe we can play with them next year, maybe, we win. Who knows. No sense getting worked up now. Lets just kick back and enjoy the next couple weeks and pray for manti...............

 

[IrishAddiction]

USC is the best team on our schedule for sure. But do they scare our team? i would sure as hell hope not.
i
think we have all the intangibles to beat them next season. 1.they lose maybe 10 on defense. 2. we have 9 starters returning on offense, really 10. 3. in south bend. 4. mid season, God pray they dont lose before they come here. 5. defense should be much improved, at least play good enough to keep us in the game. and finally 6. we have that whole "its USC vs. Notre Dame, look what pete has done to them for 8 years" bullshit going for us.

I say they come in cocky, dancing and prancing. and then we beat the hell out of them and send em home crying.

*NOTE-all this is depending on CW getting his head out of his butt and being the great offensive mind he was the first two seasons. Not the last two.