Post Game Observations....

[kmoose]

1. GREAT WIN for the Irish. Wow, what a monkey off of their backs.

2. Congratulations to two seniors who came into the program with great expectations, but mixed results. Robert Hughes and Brian Smith had very good games, and probably contributed more than anyone else on their respective unit to the win.

3. How odd that there were all kinds of problems getting the clock stopped in the last 2:00 of the first half, when ND had the ball....... but there were no problems in the last 2:00 of the second half, when USC had the ball.

4. I really wish we had a better running game. Hughes had a great night, but you even heard the announcers, when ND had the ball at the 'SC 2 yard line, saying that ND probably needed to throw the ball. I know that they were talking about saving some time on the clock, but you never heard anyone say that about Holtz's offenses. Because Holtz's offense could run on just about anyone, at just about any time.

5. Tommy Rees looked alot like a Freshman today. Overall, he has performed very well, but in the last couple of games he has reminded us all that he is just a Freshman, with very little experience, and prone to the same mistakes that most other Freshman QBs make.

6. The D played their hearts out. For the third game in a row. I had some reservations, even after Utah and Army, but they played very well.

7. USC is going to miss Pete Carroll more than the scholarships that they lost. When was the last time you saw an 'SC team make so many mistakes? Dropped balls, missed blocks, missed tackles....... we saw a little bit of it all tonight. 'SC is going to fall hard, and it won't be because of the sanctions (at least not directly). It will be because Carroll left.

 

[CurtisCandy]

1. GREAT WIN for the Irish. Wow, what a monkey off of their backs.

2. Congratulations to two seniors who came into the program with great expectations, but mixed results. Robert Hughes and Brian Smith had very good games, and probably contributed more than anyone else on their respective unit to the win.

3. How odd that there were all kinds of problems getting the clock stopped in the last 2:00 of the first half, when ND had the ball....... but there were no problems in the last 2:00 of the second half, when USC had the ball.

4. I really wish we had a better running game. Hughes had a great night, but you even heard the announcers, when ND had the ball at the 'SC 2 yard line, saying that ND probably needed to throw the ball. I know that they were talking about saving some time on the clock, but you never heard anyone say that about Holtz's offenses. Because Holtz's offense could run on just about anyone, at just about any time.

5. Tommy Rees looked alot like a Freshman today. Overall, he has performed very well, but in the last couple of games he has reminded us all that he is just a Freshman, with very little experience, and prone to the same mistakes that most other Freshman QBs make.

6. The D played their hearts out. For the third game in a row. I had some reservations, even after Utah and Army, but they played very well.

7. USC is going to miss Pete Carroll more than the scholarships that they lost. When was the last time you saw an 'SC team make so many mistakes? Dropped balls, missed blocks, missed tackles....... we saw a little bit of it all tonight. 'SC is going to fall hard, and it won't be because of the sanctions (at least not directly). It will be because Carroll left.

As usual, great observations, Kmoose. I agree with you all the way except for #7. - While U$C did make uncharacteristic mistakes tonight, I honestly believe they go back to Carroll, as I think this is a team that is simply unmotivated because of where they are because of sanctions, defections, etc.

However, I agree that Kiffin is a ****-poor coach, which bodes well for our boys... I just think Carroll was equally as poor; just able to win with stacked recruiting classes culled from anywhere at any cost.*


*Except for Manti... Up yours, U$C D-Bags!!

 

[IrishinSyria]

I'd add Kamara to your list of seniors who stepped up. Reaching back on his TD was a savy veteran move. Floyd also made some huge catches, and they both blocked very well.

 

[edgesofsanity]

Huge win. These are the games that you can build a program on - when you dug deep when it mattered most.

 

[Irishpinoy]

YEAAAAH BABY! Can't wait till Monday to rag on some USC alums at work on Monday. Love the look on Lame Kiffin's face at the end of the game. Go Irsih!

 

[kmoose]

I'd add Kamara to your list of seniors who stepped up. Reaching back on his TD was a savy veteran move. Floyd also made some huge catches, and they both blocked very well.

Good call on Kamara, but we are used to seeing great play from Michael Floyd so he doesn't really fit the criteria.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Looking back on it, the clock errors helped us. They were practically extra timeouts for us. I'll take it.

This feels great.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Good call on Kamara, but we are used to seeing great play from Michael Floyd so he doesn't really fit the criteria.

I know, I just couldn't mention Kamara without talking about Floyd.

I never would have thought, but I'm really going to miss Kamara, Smith, and Hughes after this year.

 

[Riddickulous]

- Tommy Rees is adequate. I do not think he's "the guy".

- Our offensive line is horrible at run blocking until some running back starts exploding for big gains. Then they get pumped up and play lights out.

- Robert Hughes, thank you for all you've done.

- Cierre Wood was deadly on those draws and is finally starting to take the yardage and not bounce it outside. He'll be a great one once he puts everything together and the offensive line picks up the pace.

- Michael Floyd is a stud. He needs to stay.

- Tyler Eifert is sweet.

- GREAT defense. Diaco has impressed me.

- We seriously lucked out. Ronald Johnson picked the most inopportune time to make the biggest mistake of his career.

 

[irishff1014]

wow this win was huge. Our team has the big M and this should help recruiting. Good job Coach Kelly getting this team back together

 

[eNDzone]

Wood ripped off a couple of long runs to set up two TD drives. Hughes was just what we needed to counter SC's speed. Floyd yeah and the D was great.

 

[Lepresean]

I am loving how even after we beat USC it is not a story on ESPN or Yahoo.

 

[Shamrocks and Shenanigans]

I love this ugly win more then any other win I have witnessed as an Irish football fan. I have never been a big Hughes fan and today he has made me a life long fan. I am so happy for these seniors getting the monkey off their back and setting us up for a decent bowl. The future looks bright.

 

[mef811]

I am loving how even after we beat USC it is not a story on ESPN or Yahoo.

Yes it is nothing but pure disrespect for our program!

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Reading the USC message boards is giving me a chubby.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Yes it is nothing but pure disrespect for our program!

I bet a lot of it has to do with the fact that neither team is ranked in the AP so there is no AP article on it.

 

[knight91]

Could not watch the game here in San Antonio. Kept looking at espn and other sites for updates. When I saw the win it almost made me cry. Totaly excited. This is GREAT!!!!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I honestly cried when Smith picked off that pass!

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

1) what a difference a year makes. in the past 3 seasons our november's have sucked. huge reps to BK and staff for having this team winning in november.

2) bob diaco and the defense....enough said

3) Rees...we would be calling for his head right now if RoJo caught that pass. But he did what he had to do

4) brian smith, never thought I'd say it but I will miss him. kid has been playing outstanding. same thing with harrison smith.

5) our D should have had 2 picks on mustain

6) get a beer and some pretzels and read the SC boards. like terrell owens says, "it's gon be a show"

with that said...

WHO'S READY FOR SOME BOWLING

 

[chyrspchuck]

just awesome.

still worried about Cierre's ball control issues, and everyone goes for the ball against him because of it....

not impressed with Tommy tonight, hoping Dayne comes back and makes it a tough competition for everyone in the spring.

wished Brian Smith had another year.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Just an absolute garbage highlight package for our game on CF Final. Hughes TD, 2 USC drops, Hayseed pick. Borefest. There better be more. The washington-cal highlights were more extensive. Eff off.

 

[chyrspchuck]

who has 2 thumbs and absolutely F'ng loves the Irish,

2thumbspointingatme


THIS GUY

 

[BeatSC]

Agree with alot of the comments. Rees showed some great poise on occasion but he will always be limited by his size and lack of speed and mobility. I think he gets the system better than Crist but Crist would not have thrown any of those ints. That's 3 PATs that Ruffer has missed this year. HE shouldn't have any misses period. This never gets metnioned during all the hoopla over his FG streak. We didn;t give up any real big plays but we also didn't get too much pressure on Mustain. Great agaisnt the run again. USC ran all over Stanford. Happy for Toma, Hughes, Smith, Smith, Stewart, The DB's gave up almost nothing. Those D-bags on ESPN this morning all picked USC...F-them!

I also think ND would have scored if they had to at the end of the game. I thin this team learned alot from their beat down to Navy and the Rock bottom loss at home to Tulsa.

 

[TerryTate]

just awesome.

still worried about Cierre's ball control issues, and everyone goes for the ball against him because of it....

not impressed with Tommy tonight, hoping Dayne comes back and makes it a tough competition for everyone in the spring.

wished Brian Smith had another year.

Agree with everything you said right there playa

 

[choo choo]

oh my goodness, what a night...hughes was a stud, wood was ok but runs scared sometimes and is always capable of coughing up the ball - he scares me...holtz teams could run the ball because thats what they were built to do, we no longer run the triple option, we run a spread...i wish we would stay patient and give the run a chance...getting 4 yards a carry and not 10 is not being able to run, its just not instant gratification...rees is a freshman in his 3rd start ( record of 3-0) and he scares me but i love his demenor - not too high, not hanging his head pouting....defense has been terrific since moving to a 4-3 (why did we not do that at halftime vs. navy)...and kiffin is an ignorant turd...he's nothing without daddy...floyd and the defense were clutch and kamara made a big-time play as well...what a great win...congrats to kelly, i think he might just be irish after all

 

[choo choo]

we could easily be 10-2...true losses to stanford and navy - they kicked our ***...but a last second loss to michigan, overtime loss to michigan state and a last play loss to tulsa...those three losses killed us...damn, 10-2 sounds so much better than 7-5

 

[choo choo]

lets go bowling!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Isn't it our time to have some good luck. After all of the huge injuries we have had, and we come out on top at the end of the season! I love it.

Our All American TE out for the year, our potential All American Nose Tackle basically out for the year, our starting QB out for the year, our 2nd best Receiver basically out for the year, last second loses to Michigan State, Michigan, and Tulsa, Tragedy on Campus, 4 recruit decommits, shelled by Navy and Stanford, and we still come out with great end of the regular season.

Go Irish, and enjoy this Irish Nation. I know I am.

 

[choo choo]

our opponents finished with a record of 92-49 (winning pct of 65.3%) so far...we played 11 bowl teams (record of 6-5 against and 6 ranked teams headed into this week with a record of 2-4...not a ****ing bad season after all...lets kick some butt in a bowl game

 

[Rudy89]

anyone got a link to a usc board so i can enjoy them being mad for once