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Notre Dame entered the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday with high hopes, but came away with a heavy dose of humility after a 44-24 thrashing by the powerful USC Trojans. Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett eviscerated the Irish secondary with seven receptions and three touchdowns, while USC’s defense and special teams demonstrated both superior talent and preparation.

The outcome was essentially determined in the opening period quarter as the Trojans scored on their first three possessions against a mere Irish field goal, but second quarter errors by the hosts gave Notre Dame a flicker of hope just when things appeared out of reach. Trailing 21-3, Notre Dame drove to the Trojan three before Darius Walker fumbled on first and goal.

The Irish defense rose up and forced a three and out, however, and Steve Quinn burst through cleanly to block Greg Woidneck’s punt. Brady Quinn capitalized by hitting Marcus Freeman for a seven yard score, and the deficit was cut to 21-10.

Notre Dame had its chances to make it a game as USC’s John David Booty threw interceptions on the next two Trojan possessions. Despite excellent field position, the Irish could not record a single first down and failed each time on fourth down passes, one of which was dropped by Rhema McKnight. The half ended with USC firmly in command.

The Irish special teams opened what would become a disastrous second half by kicking the ball out of bounds. The Trojans quickly moved down the field and scored to extend the lead to 28-10, and the next Notre Dame chance ended with a Sedrick Ellis sack of Quinn. The Irish did score late in the third period on a short fourth down pass to McKnight, but they could get no closer than 28-17.

Booty led USC to a field goal early in the fourth quarter for a 31-17 advantage, and he put the game out of reach on the next series with a 43-yard scoring strike to Jarrett. The Irish doggedly fought back to score on a 14-play drive as time wound down, but the Trojans completed their dominating performance moments later when Brian Cushing caught an onside kick attempt by Notre Dame and ran past the stunned Irish for a 42-yard touchdown.

USC was clearly the better team, both in terms of talent and coaching for this game. The Irish defense was ill-prepared from the start. The linebackers and safeties were invisible in pass coverage and the team failed to put pressure on Booty with either a blitz package or a standard four man rush. Conversely, USC’s defense covered well and caused Brady Quinn to pull the ball down and run on numerous occasions. One such play resulted in a 60-yard gain before Walker’s miscue in the red zone.

Notre Dame’s offense looked quite ordinary, and at times it appeared that coach Charlie Weis simply outsmarted himself. Weis kept shuffling in different personnel packages to little or no avail, particularly in the red zone. The lack of a running threat in these scoring situations was agonizing for Irish fans and considerable grumbling could be heard among the faithful in the Notre Dame section.

More likely, Weis was trying to do what he has done since taking over the program two years ago. He is simply trying to squeeze out as many wins and as much productivity from a few very good players and a bunch of average ones. It’s obvious that Notre Dame cannot yet line up against the elite powers and compete on an equivalent basis, and it will be some time before that is the case.

In the mean time, Weis must now objectively evaluate the performance of his staff. The defense is extremely passive overall and poor against the pass. There has been little discernable improvement during the course of two seasons, and Rick Minter’s job should be in jeopardy.

Weis also stated when he took the position that the easiest and fastest way to improve a program is through special teams. Unfortunately, this area has regressed since the beginning of the season and has been exposed by several recent opponents. A significant upgrade in coaching is required here, as it stretches credibility to pin the blame for poor special teams on the talent level. Finding a strong-legged kicker is an obvious exception to this.

Looking back over the season, many fans (including me) chose to overlook the early warning signs that this team did not deserve its lofty preseason ranking. Quinn’s outstanding play and game management skills, along with the emergence of tight end John Carlson, were enough to beat most teams on the schedule. Michigan and USC were clearly better teams, however, and wide receivers McKnight and Jeff Samardzija were unable to get open with any consistency against top quality defenders.

Meanwhile, the running game struggled except in games where Notre Dame enjoyed a clear physical advantage over the opponent. Unfortunately, this was true against only a handful of teams rather than the majority, which is contrary to the legacy of Notre Dame football.

Looking forward, there are significant holes in the roster beyond the current freshman class, and Weis must aggressively recruit size, speed and smarts to fill the gaps left by his predecessor. If he remains true to his mantra, Weis will not be afraid to pursue the very best qualified players and assistant coaches to build a championship level program. His future, along with the dreams of Irish fans to make “Return to Glory” more than a trite slogan, depend on it.

The Irish will now wait a week for a bowl invitation. This will give the seniors, who failed to beat USC during their careers, a chance to end Notre Dame’s long losing streak in post season play. After the dose of humility administered by the Trojans, Irish fans just want to avoid another embarrassment.

John’s Top 20

1. Ohio State
2. USC
3. Michigan
4. Florida
5. LSU
6. Arkansas
7. Wisconsin
8. Oklahoma
9. Louisville
10. Auburn
11. Notre Dame
12. Boise State
13. Virginia Tech
14. Rutgers
15. Texas
16. Tennessee
17. Wake Forest
18. West Virginia
19. Nebraska
20. BYU

John’s Bottom Ten

1. Duke
2. (tie) Miami (Fla.) & Florida State
3. UNLV
4. Temple
5. Utah State
6. San Diego State
7. Illinois
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State
10. Washington
Dishonorable mention: The MAC, the States of Colorado, Mississippi and North Carolina

DETERMINED IRISH INVADE TROY

Notre Dame ends its regular season in typical even-year fashion as the Irish travel to Southern California to face the second ranked USC Trojans. In typical “no excuses” fashion, Coach Charlie Weis has made no secret of the fact that he has spent considerable time in preparation for this contest and has challenged his team accordingly. There is added emphasis and the intense desire among the Irish seniors to record a victory in this rivalry, but USC has plenty of motivation as well.

The Trojans are riding a 32 game winning streak in the Coliseum, where they can cut the grass short and force Notre Dame to wear white jerseys instead of green. USC’s offense boasts a typical stable of swift skill position athletes, led by receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith and tailbacks C.J. Gable and Chauncey Washington. They are directed by rapidly improving quarterback John David Booty.

Smith’s outstanding play this season means that the Irish secondary cannot focus solely on Jarrett, who burned them last year with his infamous fourth and nine reception. Smith solidified his status as a clutch receiver earlier this season with highly productive games against Washington State and Oregon State while Jarrett was nursing various injuries. Booty now has multiple choices in key passing situations, which makes the Trojans even more difficult to defend.

Gable has added a burst to the running game. His second half runs against California pulled USC out of the doldrums and broke open a close contest. Washington runs well but is not quite as explosive. The offensive line protects Booty extremely well (only 13 sacks in ten games) but has not been quite as dominant as its recent predecessors in the ground game despite the presence of left tackle Sam Baker and center Ryan Khalil.

As for Booty, his biggest strides as USC’s quarterback came in the team’s lone defeat at Oregon State. Down 33-10 at one point, he orchestrated a furious comeback that barely came up short. Since that disappointment, Booty and the rest of the Trojans have performed extremely well and demonstrably better than earlier this season.

Defensively, USC has considerable speed that will limit Notre Dame’s play selection and force Weis to improvise and innovate. The 3-4 alignment employed by Pete Carroll does not allow opponents to run wide, and safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays and do not let anyone to get behind them for quick scores.

Up front, Lawrence Jackson is the Trojans’ best pass rusher while Sedrick Ellis stuffs the run from the nose tackle position. Linebackers Dallas Sartz, Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga are tall, fast and physical players who can blitz or drop into coverage with equal skill.

USC’s loaded roster means that special teams are well stocked with athletes that can give the Irish headaches. Notre Dame’s poor performance on kickoff returns combined with its own short kicks and recent coverage breakdowns have to be a concern for the Irish staff. Field position will be a factor in the game and Notre Dame cannot afford to hand the Trojans a significant advantage on every exchange.

Mario Danelo has been an outstanding place kicker for USC this season. He has made all but one of his field goals to date and does not figure to rattle with the game on the line. Gable handles kickoff returns while Desmond Reed handles the punts. Both are capable of breaking one for a score. Finally, the Trojans have another weapon in kickoff specialist Troy Van Blarcom, who has recorded 35 touchbacks in 59 tries.

The Irish are not without quality players of their own. The defensive line has been playing extremely well and will have a chance to get pressure on Booty even if they don’t sack him numerous times. Linebackers Maurice Crum and Travis Thomas are good enough to stay with Washington and Gable, but the matchups in the secondary will probably determine the outcome.

Mike Richardson is a good bet to line up against Jarrett, while Terrail Lambert will have his hands full with Smith. No one has forgotten that Michigan’s Mario Manningham became a household name at Notre Dame’s expense, and the Irish made stars out of Purdue’s Selwyn Lymon and North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks. If Richardson, Lambert and their counterparts at safety cannot slow down the Trojan duo along with freshman understudy Patrick Turner and sure-handed tight end Fred Davis, it will be a long night.

With all that can be said about the Trojans and their role as the favorite on Saturday, the Notre Dame seniors do not lack motivation. Many of them endured three consecutive 31-point blowouts and played the role of the Washington Generals as three USC athletes clinched the Heisman vote against them. Last year’s near miss only intensified the desire to beat the Trojans before their college careers are over.

The questions are whether a maximum effort by Notre Dame will be enough to overcome USC’s depth and talent, and if they can prevent the big play that could ignite a three or four touchdown scoring avalanche. I admit I’m still haunted by a kickoff return in 1974 that led to a 49-point third quarter by the Trojans, but this year’s team is also capable of such an explosion.

It will be a bad sign if Notre Dame falls behind early, and the visitors must not lose the turnover battle. Weis will attempt to control the tempo with a precision passing game and quick hitters by Darius Walker. On defense, the idea will be to make USC work for every first down and take away the long gainers.

The game will likely unfold with the Irish on top as halftime approaches, and then become a test of wills and stamina after intermission. USC is playing for a berth in the national championship game, and they are not going to go quietly.

A key for the Irish offense is whether they can continue to run the ball in the second half after Pete Carroll adjusts his defense to slow Weis’ attack. Another will be the play of Marcus Freeman and David Grimes, who will need to catch Quinn's passes when USC focuses on Rhema McKnight and Jeff Samardzija.

Pass protection is vital to both sides. Notre Dame must pick up the blitzes by Sartz and Cushing, while Sam Young needs to adjust to the speed of the rush better than he did against UCLA. Defensively, Derek Landri must continue to be disruptive against better competition than he has faced in the last few weeks, and Victor Abiamiri will need to get the best of Trojan right tackle Kyle Williams.

It’s not overly dramatic to suggest that this game is a must win for Weis and his program, and that it will become the legacy of this senior class led by Brady Quinn. Notre Dame has arguably failed to record a signature win under Weis, with losses to USC and Ohio State last year and to Michigan in September. While the national championship game or the Heisman trophy may not be within reach, this week is the perfect time to silence the critics who claim the Irish don’t deserve to stand with the nation’s elite teams.

The positional matchups are as follows:

Position / Advantage
Quarterback – Notre Dame
Running Back – USC
Wide Receivers – USC
Tight Ends – Even
ND OLine vs. USC DLine – Even
USC OLine vs. ND DLine – Even
Linebackers – USC
Secondary – Even
Punting - Notre Dame
Kicking - USC
Return Teams - USC
Intangibles - Notre Dame

Obviously, Quinn must turn in an excellent performance for Notre Dame to have a chance, but the Irish will lose if the outcome rests entirely on his shoulders. The defense and special teams must also play at a significantly higher level than they have demonstrated to date, and Notre Dame must finally avoid the costly penalties that have been so annoyingly prevalent this season. Also, the Irish cannot afford so much as one missed extra point, such as the one that doomed their BCS chances ten years ago in the Coliseum.

Given that there is little margin for error, an Irish victory may be wishful thinking. This is one game that cannot be decided on paper, however, and Notre Dame has yet to play at or near its potential for more than a few brief stretches since the Penn State game. I believe this team has a few things left to prove, and one of them will take place on Saturday night.

NOTRE DAME 31 USC 27

Irish Complete Sweep of Pentagon

Green-shirted Notre Dame stumbled around for one quarter before scoring 34 points over the next 20 minutes on the way to a 41-9 rout of Army. The win boosted the Irish to 10-1 on the season and served as a fitting home farewell to a group of seniors that have earned a special place in the hearts of Notre Dame fans. Brady Quinn and Darius Walker led the offense while Derek Landri and Mike Richardson were the defensive stalwarts.

Notre Dame’s habit of scoring on its first possession came to an abrupt end when a holding penalty was followed by a rare Quinn interception. Jeff Samardzija was bumped off his route by an Army linebacker, and free safety Jordan Murray was the only player around when the ball arrived.

The Knights converted a 27-yard field goal for a quick 3-0 lead, and began to dream of the impossible when David Grimes fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The Irish recovered after a mad scramble, and quickly moved in for a touchdown as the game moved into the second quarter. Walker capped the drive with a ten-yard burst and Notre Dame led 7-3.

The Irish forced a three and out with Landri leading the charge, and Quinn started to heat up his arm. The senior was perfect on the ensuing drive, and hit Samardzija on a slant for a 16-yard score. Carl Gioia botched the extra point, but it would not matter on this day.

Once again, Landri terrorized Army quarterback Carson Williams and forced a punt. The Irish offense produced yet another scoring drive in the final minutes of the half, as Quinn used both his arm and his legs to move the chains. Rhema McKnight caught a seven yard pass inn the back of the end zone to give Notre Dame a 20-3 halftime lead.

Notre Dame received the opening kickoff in the third quarter and turned to Walker. The junior passed the 1,000 yard mark for the season on his way to the end zone, but he needed help from Grimes to put six points on the board. Walker took a pitch and swept around right end from six yards out, but lost the ball just before crossing the goal line. Grimes pounced on it in the end zone and the Irish had a 27-3 lead less than two minutes into the second half.

Richardson picked off a pass by Williams on the next series, and Quinn wasted no time hitting McKnight for a 24-yard score. The interception was the first by the Irish secondary in four games, and Richardson enjoyed it so much that he grabbed another one later in the game to set up Notre Dame’s final touchdown. Walker scored at the 10:55 mark of the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 41-3.

The final minutes of the game were marked by curtain calls for Irish seniors and Army’s dogged attempts to score. Landri blocked a field goal try, but he and the rest of the defensive starters were resting on the bench when the Knights scored on the last play of the game. The score did nothing to dampen Notre Dame’s post game celebration on the field, and the seniors basked in the glory of the moment.

Now that the Irish have completed a sweep of three weak opponents and recorded their seventh straight win, it is time to raise their level of play. USC’s talented athletes await in Los Angeles, and Notre Dame is going to have to tighten up several aspects of its game in order to have a chance.

The offensive line must protect Quinn and create space for Walker, while the defense must cover and tackle well enough to make the Trojans work for every yard. On special teams, kickoff coverage and the kicking game itself have been abysmal. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Irish fans can be thankful this week for something they have not had in a very long time – a chance at the title.

John’s Top 20

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. USC
4. Notre Dame
5. Florida
6. Arkansas
7. Texas
8. LSU
9. Wisconsin
10. Louisville
11. West Virginia
12. Oklahoma
13. Georgia Tech
14. Virginia Tech
15. Boise State
16. Rutgers
17. Nebraska
18. Boston College
19. Wake Forest
20. BYU

John’s Bottom Ten

1. Duke
2. (tie) Miami (Fla.) & Florida State
3. UNLV
4. Temple
5. Utah State
6. San Diego State
7. Illinois
8. Stanford
9. Michigan State
10. Washington

Dishonorable mention: Colorado, The States of Mississippi and North Carolina

IRISH BATTLE ARMY IN HOME FINALE

Notre Dame plays its final home game of the season on Saturday against the Black Knights of Army. The Irish will celebrate Senior Day, and even the walk-ons should be able to get on the field. Although Bobby Ross’ 3-7 squad enjoyed some early success including a couple of overtime wins, they have lost four in a row and are no match for Brady Quinn and friends.

Army’s situation at quarterback is much less settled. David Pevoto was the starter until the last two games, when freshman Carson Williams earned his shot. After five turnovers against Air Force on November 3, only Ross knows who will start this week. Neither has been particularly effective in the Knights’ pro-style offense, as evidenced by a combined eight touchdown passes against 20 interceptions.

The running game is only marginally better. Leading rusher Wesley McMahand is only 5’6” and 171 pounds. If the Notre Dame defense can find him, he won’t get very far. Freshman tailback Tony Moore is five inches taller and fifty pounds larger, and he will see action as McMahand’s backup. The offensive line is anchored by seniors Pete Bier and Jonathan Cannon, and is generally a full sized group. Tim Dunn is also an emerging weapon at tight end.

The Irish defense should not be overstressed in this ballgame, and for once they do not have to defend an option attack while playing a service academy. There should be plenty of opportunity for substitution such that the Notre Dame coaching staff can take a long look at its young players.

Defensively, the Knights have a few good players among the front seven. End Cameron Craig is solid, while his very talented running mate Brandon Thompson is rounding into form after missing several weeks due to injury. Linebackers Cason Shrode and Barrett Scruggs are very productive players and sure tacklers.

The secondary has missed its star player, strong safety Caleb Campbell, who went down with a season-ending knee injury against Tulane three weeks ago. The rest of the group will face a significant challenge against Notre Dame’s tall and athletic receivers. Army has recorded only three interceptions this season.

Once again, Irish fans are going to be watching the offensive line and the running game. This game should be another confidence builder and a chance to see more of James Aldridge and Munir Prince, although the temptation to throw the ball against the Knights will be difficult to ignore. Quinn will have to get used to life without John Carlson, and it will be interesting to see if Will Yeatman or Konrad Reuland can play with veteran tight end Marcus Freeman.

Coach Ross and his players are excited about the opportunity to play at Notre Dame despite the overwhelming odds. “It’s a football game in which I wanted to play and I still do”, he said this week. “It is going to be fun for me, and I think it will be for our kids too. I think they’re excited about playing in this game. I think they’ll be ready to play this game. We’re going to have some matchup problems during the course of the game. I think we’re going to be ready to play, and if we don’t turn the ball over we can give ourselves a fighting chance.”

Everyone associated with Notre Dame wants to see a well played game in all three phases. Although there have been frustrating breakdowns throughout this season, there will be no excuses if the team cannot deliver this week. Don’t worry, they’ll do just that.

NOTRE DAME 49 ARMY 7

IRISH SOAR PAST FALCONS

Notre Dame jumped off to a quick 20-3 first quarter lead and coasted to a 39-17 victory over the Air Force Falcons on Saturday. Brady Quinn threw four touchdown passes, three of them in the team’s first three possessions, and Terrail Lambert returned a blocked field goal attempt for a 76-yard score to pace the 9-1 Irish.

It took Quinn and Jeff Samardzija only two plays and 54 seconds to take the opening kickoff 80 yards to paydirt. Passes of 29 and 51 yards were all the Irish needed to take a7-0 lead. After a three and out by the Falcons, Notre Dame marched in for a score, this time covering 56 yards in seven plays. John Carlson’s one yard reception capped the drive and the Irish had yet to face a third down or suffer an incomplete pass.

Air Force answered with a drive of its own, but it stalled on the Notre Dame 15 when Mike Richardson nailed Chad Hall on third down. Zach Sasser came on to boot a 32-yard field goal to put the Falcons on the board. The Irish appeared to be stopped on their next possession, but a roughing the punter penalty gave them new life. Given a second chance, Darius Walker ripped off two big gains and Quinn hit Rhema McKnight for a 24-yard touchdown.

The first quarter ended with Notre Dame ahead 20-3 after a missed extra point, and most everyone believed that the outcome had been decided. Apparently, someone forgot to mention this detail to the Falcons. Air Force dominated the next two quarters, as they kept possession for 25 of the next 30 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, they were outscored 13-7 by the Irish during this time frame due in part to Lambert’s play after Trevor Laws batted down Sasser’s field goal try. Air Force had nothing to show for two second quarter possessions covering 17 and 15 plays, although the fact that Notre Dame’s defense could not get off the field was not lost on anyone.

The teams exchanged scoring drives in the third period. Quinn led his mates on an 87 yard march in just over three minutes, but Walker did most of the heavy lifting before a scoring pass to Marcus Freeman stretched the Irish lead to 33-3. The Falcons answered against the gassed Notre Dame defense despite liberal substitution by the Irish coaching staff. This time, Shaun Carney directed a 16-play, 80-yard march in eight minutes. Carney hit Beau Suder for the final 12 yards as the quarter came to a close.

Notre Dame stretched its lead to 39-10 on the next series. Walker broke off a 40-yard run and ran in for a score three plays later. Carney answered with the games final scoring drive by hitting Jacob Kendrick with a seven yard pass.

The final statistics were not flattering to Notre Dame despite the one-sided score. Showing uncharacteristic balance, Carney passed for 205 yards and the Falcons ran for 200 more. Air Force kept the ball for nearly 39 minutes, but the Irish kept them out of the end zone with key stops in their own territory.

The win proved costly for Notre Dame in that Carlson appears to be lost for the remainder of the regular season with what appeared to be a knee injury. This is obviously a devastating blow to the Irish offense, and certainly more of a concern than the three missed extra points by Carl Gioia.

The Irish return home for their final home game against Army before a trip to USC. Although this team’s flaws are evident regardless of the opponent, Quinn’s extraordinary ability and game management skills are a joy to watch. Fortunately for Notre Dame fans, his biggest and best collegiate performances could still be ahead of him.

John’s Top 20

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. USC
4. Notre Dame
5. Arkansas
6. Florida
7. Texas
8. LSU
9. Wisconsin
10. Rutgers
11. Louisville
12. Oklahoma
13. West Virginia
14. California
15. Georgia Tech
16. Virginia Tech
17. Wake Forest
18. Auburn
19. Maryland
20. Nebraska

John’s Bottom Ten

1. Duke
2. (tie) Miami (Fla.) & Florida State
3. UNLV
4. Temple
5. San Diego State
6. Washington
7. Stanford
8. Big 10 Basement (Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern)
9. North Carolina
10. Iowa State

Dishonorable mention: Colorado, The State of Mississippi, The MAC

IRISH TACKLE AIR FORCE

Notre Dame will visit the Air Force Academy on Saturday to take on the dangerous but somewhat inconsistent Falcons. Fisher DeBerry’s 4-4 team has taken highly regarded Tennessee to the wire before losing 31-30, but they have also lost to lowly San Diego State and were clobbered by BYU. Nevertheless, the Irish cannot afford to overlook a highly motivated option team that possesses the ability to throw the football.

While Navy’s aerial threat was diminished when Brian Hampton was injured, Falcon quarterback Shaun Carney is capable of keeping Notre Dame off balance by mixing in the pass. He has a trio of productive running backs led by wingback Chad Hall, the team’s leading rusher, halfback Ryan Williams, who ran for 98 yards against the Vols, and fullback Jacob Kendrick. Carney can also throw the deep ball to favorite targets Victor Thompson and Spencer Armstrong.

The Air Force attack is particularly successful on third down with an enviable 58% conversion rate. They also take care of the ball, hold a six minute advantage in time of possession and do not commit many penalties. In other words, they are a disciplined, well-coached team.

As is usually the case with service academies, the offensive and defensive lines rely on quickness and technique rather than size. Senior left tackle Robert Kraay is an exception at 6’8” and 295, while strong side end Gilberto Perez is leader of the defense. Each has been selected to play in a post-season all-star game.

The Irish defense should be prepared for the option from the start, since they are only two weeks removed from the battle with Navy in which they had to make several in-game adjustments. The Falcon attack is similarly dangerous, although Navy has a bit more speed. The consequence of losing the battle on first down will be the same as in Baltimore, where Navy was able to sustain long drives and mix in big plays before Notre Dame’s staff plugged the leaks.

When Notre Dame has the ball, it should enjoy success on the ground against the smallish Falcon defense. This was also the theory against Navy, but the Irish ground game was not as dominant as expected in the red zone and on third down. Fans who can watch the game on TV will also hope to see James Aldridge and Munir Prince play meaningful minutes with the first team, as opposed to mop-up duty where everyone in the stadium knows the play call.

Junior linebacker Drew Fowler is a tackling machine for Air Force in its 4-2-5 defensive alignment, while free safety Bobby Giannini covers a lot of ground. He is flanked by two corners and a pair of tough combo (safety/linebacker) players in John Rabold and Julian Madrid. The most interesting matchups on Saturday may be Rabold on John Carlson and Perez lined up opposite Notre Dame’s Sam Young.

Defensively, the Irish back seven must fill the lanes and close off the outside option threat. Tackles Derek Landri and Trevor Laws are playing outstanding football of late, so the fullback dive should not burn Notre Dame very often. The key to a strong performance will be the play of safeties Chinedum Ndukwe and Tom Zbikowski, who have had their ups and downs this season.

On special teams, Senior Zach Sasser proficiently handles punts, kickoffs and field goals for the Falcons. The kickoff coverage team is exceptional, while punt coverage is mediocre. Notre Dame needs to improve the former, although it would not be a good sign if they are receiving multiple kickoffs after Falcon scores. Besides, the rarified air should increase the likelihood of a touchback.

The primary goals for Notre Dame are to win the game and stay healthy. It would be a bonus if Brady Quinn can pad his passing statistics, but a dominant performance by the offensive line and a 200+ yard rushing total would be preferable.

On defense, Irish fans would love to see Rick Minter’s unit dictate the flow of the game from the start instead of backpedaling until halftime. The statistics don’t lie, however, as Notre Dame has surrendered 133 of 199 total points in the first half this season. The Irish also do not force many turnovers with only a 1.3 per game average compared to 2.0 last year.

Notre Dame will probably frustrate the faithful for 20 minutes before settling down and putting away the Falcons. Quinn is simply a difference maker not only in terms of his passing, but also with his overall game management. Victor Abiamiri continues to lead the defense with a solid pass rush and stout play against the run, but big plays downfield still keep Irish fans awake at night.

NOTRE DAME 37 AIR FORCE 17

QUINN CARVES UP CAROLINA

On a chilly, gloomy day in South Bend, Notre Dame played poorly on defense, gave up a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and could not run the ball with any consistency against one of the worst defenses in Division I football. Although that sounds like a recipe for disaster, the Irish turned to Brady Quinn and the best player in the country delivered a 45-26 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Quinn continued to rewrite the Notre Dame record book with 346 passing yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Jeff Samardzija caught six passes for 177 yards and a 43-yard score to set an Irish record with 23 career TD receptions. Derrick Mayes, who was on hand for the festivities, previously held the mark.

Rhema McKnight hauled in six catches including two touchdowns and John Carlson had eight receptions and a score. Darius Walker rushed for 86 yards, most of which came in the second half. Walker reached the end zone in the fourth quarter to turn out the lights on the Tar Heels.

The Irish tried to make a statement on the first series as Quinn started out with the no-huddle, two minute offense. The result was a crisp 65-yard scoring drive in 2:03 capped by a seven yard pass to McKnight. Although the Notre Dame defense looked strong on Carolina’s first series, the Irish went to sleep as Joe Dailey directed an 80-yard march for the tying score. The key plays were a 35-yard run by Ron McGill and a 21-yard reception by Hakeem Nicks.

Notre Dame quickly restored order by scoring on its next two possessions for a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. When Carl Gioia, who has become a very reliable kicker, added a 27 yard field goal a few minutes later, Irish fans figured to keep warm in the stands by doing plenty of pushups.

The momentum changed on the next play, however, as Brandon Tate broke through poor attempts at tackling by Notre Dame and returned the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. A missed PAT kept the margin at 24-13, but Quinn had plenty of time to produce one of his patented scoring drives before halftime.

Although Notre Dame did not follow the script, the Irish scored in a familiar way as Tom Zbikowski returned a Carolina punt 52 yards for a 31-13 lead a few minutes before intermission. This was Zbikowski’s first special team touchdown of the season, and the senior finally appears to be getting healthy after a difficult month.

Based on recent performances, Irish fans expected the defense to take control in the second half against an outmanned opponent. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Dailey and Hicks led the Tar Heels on a 78-yard march to close the gap to 31-19 just five minutes into the third quarter.

Notre Dame’s offense was unfazed that Carolina was still in the game, and it seemed as though the Irish could score whenever needed. David Grimes gave his team a boost by returning the ensuing kickoff across midfield, and Samardzija hauled in his record-setting TD pass three plays later to give his team a 38-19 lead.

The Tar Heels stubbornly refused to go away. Dailey and Nicks hooked up on the next play from scrimmage on a 72-yard scoring pass as Notre Dame’s Terrail Lambert was burned badly. Nicks caught six passes on the day for 171 yards and two scores, which placed him alongside Mario Manningham as Lambert’s least favorite player.

Leading by only 38-26 heading into the final period, the Irish added a clinching touchdown by Walker to account for the final 45-26 margin. The Heels did not go quietly, however, as a late hit on Quinn sparked open hostilities between the teams and the referees stayed busy until the final whistle. Coach Charlie Weis quickly cleared his bench and kept his franchise quarterback from further jeopardy.

Despite several instances of poor defensive play and the special teams breakdown, the outcome was never really in doubt. Quinn has been good enough to compensate for Notre Dame’s mistakes and weaknesses, which is remarkable considering the lack of production in the running game and inconsistent pass protection. Quinn was sacked three times and hit hard on several occasions by Carolina, but the senior is one of the toughest players to wear the Irish uniform.

There were plenty of positives in this game besides Quinn and his receiving corps to comfort the legions of restless fans. Notre Dame’s defensive line turned in its best effort of the season, and freshman running back James Aldridge looks as though he is ready to take on a larger role in the offense. The 8-1 Irish travel to play Air Force next week in search of improved execution in the running game and overall consistency on defense. They will need both to end the regular season on a positive note and return to the BCS.

John’s Top 20

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Texas
4. USC
5. Notre Dame
6. Auburn
7. Florida
8. Louisville
9. California
10. Arkansas
11. LSU
12. Tennessee
13. Wisconsin
14. West Virginia
15. Virginia Tech
16. Oklahoma
17. Rutgers
18. Texas A&M
19. Georgia Tech
20. Wake Forest

John’s Bottom Ten

1. Duke
2. Miami (Fla.)
3. Stanford
4. (tie) San Diego State, UNLV
5. Anyone from the MAC
6. Temple
7. Michigan State
8. North Carolina
9. Colorado
10. Iowa State
Dishonorable mention: Illinois, Mississippi

CONFIDENT IRISH FACE NORTH CAROLINA

For the second consecutive home game, Notre Dame will host a team they have not played in a very long time. I was a freshman under the Golden Dome the last time the Tar Heels visited the Irish and lost 16-0, so it was only a few years after leather helmets and the single wing had become extinct.

The Tar Heels have beaten only Furman this season in a 45-42 shootout, and their 1-7 record has cost Coach John Bunting his job effective at the end of the season. After this announcement was made last week, North Carolina went on to play its best game of the year in a 24-17 loss to 7-1 Wake Forest. This indicates that the players have plenty of pride and are still working hard for the coaching staff.

Bunting was a defensive player for the Tar Heels in 1971, and his return to Notre Dame Stadium as head coach is bittersweet. “I've been looking forward to it for a long time. This is a special trip for us. It's just disappointing we don't have the record we'd like to have going in to the game”, he said earlier this week.

North Carolina features a rare two quarterback system on offense. Cam Sexton and Joe Dailey share the duties under center. Both are capable passers although neither is a significant running threat. Dailey’s numbers are slightly better in terms of accuracy, but both have combined for only a 50% completion rate and 15 total interceptions against a meager six touchdowns. The Heels average a mere 15 points per game and have surrendered over 32.

The three top receivers are Jesse Holley, Hakeem Nicks and Brooks Foster, each of whom has over 20 receptions. The biggest offensive threat for the Tar Heels is senior tailback Ronnie McGill, who is solidly built at 5’11’ and 220 pounds. McGill leads the team in rushing with a four yard average and is backed up by junior Barrington Edwards, who closely resembles McGill in stature.

North Carolina’s offensive line is led by senior left tackle Brian Chacos and guard Charlston Gray. The right side is somewhat unsettled, which could be good news for Victor Abiamiri. The Heels may have to double team Notre Dame’s sack leader, which should open up opportunities for other Irish defenders.

Defensively, North Carolina’s line is anchored by 300 pound tackle Shelton Bynum and end Brian Rackley, both of whom are seniors. Right end Hilee Taylor leads the team in sacks with three.

Larry Edwards was the team’s best linebacker and leading tackler before suffering a season-ending injury. Durrell Mapp has played well on the weak side but the other positions have been manned by committee.

Safeties are plentiful in that North Carolina has three quality players in overall leader Kareen Taylor, D.J. Walker and Cooter Arnold. Amazingly, the Tar Heels have only one interception this season, which was recorded by Taylor against Clemson.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame is coming off a confidence building win against Navy and appear to be on their way to a 10-1 record prior to the season finale in Los Angeles. Brady Quinn has settled into to a comfortable rhythm and his already stellar receiving corps has been bolstered by the emergence of David Grimes.

Darius Walker leads the Irish ground game, but fans are still not entirely satisfied with the play by the offensive line and are looking forward to additional carries by freshman James Aldridge. Since the Tar Heels have given up 205 rushing yards per game along with 27 touchdowns, Notre Dame will likely go right at them.

The Heels should not pose a significant threat to the Irish defense. McGill is their best player, but he should not have much room to run against Notre Dame’s front seven. The quarterbacks and receivers are average at best, so there is little chance the visitors will be able to match the host’s firepower and stay in the game. Although Bunting will deliver the best North Carolina can offer, the Irish are unlikely to keep them in the game by making unforced errors and playing without passion.

One area in which North Carolina does play well is in special teams. Their kick and punt coverage teams are above average, while place kicker Connor Barth has nailed every field goal and PAT he has attempted this season. The biggest challenge for Notre Dame in this phase of the game is to generate real improvement in its disappointing punt and kickoff return performance.

Although North Carolina will give maximum effort, they do not have the horsepower to pressure Notre Dame into a sub-par performance. Matchups favor the Irish across the board, and there should be ample opportunity for Coach Weis to go to his bench. The Tar Heels will stay in the game only as long as the Irish permit, which probably won’t be longer than twenty minutes.

NOTRE DAME 40 NORTH CAROLINA 10