Tuesday, October 25, 2011 The Observer | ndsmcobserver.com Notre Dame 17, USC 31 ‘Crazy Train’ derailed Despite raucous Notre Dame Stadium, Irish drop to 4-3 with 31-17 loss to USC

By SAM GANS Sports Writer

With Notre Dame’s biggest rival coming to town, the first home night game since 1990 and the debuts of brand-new gold Irish helmets and piped- in stadium music, the stage was set for one of the most an- ticipated games in Notre Dame Stadium in years. But it was USC who finished with more points for the ninth time in 10 seasons, walking out of South Bend with a 31-17 victory. The Trojans (6-1) got off to a fast start against the Irish (4-3) by forcing a Notre Dame three-and-out on the game’s first drive. USC then marched 66 yards on its opening pos- session, which culminated with junior quarterback Matt Barkley finding freshman tight end Randall Telfer alone in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 6:16 re- maining in the first quarter. After another Irish three- and-out, Barkley again drove the Trojans down the field and connected with sopho- more receiver Robert Woods on a 3-yard strike to push the USC margin to 14-0, leaving the once-frenzied crowd in a stunned silence. The first 15 minutes ended at that score, with USC hold- KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer ing a 128-14 advantage in total Irish senior receiver Michael Floyd walks off the field during Notre Dame’s 31-17 loss to USC on Saturday night. Floyd struggled yards, leaving a disappoint- Saturday, catching just four passes for 28 yards as part of a feeble Irish attack. ing taste in the mouths of the Irish, who had two weeks to red zone, but the drive stalled game’s biggest turning point. USC senior linebacker Chris USC also limited Irish senior prepare after a bye week. there and a 25-yard field On third-and-goal and just Galippo. The ball was ruled to receiver Michael Floyd to just “We had time off, we had goal from senior kicker Da- one yard away from tying the be a backwards lateral by the four catches for 28 yards. But time to rest and we played vid Ruffer sent the Irish into game, a Crist fumbled snap officials and was therefore a according to Kelly, that was sluggish,” Irish junior tight halftime with a seven-point was batted around and then fumble, resulting in USC pos- mostly due to Irish miscues. end Tyler Eifert said. “You deficit. picked up by USC junior safety session. “We were out of sync,” Kel- can’t come out and play like Despite scoring the final 10 Jawanza Starling, who re- “We thought we were past ly said. “We had Mike two or that. It cost us in the end.” points of the half, in the first turned it 80 yards to put USC that,” Kelly said. “That’s the three times and we didn’t con- USC appeared to be ful- 30 minutes the Irish were out- up 24-10. toughest part is when you nect with him.” ly in control of the contest gained 253-127 and nearly “Dayne went right in,” Irish think you’ve moved past that With Notre Dame’s pre- when freshman kicker Andre doubled in time of possession. coach Brian Kelly said. “[He] kind of self-inflicted wounds, season goal of playing in a Heidari booted a 25-yard field “Our guys came in and just did a nice job, moved us down to come back and have those BCS game likely out of reach goal late in the second quarter wanted to make sure that we there … and then we had the hit you again, it’s disappoint- now, Kelly is focused on mak- to put the Trojans up 17-0. But played really well and didn’t fumbled snap.” ing.” ing sure the Irish are ready for Irish freshman running back worry about everything else,” For what seemingly was a Barkley, who finished the the next game against Navy on George Atkinson returned the USC coach Lane Kiffin said. “It back-breaking play, the Irish day 24-for-35 for 224 yards, Saturday and not mulling over ensuing kickoff for a touch- was good to see, because usu- responded strongly. With Rees three touchdowns and zero long-term possibilities. down, bringing the stadium ally young teams don’t do well back in the game, Notre Dame interceptions, put the icing “The fact of the matter is, back to life and pulling Notre in the beginning of games in quickly moved into USC ter- on the cake by finding a div- they have got to play Navy Dame within 10 points. this type of environment, so it ritory and again came within ing Woods near the back pylon and they have to get ready in “Whenever a big play on spe- was good to see.” one score as senior running of the end zone on a 14-yard a short period of time,” Kelly cial teams occurs, you hope to The second half started out back Jonas Gray ran 25 yards play to put the Trojans up 31- said. “We didn’t think in big spark the whole team,” Atkin- as a different story as Notre into the end zone with 14:07 17 with 7:47 left in the game. picture terms. I’ll talk to [the son said. “I think that hap- Dame forced a USC punt and remaining in the fourth quar- Notre Dame tried to mount media] in big picture terms. pened coming out.” proceeded to move the ball ter. Following a missed 32- one final rally, but USC soph- But [the team], all they know It appeared the momentum down the field, looking for the yard field goal attempt from omore cornerback Nickell is Monday is not going to be a had shifted, as the Irish de- tying score, until Rees was USC’s Heidari, Notre Dame Robey intercepted Rees with great place to be around me. fense was able to get a stop on knocked out of the game with had the ball with 80 yards to 6:43 remaining. The Irish nev- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs- the next drive, allowing Notre a knee injury. But senior and go and 9:13 on the clock to tie er got the ball back. day — that’s what they are Dame to take over possession former starter Dayne Crist the game. The win was a dominating thinking about. They are not with just under two minutes stepped in at the quarterback But on the second play of effort by the Trojans, who fin- thinking about those bigger remaining in the half. Sopho- position and effectively went the drive, junior running ished the game with a 443-267 picture items.” more quarterback Tommy 4-for-5, marching Notre Dame back Cierre Wood dropped a advantage in yards and had Rees was able to successfully down to the USC 1-yard line. pass from Rees in the back- the ball for 39:41 of the game’s Contact Sam Gans at take the Irish offense to the Then came perhaps the field, which was fallen on by 60 minutes. [email protected]

player of the game stat of the game play of the game quote of the game

Robert Woods 14 first quarter yards Jawanza Starling’s 80-yard fumble “We had time off, we had time Notre Dame running back return for a touchdown to rest and we played sluggish. You can’t come out and play like Woods delivered on all of Notre Dame managed just 14 The Irish were on the verge of that. It cost us in the end.” his pregame hype, hauling yards of offense in the first tying the game when Starling in 12 catches for 119 yards quarter as the Irish fell behind the returned a fumbled snap 80 Tyler Eifert and two touchdowns. Trojans 14-0 to start the game. yards to put the game away. Notre Dame tight end page 2 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u Irish Insider Tuesday, October 25, 2011 report card

quarterbacks: Tommy Rees showed signs of life in the second half, but over- all it was a rough day for the gunsling- D+ ers, who committed two devastating turnovers that killed any hope.

running backs: It was an abysmal night for Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray, who mustered just 43 combined yards. Wood D- only had five yards, and Gray’s 25-yard score was the only positive moment.

receivers: Tyler Eifert is developing into an elite tight end, but for the rest of the receiving corps, it was a rough night. C- Michael Floyd especially struggled — and no one picked up the slack.

offensive line: They may not have al- lowed a sack, but 41 rushing yards is a mortifyingly low total. Much of the D+ shortfall in the rushing game was caused by the USC defensive line.

defensive line: The defensive line got flat-out bullied by the Trojan front all night long. USC ran roughshod over D the Irish, and Matt Barkley was rarely pressured.

linebackers: Manti Te’o played well, as usual. But linebackers were missing assignments and tackles all across the C- field, and Carlo Calabrese’s personal- foul penalty really cost Notre Dame.

defensive backs: Except for when he was matched up against Robert Blan- ton, USC’s Robert Woods had an abso- D+ lute field day against the generally dis- KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer organized secondary. USC safety Jawanza Starling tackles Notre Dame senior running back Jonas Gray. Gray and the Irish managed just 41 rushing yards on the night. special teams: Ben Turk punted well enough, and George Atkinson’s electric kick return gave the Irish life in the A- first half. Special teams may have been After all the hype, Irish weren’t even close the only bright spot of the night. Despite months of hype, weeks and defensive lines had been the The Irish instead turned the ball coaching: USC simply outplayed Notre of preparation, days of anticipation surprises of the season. The Irish over on the goal line, committed Dame, and much of the blame falls on and hours of tailgating, in the end were running the ball effectively silly penalties, left the USC’s dy- the coaches. Give Brian Kelly and his Saturday came down to 60 min- and harassing opposing quarter- namic Robert Woods all alone and C- staff credit for getting the Irish to make utes on the field. backs. BCS bowls were real pos- turned the ball over some more. it a game in the second half. And it wasn’t even close. sibilities. A 10-win season wasn’t Even worse, the normally solid Notre Dame had all of the ad- out of the question at all. It seemed defensive line got manhandled on overall: On the biggest stage of vantages in like Notre Dame was on the verge nearly every play. Save for George their season, the Irish fell flat. this game. It of something great. Atkinson’s return, every single On both sides of the ball, it was was playing in And it wasn’t even close. facet of the game was miserably an all-around miserable effort for a Notre Dame To be honest, the Irish were bad all game long — and worst 1.59 Notre Dame. Stadium that lucky to lose by only 14 points. The when the Irish could have most was the loud- postgame stat sheet is positively used high-quality play. est it’s been gruesome. When a team amasses Maybe this was an anomaly. in decades, if only 41 rushing yards, 25 of which After all, Notre Dame had an en- Lane Kiffin’s came on one play, it’s really impos- tire half-season with two running adding up memories of sible to expect to win. The Irish backs rushing the ball extremely 2005 are to be only had the ball for 20 minutes well. It had six games where the believed. It had Allan Joseph total. It’s extremely difficult to receiving corps made plays once it a team that fight back from a 14-point first caught the ball. For a month and a the numbers had reeled off Sports Editor quarter deficit when you only have half, the young players on the de- four straight 15 minutes of possession the rest fensive line found a way to disrupt wins, including of the game to do it with. opposing offenses. Sure, this team The Irish had the ball for just 2:24 in a 59-33 thumping of Air Force. It Turning the ball over three struggled at times, but it looked the fourth quarter, effectively killing had two weeks to rest and prepare. times while not taking it away like it was coming together in time any hopes of a dramatic comeback. It was facing an inconsistent Tro- even once … well, the Irish have for the biggest game of the Brian 2:24 jan squad hamstrung by sanctions. been down that road. Only pain- Kelly era. It had, for once, what seemed like ful memories of the season opener That’s what’s most troubling dominant line play. But then the and the Big House remain there. about Saturday’s result. After what USC has now won five consecutive game started. Still, after being outplayed and looked like an encouraging win- contests over Notre Dame in Notre And it wasn’t even close. yes, outcoached in the first half, ning streak, with every possible Dame Stadium. It’s perplexing, really. This was the Irish somehow, some way, kept advantage on the Irish sideline 5 an Irish squad that seemed like it close. and with everything to gain on the it had come so far. Its first two But when a team is in a game it season’s biggest stage, how come it games were, in fact, close. After shouldn’t be, it has to take advan- wasn’t even close? Despite coming out to a raucous en- shooting itself in the foot twice to tage of opportunities. Notre Dame vironment, the Irish could not muster open the season, Notre Dame came was on the wrong side of that ex- Contact Allan Joseph at a single first down in the first quarter. out and blew away a very good perience twice this season already. [email protected] 0 Michigan State squad — a Spartan The Irish outplayed South Florida The views expressed in this team that looks better and better and outplayed Michigan. Those column are those of the author every single week. At the halfway teams, however, made timely plays and not necessarily those of The point of the season, the offensive and pulled out victories. Observer. Since they held the ball for nearly twice as long as the Irish, the Trojans ran 22 22 more offensive plays than Notre Dame.

USC has now won nine of the last 10 meetings, with Notre Dame’s lone vic- tory coming last year in Los Angeles. 9

The public-address system played mu- sic for the first time, but the Stadium 5 heard only five different songs. Tuesday, October 25, 2011 The Observer u Irish Insider ndsmcobserver.com | page 3 Sluggish start dooms Notre Dame scoring summary

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total USC 14 3 7 7 31 ND 0 10 0 7 17

First quarter Notre Dame 0, USC 7 Randall Teifer 2-yd pass from Matt Barkley (Andre Heidari kick) with 7:39 remaining Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 7:39 elapsed Notre Dame 0, USC 14 Robert Woods 3-yd pass from Matt Barkley (Andre Heidari kick) with 1:01 remaining Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:47 elapsed Second quarter Notre Dame 0, USC 17 Andre Heidari 25-yd field goal with 3:34 remaining Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 4:54 elapsed Notre Dame 7, USC 17 George Atkinson 96-yd kickoff return (David Ruffer kick) with 3:22 remaining Drive: 1 play, 96 yards, 0:12 elapsed Notre Dame 10, USC 17 JAMES DOAN/The Observer USC defenders tackle senior running back Jonas Gray. The Notre Dame offense amassed just 14 yards in the David Ruffer 25-yd field goal with 0:21 remaining entire first quarter, two of which came on rushing plays. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 1:34 elapsed Third quarter By MOLLY SAMMON said. “Early on, we didn’t get in that week break. Notre Dame 10, USC 24 Sports Writer kind of rhythm because we got down “I’m certainly not going to go back Juwanza Starling 80-yd fumble recovery (Andre 14-0.” and second guess the way I’ve pre- Heidari kick) with 0:53 remaining After two weeks of hype, the Irish In the previous six opening quar- pared over 21 years in a bye week,” took the field for the opening kickoff ters of the 2011 season, the Irish (4-3) Kelly said. “Sometimes there’s some Fourth quarter Saturday night with the lights shin- averaged 6.9 yards per play, while the accountability from everybody, Notre Dame 17, USC 24 ing and the Dropkick Murphys blar- opposing teams averaged 4.8 yards. coaches and players alike and some- Jonas Gray 25-yd run (David Ruffer kick) with 14:07 ing. But from the moment the ball Against the Trojans, Notre Dame times it falls on us a group, all of us. remaining was kicked, USC took the upper hand. maintained an uncharacteristic 1.8 But they just they didn’t play as well Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 1:46 remaining With the Trojans’ outgaining the yards per play in the first quarter, as they needed to play.” Irish 128 yards to 14 yards in the while USC averaged 6.7 for two touch- Individual responsibility, rather Notre Dame 17, USC 31 first 15 minutes of play, Notre Dame downs by the end of the first period. than any bye-week preparations or Robert Woods 14-yd pass from Matt Barkley (Andre fell behind USC and never recovered “This is the first time that I’ve coaching leadership, were at the root Heidari kick) with 7:47 remaining during Saturday’s 31-17 loss at Notre leaned on my guys pretty hard in of the problem for Notre Dame’s early Drive: 3 plays, 18 yards, 0:59 elapsed Dame Stadium. the locker room,” Kelly said. “I was lack of energy, Gray said. “We started poorly,” Irish coach not happy because we are better “The coaches did a great job in pre- Brian Kelly said. “I just told our team than that. We are better than that. paring us,” Gray said. “For whatever that, you know, very disappointed in And, to turn the ball over in the ri- reason, we didn’t come out with that the way we played the first half. Slop- diculous fashion that we have, it just, urgency. py football. Didn’t tackle well. Tim- just, makes me crazy. I just don’t un- “We regressed a bit, and we didn’t statistics ing was off. Just unacceptable for the derstand how something so easy can do the things that we did the previ- amount of time we had off to play that come out the way it does.” ous four games. We’re just back to rushing yards way in the first half.” The loss ended Notre Dame’s four- the drawing board.” In the subsequent quarters, the game win streak and revealed a team Though the environment may have Irish were able to string together a largely reminiscent of the first two added pressure on the Irish, the an- few scoring plays and worked their games of the season, which were the swer to Notre Dame’s weakness was way up to almost evening the score team’s only previous losses. simple, junior tight end Tyler Eifert before a turnover at the one-yard- “We went away from what we did said. line sent the Trojans ahead. Though the previous four games, paying at- “It was just not executing,” Eifert passing yards the remaining quarters fared bet- tention to detail and playing with said. “You can make all the excuses ter for Notre Dame, USC’s 17-0 lead poise,” senior running back Jonas you want, that we had time off, that midway through the second quarter Gray said. “Along the way we made we were rusty or that they hyped this made any chance of an Irish win un- a lot of mistakes on both sides of the game up so much and took our focus likely, and their lack of momentum ball, and we just didn’t make enough off what was really important, but I showed. plays to win.” don’t think any of that. We just didn’t “I thought, again, you can precisely Fresh off of its bye week, Notre execute and go out the way we had time of possession know the times when we got in good Dame’s on-field rust during the first to.” rhythm. We were running the ball quarter came at an inopportune time in the third quarter and were very for Kelly, who said that the flaws Contact Molly Sammon at effective in mixing things up,” Kelly could not have been from the two- [email protected] Atkinson’s kick return sets records

By MOLLY SAMMON touchdown pass after 11 games. fore Notre Dame’s first. The Sports Writer Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen first quarter’s 14 yards were a are the only other quarterbacks team low among all the quarters Freshman running back George in program history with longer in Notre Dame’s seven games in Atkinson’s 96-yard touchdown records. Quinn’s 16 passes earned 2011. kickoff return was the longest at him the first place slot, above passing Notre Dame Stadium since Julius Clausen’s 13. Rees also threw his Night game numbers Jones’ 100-yard runback against first interception in 135 passes, After their first night game Rees 23-37-190 Barkley 24-35-224 Nebraska in 2000. Atkinson’s re- the third longest streak in Notre at home in 21 years, the Irish turn just three minutes before Dame football history. dropped their overall night game rushing the half is tied for the fifth lon- record to 6-2 at Notre Dame Sta- gest in stadium history. Atkinson First quarter struggles dium, a .646 percentage. Overall, Gray 4-38 McNeal 24-118 is one of four players in the NCAA The Trojans are the first team Notre Dame has faced USC and Wood 5-5 Tyler 13-67 that has two kickoff returns for this season to outgain the Irish Miami (Fla.) most often in night scores in 2011, and his pair of in the first quarter. Before the games with 11 night games each. receiving touchdowns matches the pro- loss against USC, Notre Dame av- Against the Trojans at night, gram record. eraged 6.9 yards per play while the Irish are 3-7-1. The six night Eifert 7-66 Woods 12-119 their previous opponents gained games on the schedule this sea- Wood 6-41 Lee 2-36 Rees’ streak snapped a combined average of 4.8 yards. son mark a Notre Dame record. Sophomore quarterback Tom- USC outgained the Irish 128- field goals my Rees closed his streak of con- 14 in the first period of play and Contact Molly Sammon at secutive games with a completed completed eight first downs be- [email protected] Ruffer 1-1 Heidari 1-2 page 4 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u Irish Insider Tuesday, October 25, 2011

ASHLEY DACY/The Observer JAMES DOAN/The Observer Same old story

Despite an electric environment at Notre Dame’s first home night game in 21 years, USC jumped out to a fast start and never let the Irish catch up, claiming the Trojans’ fifth consecutive victory in South Bend. While Notre Dame fought to catch up in the second half, an untimely fumble from senior quarterback Dayne Crist less than five yards from scoring a game-winning touchdown swung the momentum back to USC. The Irish never had another true shot at catching the Trojans, who dominated nearly every statistical category in a complete victory that dropped the Irish to 4-3 on the season.

KIRBY McKENNA/The Observer

JAMES DOAN/The Observer JAMES DOAN/The Observer Clockwise from top: Linebacker Manti Te’o and safety Harrison Smith tackle USC running back Curtis McNeal; Te’o pursues Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley; running back Cierre Wood searches for running room; receiver Michael Floyd fights to catch a ball; running back George Atkinson breaks free for a touchdown on a kick return.