Notre Dame's aim: Win USC game to regain name

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Part of it is our fault for not asking more direct questions. We tap danced around the subject this week at Notre Dame's media day, but, really, what else can you say? Everybody knows it. It is as nagging as smoker's cough in Charlie Weis' fifth year at the nation's most famous program.

His best "win" is a loss.

Weis and his program haven't risen back to the heights it did four years ago today, when Notre Dame lost 34-31 to USC. For many, the Oct. 15, 2005, game goes down as one of the greatest they've seen. Some even suggested that Notre Dame was "back" after playing the defending national champions so tough in defeat.

Future recruiting classes were solidified when players committed on the spot, or shortly thereafter.

"It was 'Holy Smokes, that's what this game is all about,'" said senior tailback James Aldridge, who was in the stands that day having already committed. "This rivalry, this tradition ..."

There were two Heisman winners on the field. There was that fourth-down pass dropped with smart-bomb accuracy by Matt Leinart into the hands of Dwayne Jarrett. Leinart's fumble. The clock running out. Fans storming the field. The re-set, then the infamous (Reggie) Bush Push. Against all odds. Against the rules.

A devastated Weis trudged over to the USC locker room, in part, because it was "the right thing to do." He wanted to congratulate the Trojans and show his son, Charlie Jr., "the right way to handle yourself under duress."

When jaws closed, the prevailing feeling in South Bend was something special had just occurred. When it was suggested this week that, four years later, it was a "positive loss," Weis' jaw clinched. There has been plenty of duress since then.

"If there is such a thing, I'd say the residual effect was positive," he said of the 2005 classic. "The feeling was still miserable."

Saturday's latest meeting with USC is a reminder that there still isn't a signature win five years into Weis' stay in South Bend. The Irish have lost their last seven to ranked teams. That's two more than Louisiana-Lafayette (five in a row). The Irish haven't beaten a team ranked higher than them since Weis' second game. Overall, they are 3-11 against ranked opponents in the Weis era.

Yes, it's been a while. Asked about the biggest win of his career, junior linebacker Brian Smith said, "You've got to say the [2008] Hawaii Bowl, going out there and handling Hawaii."

That's why Notre Dame has to beat No. 6 USC on Saturday. Not just so players don't settle for big victories in the middle of the Pacific. Not for whatever ill-defined job security there might be hanging out there for Weis, but because Notre Dame has to take the next step toward becoming itself again.

James Aldridge and the Irish lost 38-3 to the Trojans last season in L.A. (US Presswire)

"I think everyone needs it," Weis said. "I don't think it's the head coach. I don't think it's the quarterback. ... I think Notre Dame needs it." At stake Saturday, basically, is the season, if you consider that fulfillment means a BCS bowl. There hasn't been one since Weis' second season.

If it loses, the program once again drops out of the rankings and people start talking again about the similarities in the records of Weis and Tyrone Willingham. Even if ND wins out and finishes 10-2 it might not be enough. The perception of a soft schedule -- USC is the only opponent currently ranked -- could foster voter skepticism. Seven of Notre Dame's opponents are at No. 37 or lower in the current Sagarin ratings.

Notre Dame must finish in the top 14 of the final BCS to be "considered" for a BCS bowl. In that case, there is no consideration. If it is eligible it goes, along with its legion of fans and TV drawing power.

But the line is fine, and different from 2005. That year the USC defense was vulnerable. This time USC is the only team in the nation that hasn't allowed a touchdown pass, despite losing a load of talent to the NFL. This USC offense has a freshman quarterback (Matt Barkley) leading an offense that is 113th in third-down conversion.

"I don't buy throwing all the eggs into a single basket," Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick said of Saturday. "It's not the sort of high drama people make it out to be.

In fact, Swarbrick suggests, another loss to USC would not be disastrous.

"What 10-2 does is tell you you're making significant progress," he said.

Once again, there is that mix of leftover misery and forward-looking positivity. No. 25 Notre Dame is off to that 4-1 start. Choose your outlook: The Irish are either one play at Michigan from being undefeated or three plays from being 1-4.

Presumed gone is the need to grow the grass out as Weis did in 2005 to slow down the faster Trojans. USC's Desmond Reed blew out a knee that day returning a kick when his leg got caught in the thick stuff. In fact, Purdue might have lobbed a compliment this season when Notre Dame players noticed thick grass in Ross-Ade Stadium. It sure wasn't to aid the basketball-on-grass Boilermakers, who are used to playing on a surface the consistency of a putting green to aid their speed.

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It's been so long that Bob Davie was the last ND coach to beat USC. The Trojans have now won seven in a row in the series. One more loss and Notre Dame will tie its most consecutive losses ever to a single opponent. The Irish haven't scored a touchdown against the Trojans since 2006. More than once Weis used the word "manhandled" to describe an offense that has been held to a total of three points in the last two meetings.

"We've brought a 'want to' to practice," offensive lineman Sam Young said. "There's a chip on our shoulder from last year. At the same time, you still have memories of that game last year. We didn't get a first down until the third quarter."

It's been so long that the rule prohibiting the "Bush Push" is off the books. Too hard to enforce, vague language, said Dave Parry, the NCAA's national officiating supervisor.

It's been so long that Jimmy Clausen is known more as a Heisman front-runner than the punky QB who showed up in a limo to announce his commitment. In that sense, Notre Dame has part of its swagger back. The list of quarterback greats stretches back decades. Like that first year, Weis is in his element, astutely calling plays.

On the other hand, Clausen has had to lead an offense that basically has to outscore the opponent each week. That's why he has had to lead three fourth-quarter comebacks, narrowly missing a fourth against Michigan.

Quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus was asked if it's easier to coach this week because he will have everyone's attention.

"Have you seen our defense?" Powlus said.

It's been so long that Weis keeps a baseball hat in his office that reads, "USC Owns Notre Dame." It was sent to him by a Trojans fan after the 2005 game. Included was a letter, part of which disparaged his daughter Hannah, who suffers from global developmental delay.

"Until we win a game, I'll hold onto that cap," Weis said, "and when we've won a game, that cap won't be around anymore. It's kind of a refresher for me. I'd just rather not share the derogatory comment."

The promise of a resurrecting Notre Dame looked real when Weis started 19-6 in his two seasons. Then the momentum slowed, then stalled. It was the Bell Curve upside down. Weis is 14-16 since that point. Now, all they can do is hope the program is back, that the defense will get better. Saturday's result will go a long way toward proving it.

There is a buzz on campus, just like four years ago. As players and coaches arrived at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex on Tuesday, they noticed the sidewalks had been tagged by mysterious leprechauns. In chalk had been scrawled on the concrete, "Beat SC," "We Believe" and "The Fall of Troy".

"They weren't here at 10 to 4," Weis said, referring to the time he arrived at work Tuesday morning.

By that night, the autograph-seeking faithful was staking out the practice field. Chris Gygi, 38, is a Notre Dame fan by force. Near the end of practice on Tuesday, he waited with his friend Eddie Prusinski. They represented half the "crowd" waiting for the closed practice to end.

"My grandfather made me a fan," Gygi said. "Saturdays were going over to grandpa's and watch Notre Dame. Sundays were go over to grandpa's and watch the Bears."

Gygi is not impressed with the 4-1 start. A week ago there actually seemed to be voter backlash. In previous years, a 4-1 start of any kind would have gotten the Irish ranked. Last week they were out of the Top 25, with the 28th-most votes in the AP poll. Mysteriously, during a bye week some of the magic returned. Notre Dame moved into both polls at No. 25.

"[They're] average," Gygi said. "They backed into 25th is what they did."

It doesn't matter halfway through the season. USC is coming and the Irish are due. No matter what the result, Notre Dame exists to perpetuate its excellence. Just like in 2005, the sidelines and stands will be filled with some of the best high school talent in the country during a recruiting weekend. Offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, the nation's top prospect from the same Minnesota high school as receiver Michael Floyd, will be at the game.

Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming is calling it the biggest in-season recruiting weekend ever at Notre Dame. Whatever happens on the field, Notre Dame will get its share of talent. It's just a matter of what Weis does with it going forward.

Aldridge remembers another thing about 2005 -- the emptiness in that locker room. Brady Quinn looked up at the then-high school senior and pleaded.

"Make sure this doesn't happen again," Quinn said to him. "That's why we're bringing guys like you in."