University Southern California Trojans
USC Going For Fourth-Straight Over Notre Dame
October 15, 1999 | Football
Oct. 15, 1999
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Forgive Jarious Jackson if he doesn't seem too excited about the Southern Cal-Notre Dame rivalry. The Irish quarterback hasn't had much of a taste of it so far.
Then again, it's tough to get a feel for one of the country's most intense intersectional matchups when there's not much of a rivalry going on.
The Irish (3-3) have lost three straight to USC (3-2), each in a heartbreaking fashion. Last year, the Trojans kept the Irish out of a Bowl Championship Series appearance by winning 10-0 as Jackson sat on the sidelines with a knee injury.
"It was our opportunity to definitely go to a BCS bowl and to be injured the last play of the game before was heartbreaking," Jackson said. "But now I get my chance to play against these guys."
After struggling at times during a 1-3 start, the Notre Dame offense is back on track, thanks to Jackson.
Three weeks ago, he wasn't even rated nationally for passing efficiency, but he climbed to No. 3 this week with 155.88 rating points. His 281 yards of offense per game ranks 16th in the country, and he's leading an offense that averages more passing yards (234) than rushing yards (201).
"I think the last couple weeks, though, without a doubt, he's played the best football of his career because he's been really consistent in his decision making and he's so balanced in what he can do with his talents now," Notre Dame coach Bob Davie said. "He can run, as we all know, but he's developed into really a good passer."
Jackson has the second-best five-game streak of any quarterback in Notre Dame history with 1,313 yards. His 233.7 yards passing a game ranks second in school history behind Joe Theismann's 242.9 in 1970, and his 61.8 completion percentage is ahead of Kevin McDougal's Irish record 61.6, set in 1993.
"I think we've had confidence since Day One, but everybody is starting to click," wide receiver Joey Getherall said. "Jarious is playing out of his mind right now."
While the Irish seem to have hit their stride, the Trojans are reeling after a 31-24 loss to Arizona last week.
Their running game, led by Chad Morton with 401 yards, was held to minus-20 yards in the loss, while Arizona gained 550 yards against one of the Pac-10's best defenses.
"This is a very, very proud team that is frustrated now," said USC coach Paul Hackett. "We're disappointed. What we've seen all along is an excellent football team that hasn't happened."
The Trojans might not need much of a passing game to play Notre Dame tough. The Irish secondary has been solid, though unspectacular, and has had problems covering explosive receivers like USC's Jay Soward.
Hackett said he's encouraging his players to treat this game just like Jackson is - as if it's just another game.
"There will be some people there that go there for the first time that will say, 'Wow,"' he said. "You have to rely on your senior leadership, your veteran leadership, to go in and treat it just like a normal game."
By JR ROSS
Associated Press Writer
