USC Football Hosts Notre Dame In Famed Intersectional Rivalry
November 21, 2010 | Football
Nov. 21, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
| Game Coverage | ||
 Live Audio | Gameday Central | |
| TV: ABC | Radio: 710 ESPN Radio (KSPN-AM) | |
USC hosts Notre Dame in the 82nd rendition of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. Troy has won its last 8 games against the Fighting Irish, including the last 4 in Los Angeles (and 6 of the past 7 here). USC also has won its last 19 non-conference games, 1 shy of the school record, as well as its past 15 non-league home games. The last time neither team was ranked going into the game was 2001 (that also was the last time USC lost to ND) and it's only the ninth time ever. This is the first time since the 1941 game that both USC (with Lane Kiffin) and Notre Dame (with Brian Kelly) feature new head coaches. The game is a battle between schools with perhaps the country's most glorious gridiron heritages. The winner gets year-long possession of the Shillelagh.
This is USC's ninth night game of 2010, a school record. It's the final home game for USC's seniors. The visitors from South Bend will see a familiar face in the Coliseum: new USC A.D. Pat Haden, a Trojan hero in the 1974 game who did color on Notre Dame telecasts the past 12 years.
USC, playing one of the nation's toughest schedules, is smarting after a blowout loss at Oregon State last weekend. The Trojans lost 4 starters to injury in that game (their status this week is uncertain), including QB Matt Barkley, who ranks high on USC's career passing and total offense lists. If he's unable to go, Troy will ask QB Mitch Mustain, whose last start came in 2006 while at Arkansas (he was 8-0 as a Razorback starter), to direct an offense that is 21st nationally in total offense. USC's leading rusher, TB Marc Tyler, also was felled at Oregon State, but TBs Allen Bradford and C.J. Gable and FB Stanley Havili are more than capable to bolster the running attack. There are also a pair of multi-threat pass catchers in WRs Ronald Johnson, who is among USC's career Top 15 receivers, and Freshman All-American candidate Robert Woods, one of the nation's best all-purpose runners who has set USC season kickoff return marks in 2010. The USC defense is playing better and better, led by S T.J. McDonald, DT Jurrell Casey, LB Malcolm Smith and CB Shareece Wright. The Trojans are ineligible for post-season play because of NCAA penalty, but Notre Dame got bowl-eligible last weekend by thumping Army in Yankee Stadium.
The Irish have been hit hard by injuries in 2010. True freshman QB Tommy Rees has taken over the Irish signalcalling duties the past 3 games for injured QB Dayne Crist. RBs Cierre Wood and Robert Hughes have subbed for RB Armando Allen after he went down 4 games ago (Allen is in the ND Top 5 in career kickoff return yardage and all-purpose yardage). WR Michael Floyd (in the ND career Top 10 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns) is the top Irish receiver, while the next 2 leading pass catchers--WR Theo Riddick and TE Kyle Rudolph--have been sidelined with injuries. Floyd is in the national Top 25 in receptions and receiving yards. LB Manti Te'o, who is 13th nationally in tackles, and S Harrison Smith lead the defense. PK David Ruffer has hit his last 18 field goals.
The game will be shown live nationally on ABC-TV.
