USC – Notre Dame: Live Twitter blogging!

posted at 5:00 pm on November 29, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

Today I’ll be at the Los Angeles Colisseum watching the annual battle between the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I wish I could be more optimistic about Irish chances in this game, but they’ll need the luck of the Irish to prevail over a Trojans team that has lost a little of its dominance … but not nearly enough:

With Southern California perennially among the nation’s top teams and Notre Dame struggling to return to its winning tradition, there’s no question one of college football’s most storied rivalries has lost some of its luster.

But with the fifth-ranked Trojans again competing for a spot in a BCS bowl and the Fighting Irish coming off one of the most embarrassing losses in program history, rarely has one of their meetings seemed so one-sided.

USC will be a heavy favorite at home against Notre Dame on Saturday night, as the Trojans look to win their seventh straight game against the Irish and eighth straight game overall.

The big drama here is whether Charlie Weis will return next year, or whether Notre Dame will be forced to eat the last seven years of his 10-year contract. The poor play of the Irish in the last few weeks has people talking about a change in South Bend, but a surprise win over the Trojans would probably give Weis another year to turn things around. A win would propel the Irish to a bowl game, which would also help.

But can the Irish overcome the Trojans today? It seems like they’d need an Army of Rudys to do so. I’ll be there to see it, courtesy of my Uncle Ted and his Trojans season tickets — and I’ll live-twitter the game right here at Hot Air. The game kicks off at 8 pm ET, but I’ll probably start earlier to let you know what kind of reception I get at USC, wearing my Notre Dame jersey and cap. In 2006, I got a lot of good-natured razzing but overall friendly treatment … especially as I left the stadium after the Irish got thumped by the Trojans.


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    go gators

    Play this game
    http://megaswf.com/view/77181dbfa237…4abfd7d5e.html

    joey24007 on November 29, 2008 at 5:16 PM

    joey24007 on November 29, 2008 at 5:16 PM

    Oops … game no longer available

    sorry

    joey24007 on November 29, 2008 at 5:17 PM

    Notre Dame won’t recruit the players it takes to win in Division I football. If they don’t lower their academic standards some, they can fire as many coaches as they can hire, but ND won’t be breaking the top 20 often or for long.

    toliver on November 29, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    Here’s to the beat up Irish!

    Sorry, Ed, but USC is gonna leave a mark to run up the score for BCS rating points.

    Right_of_Attila on November 29, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    I’d love to see Oregon State get a win tonight and head to Pasadena.

    Dead Hand Control on November 29, 2008 at 5:28 PM

    Dead Hand Control on November 29, 2008 at 5:28 PM

    As would most SC fans, who’d prefer to see the team in an interesting match-up – best against Big 12 or SEC, but even Utah or Boise State might be more interesting than Penn State (sorry, Joe). It would serve the Rose Bowl people right, too, after last year declining the opportunity to bring in Georgia and instead going for the second best Big 10 team.

    CK MacLeod on November 29, 2008 at 5:37 PM

    Go Trojans… cheer up though, USC lost to Stanford last year, so there is hope… USC tends to lose games it should dominate (Stanford, UCLA, Oregon State 2x).

    El_Terrible on November 29, 2008 at 5:38 PM

    Besides Wisconsin, I root for chaos to destroy the BCS. So go, Auburn and let chaos reign. The more upset fans we have the better.

    PackerBronco on November 29, 2008 at 5:39 PM

    Ed, good luck at the game. I’m also a Notee Dame Fan, but really don’t think the game will be close. Hopefully it turns out to be a nice trip to a different part of the country and not just a Notre Dame loss.

    jonkk on November 29, 2008 at 5:44 PM

    I know someone there but he won’t be Twittering. He’ll be on the field with his son for Senior Day.

    The Irish will be lucky to score.

    USC 56-0.

    JammieWearingFool on November 29, 2008 at 5:45 PM

    I’m not a big Irish fan. USC has been one of the best around since the ’20′s. I’m a UAB Blazer fan. We’ve been playing D1 football for 12 years and won today against UCF. We doubled our win total from last season!! Go Blazers!!

    dragonash on November 29, 2008 at 6:08 PM

    If Charlie Weis were committed to his coaching job, this might all be different. If he’d rather be doing other (admittedly worthwhile, but NOT HIS JOB) things, he should resign and let ND hire someone who wants to give it full-time dedication.

    califcon on November 29, 2008 at 6:09 PM

    Notre Dame could go winless and they’ll still be invited to a bowl game.

    I hate the Domers.

    Go Condoms!!!

    mylegsareswollen on November 29, 2008 at 6:48 PM

    As much as I can’t stand USC, it’s hard for me to shed tears for Notre Dame, college football ‘s Animal That Is More Equal Than Others.

    L.N. Smithee on November 29, 2008 at 7:00 PM

    How bout them Red Raiders!!!

    Go Oklahoma State!!!!

    conservnut on November 29, 2008 at 7:03 PM

    Hey, Ed, we’re an ND family and have been to quite a few games. You’ll be in good company there!

    My Dad, an ND grad, saved up for years to come to a game–turned out to be the one where AD scored three TDs as fast as his legs would carry him!

    PattyJ on November 29, 2008 at 7:09 PM

    Go Ducks!

    The Civil War is the only game today.

    Everything else is just a scrimmage.

    Scribbler on November 29, 2008 at 7:36 PM

    Have a good time Ed and good luck to the Irish!

    Zorro on November 29, 2008 at 7:46 PM

    Enjoy Cappy.

    But enough of that silly distraction – ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!

    Oh, sorry, AubieJon.

    Squiggy on November 29, 2008 at 8:05 PM

    memories…

    1/1/81

    17-10 – good times

    >;^)

    Branch Rickey on November 29, 2008 at 8:25 PM

    AS the first poster said, Go Gators!

    Gatordoug on November 29, 2008 at 8:30 PM

    Go Trojans! Oregon State in the Rose Bowl? Unthinkable.

    savvydude on November 29, 2008 at 8:37 PM

    Prediction:

    Hotair Showdown at The Georgia Dome next weeek:

    Gatordoug & Joey24007 vs. Squiggy

    Squiggy takes out crybaby Tebow. LOL

    p.s. How’s Harvin’s ankle? {scary that he’s been playing on a bad ankle. Imagine him with a good ankle?} Too much for this Dawg fan to handle :)

    Hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving. Dawg fans didn’t. Trust me.

    Branch Rickey on November 29, 2008 at 8:38 PM

    FIGHT ON!

    The Race Card on November 29, 2008 at 8:56 PM

    D-III football shoutout to my beloved Beloit Bucs! 5-5 this year and that’s an improvement.

    Mr. D on November 29, 2008 at 9:09 PM

    Sorry Ed, but Notre Dame sucks, and as someone who had a bad experience with that snotty college, I have to say good riddance.

    Illinidiva on November 29, 2008 at 9:32 PM

    http://www.trojanwire.com/images/notre-dame-fan.jpg

    I would rub my private school in your face but BYU lost last week so nah

    reagant on November 29, 2008 at 9:37 PM

    Beat SC!

    Bob's Kid on November 29, 2008 at 9:54 PM

    The Irish will be lucky to score.

    USC 56-0.

    JammieWearingFool on November 29, 2008 at 5:45 PM

    So far, Jammiedamus appears to have the thing correct. Hardly a difficult prediction, but as I watch this train wreck of a game I wonder if I am watching the Trojans play the JV squad at St. Clete’s School for Wayward Girls.

    Mike D. on November 29, 2008 at 10:08 PM

    Hmm, well a couple of hours ago I was ticked because I don’t get won’t pay for ESPN….

    reaganaut on November 29, 2008 at 10:13 PM

    I’ve seen some of the best ND games in modern history, Miami in 1988, Penn State in 1992. Then I got jacked by their admissions committee because they only wanted to take one kid from each legacy family. When I see those old game videos, I’m nostalgic; but otherwise, they can rot.

    alflauren on November 29, 2008 at 10:30 PM

    The ONLY team I hate worse than Carolina is Notre Dame. They have the most lucrative TV contracts, schedule the best teams, and they are terrible. They refuse to join a conference (like everyone else in D1) because they wouldn’t get as much for TV – even though their football would be just as bad.

    Not to worry though because they are CATHOLIC. And we all know all things Catholic are better than things non-Catholic, right Ed?

    If they don’t lower their academic standards some, they can fire as many coaches as they can hire, but ND won’t be breaking the top 20 often or for long.

    toliver on November 29, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    Wake Forest (ACC champions 2006 with the smallest enrollment in D1) says ‘hey’.

    Notre Dame can get whoever they want, and they do. They aren’t good because they don’t have to be. I assure you that the current roster of ND players would likely flunk out of Wake. Wake is notoriously bad, but with the newer rules concerning how many players you can offer, there are plenty of good players available that can both do athletics and academics. I am absolutely certain that ND has plenty of people on the roster that can’t pass regular college courses and is taking easy athlete courses.

    ‘Academic Standards’ has nothing to do with why ND is so bad.

    ThackerAgency on November 29, 2008 at 10:50 PM

    I’m an ND grad, from the Lou Holtz era. It’s a wonderful place. My track buddies from the time are generous overachievers. Nick Sparks, the author, donated over $900K for a high school track in his town, and took in a kid whose home was destroyed by Katrina. Other track guys from my time include Ron Markezich, a VP and former CIO at Microsoft, and Shane O’Flaherty, CEO of Mobil Travel Guide. All these guys stuck by my when I had some bad times a few years ago.

    Yes, the football team is down, and often overrated, but ND has given me some of the best friends I could ask for.

    mikeyboss on November 29, 2008 at 11:42 PM

    Fire Wiess, now thats change i can believe in.

    Irvin88 on November 30, 2008 at 1:10 AM

    ROLL TIDE!!

    beachgirlusa on November 30, 2008 at 1:41 AM

    Where the hell is my Quote of the Day?
    Loose s*** man, real loose.

    abobo on November 30, 2008 at 1:45 AM

    More bad news:
    ND Men’s Basketball Luke Harangody Out Indefinitely With Pneumonia

    zmdavid on November 30, 2008 at 9:11 AM

    ND is an awesome college and has brought us many memorable games through the years. Just a few years ago, ND & SC played one of the greatest games I ever witnessed, with Leinart scoring the winning touchdown (assist to Bush) as time ran out.

    ND is great for college football, and I hope they get back to their winning ways soon.

    Even though I’m a die hard USC football fan, I think Florida and Oklahoma are the two best teams this year. USC and Penn St. will make for a great Rose Bowl.

    Hope you had a great time Ed!

    Keemo on November 30, 2008 at 9:19 AM

    Ed- I watched the game also.
    As a Univ of Minnesota letterman (swimming) I remember why the Golden Gophers are called the Golden Gophers.
    And when I see the 7-2 Gophers play the the hated 2-7 Wolverines and LOSE the Little Brown Jug, AGAIN, well, I feel for ya buddy.

    Amendment X on November 30, 2008 at 9:42 AM

    Good thing we’ve got all those Viking Super Bowl victories under our belts, ay?

    Amendment X on November 30, 2008 at 9:43 AM

    Good thing we’ve got all those Viking Super Bowl victories under our belts, ay?

    Amendment X on November 30, 2008 at 9:43 AM

    Too Funny AX !!!

    FLORIDA, OU, TEXAS, and yes USC, all one loss teams chasing an undefeated ALABAMA for a spot in the national championship game. With one week left to go the BCS and the “pollsting lobbiest” will be in full force. Of all the teams left here, USC has by far the best defense in the country while Oklahoma has by far the best offense. Oklahoma can spot any team in the nation 50 points and they still lose by an average of 12 points. Any other year and a USC win over Notre Dame counts for something. This year, at 6-6, the Irish can’t help themselves let alone anyone else. While my bias, (and the stats), say USC deserves to be in this championship mix, I’m afraid they are still on the outside looking in. more here

    Get home safely Ed.

    Rovin on November 30, 2008 at 11:30 AM

    Probably does not say much good about me but cold dreary Saturdays with a ND loss somehow are just a little warmer and brighter.

    Jamson64 on November 30, 2008 at 12:04 PM

    I assure you that the current roster of ND players would likely flunk out of Wake.

    ThackerAgency on November 29, 2008 at 10:50 PM

    Yeah, those Maya Angelou courses must be really difficult, Thacker, at Wake.

    What’s that you say? Oh that’s right. Wake just put that whack job on the faculty and her “office” is actually a broom closet. My brother is an alum of Wake from the early ’80s and quit giving about 15 years ago because of Wake’s trading of previous high academic standards for ACC basketball status.
    For proof see: Josh Howard and his non-love for his own country….

    As for Notre Dame being “Catholic.” That’s nostalgia for the days of yesteryear when the school actually followed Catholic teaching….

    Branch Rickey on November 30, 2008 at 3:34 PM

    You know what college football really needs? THIS!

    Gatordoug on November 30, 2008 at 6:23 PM

    You know what college football really needs? THIS!

    Gatordoug on November 30, 2008 at 6:23 PM

    They need a blog you can’t read because of some stupid “artsy” blue print?

    right2bright on November 30, 2008 at 7:09 PM

    Appalachian State would run up the score on Notre Lame this year. I hope those clowns never go to a bowl game again and with the calibre of their recent coaching hires, I might just get my wish.

    Percy_Peabody on November 30, 2008 at 7:22 PM

    They need a blog you can’t read because of some stupid “artsy” blue print?

    Hmmm, maybe a snotty, childish attitude would help, apply to the BCS

    Gatordoug on November 30, 2008 at 8:33 PM