We are less than 24 hours away from game time, and the weather forecast is much improved. It now calls for South Bend to enjoy sunny skies, with a high of 69F and light winds. Here are some more tidbits about the Trojans and the Irish:
Recruiting: In 2002, Reggie Bush was among the high school talent in the house when USC soundly beat the Irish in Carson Palmer's Heisman-clinching game. In 2004, USC had nine recruits at the Notre Dame game, and two of them are now in the starting lineup: linebacker Brian Cushing and safety Kevin Ellison. Two years ago, Allen Bradford and Butch Lewis were among the future Trojans visiting Notre Dame when the Trojans came into town. They saw a classic game for the ages, and ended up signing with USC. Last year in Los Angeles, Kristofer O'Dowd, Everson Griffen, Chris Galippo and Broderick Green were in the house and signed with USC. This year, Notre Dame has the top-rated incoming class, according to early ratings, and there will be plenty of blue-chippers watching from the sidelines, including three making their official visits:
- WR Michael Floyd (Cretin Derham Hall) Saint Paul, MN 6-3/200/4.55
- CB Robert Blanton (David W Butler HS) Matthews, NC 6-1/175/4.50
- OG Kenneth Page (A C Flora HS) Columbia, SC 6-3.5/290
Injuries: Already this season, 11 starters have missed games with injuries: SCB Josh Pinkard (6 games), C Matt Spanos (3 games), TB C.J. Gable (3 games), LB Brian Cushing (3 games), CB Shareece Wright (2 games), OG Chilo Rachal (2 games), C Kristofer O’Dowd (2 games), QB John David Booty (1 game), CB Cary Harris (1 game), WR Patrick Turner (1 game) and TB Chauncey Washington (1 game). Also, a number of key backups have missed games due to injuries: CB Kevin Thomas (6 games), OG-C Nick Howell (6 games), TB Broderick Green (6 games), TE Jimmy Miller (5 games), LB Chris Galippo (3 games), TB Stafon Johnson (2 games), WR Travon Patterson (2 games), OT Butch Lewis (2 games), OT Charles Brown (1 game), QB Mark Sanchez (1 game), S Will Harris (1 game) and CB Vincent Joseph (1game). Pinkard, Gable, Thomas, Green, Galippo and Patterson have season-ending injuries.
In addition to the six players out for the season, the following players might be out for the Notre Dame game: QB JD Booty*, TB Stafon Johnson, TB Marc Tyler, OL Sam Baker*, OL Chilo Rachal*, OLC Kris O'Dowd*, OL Alatini Malu*, OL Zach Heberer*, OL Charles Brown*, OL Thomas Herring, LB Brian Cushing*, LB Rey Maulaluga*, CB Kevin Thomas, CB Shareece Wright, S Kevin Ellison*. (*=starter)
For those counting along at home, that means six starting linemen could miss the game with injuries, although, to be fair, it's only four of the original starting five.
On the other side, Notre Dame's leading rusher James Aldridge is doubtful; WR David Grimes and LB Maurice Crum are probable, and OL Dan Wenger is expected to play.
Awards: USC linebacker Keith Rivers was named a semifinalist for the 2007 Butkus Award. The other nine semifinalists for the top linebacker award are: Dan Connor (Penn State), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Jordon Dizon (Colorado), Erin Henderson (Maryland), Ali Highsmith (LSU), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), J Leman (Illinois), Ben Moffitt (South Florida) and Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky).
Left tackle Sam Baker was named a semifinalist for the 2007 Rotary Lombard Award. The other semifinalists are Xavier Adibi (LB, Virginia Tech), Calais Campbell (DE, Miami), Dan Connor (LB, Penn State), Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU), James Laurinaitis (LB, Ohio State), J Leman (LB, Illinois), Chris Long (DE, Virginia), Jake Long (OL, Michigan), Alex Mack (C, Cal) Duke Robinson (OL, Oklahoma), George Selvie (DE, South Florida).
Blogs and Info Sites For the Trojans:
Blogs and Info Sites For Notre Dame:
Media Takes: Here's what various publications are saying about the game:
- ESPN is talking about the Trojans' injuries.
- CNNSI reports about Notre Dame benching Jimmy Clausen.
- Fox Sports has both QBs mentioned in front page features.
- CBS Sportsline notes the USC injuries, with a hint of optimism.
- USA Today has detailed notes about the Notre Dame team status.
- The L.A. Times says Booty might start even with a broken finger.
- The Orange County Register says USC might just be mediocre.
- The L.A. Daily News says the Trojans just aren't the same team anymore.
- InsideSoCal calls it the "end of an aura."
- The Chicago Sun-Times sees Sharpley's chances as a "one shot deal."
- The South Bend Tribune says the Trojans' problems are haunting them now.
That's a lot to read, eh?
FTFO!
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