Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Against USC, Irish Have the History, and That's All - NY Sun
The good news for Notre Dame is that while Southern Cal could wipe the Irish out at South Bend this Saturday, they will still be leading the Trojans in their 77-year series. In fact, Notre Dame (who are underdogs by three touchdown) could get clobbered every year until 2018 and still be ahead. The bad news is that this is what's likely to happen.

Notre Dame–USC was, for more than 60 years, the most important single game in college football — that is, if you define importance by influence on national rankings (the two schools have a combined 24 national championships) and television ratings. That was a long time ago; now it isn't even just another game. Actually, the Irish and Trojans did play a great game in 2005...Southern Cal has now won the last five by a cumulative score of 204–92 — that's an average of 41–18...

...The last time Notre Dame won a bowl game was 1994...

Also, Irish failures puzzle Parseghian - Chicago Tribune
Wait's worth it for Sharpley - Chicago Tribune
Sharpley offers ND a fresh starter - South Bend Tribune
They're lining up on his side - LA Times
The body that made open-field tackles on legendary running back Jim Brown now struggles to get out of bed. The sure hands that snared 48 interceptions during a 12-year career fumble a Styrofoam cup. The sharp mind that got him into the NFL Hall of Fame now tricks him into believing that he is back in training camp for another season with Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers.

Willie Wood, 70, is paying the steep price
for being a football hero.

Two knees and one hip have been replaced. Doctors have performed four major surgeries on his back and fused two vertebrae in his neck. And last year he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease...

...Yet Wood isn't facing his uncertain future alone...