As unsightly as the uniforms were to some, nothing compared to the fetid, soulless effort. Pick a pejorative, really. In a season of steps back, Notre Dame’s 38-0 loss Saturday to No. 13 Southern California was a rocket-fueled reverse thrust, and not even retro duds honoring 1977’s national champs could distract anyone from that.
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Actually, the gear seemed entirely fitting.
Throwback? Is that a fashion statement or an option?
“This one absolutely seemed like we didn’t show up,” Irish safety David Bruton said.
Things, of course, aren’t always what they seem. And then there’s Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
It was the worst Irish loss in 79 meetings with USC. It was Notre Dame’s worst home loss since Oklahoma beat the Irish 40-0 in 1956, and it was first time since 1960 that the Irish are guaranteed a losing season as early as October.
The Irish (1-7) changed quarterbacks and changed nothing. USC (6-1) amassed 462 yards of offense and 24 first downs. Notre Dame managed 165 and 10, which includes 40 yards and two first downs in a meaningless end-of-the-first-half drive against a deliberately soft Trojans defense.
USC averaged 6.3 yards per rush. Notre Dame? A microscopic 1.6 per carry. Evan Sharpley, making his first start for the Irish, threw for 117 yards and was sacked five times. Mark Sanchez, making his first road start for the Trojans, threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns.
After a harrowing, turbulent plane descent Thursday literally threw some Trojans from their seats — call it “Shakes on a Plane” — who better than the Irish to provide a soft landing?
“You see where they are and you see where we are, and we’re at different ends of the spectrum at this point,” Irish coach Charlie Weis said. “They are where we want to be, and that’s what we’re going to drive for until we get to that point. And I will work till the ends of the earth until that ends up happening.”
First, Weis will re-evaluate his quarterbacks because, again, the starter didn’t shine. Sharpley made few glaring errors but completed just one pass for 20-plus yards.
“When they have great players all across the board, it’s difficult to make plays,” Sharpley said. “Unfortunately we didn’t get any.”
Weis said he would provide an update Monday.
“I would imagine Evan would be the guy going into the next game,” Weis said. “When I go back and watch the tape, I don’t think I’m going to find enough evidence that he’s the sole [reason] for us spitting the bit on offense.”
No, reasons for failure ranged far and wide. USC turned a special teams miscue — a punt deflecting off the Irish’s Munir Prince — into a touchdown. Notre Dame turned a special teams miscue — Bruton stuffing a Trojans punt — into a blocked field goal attempt.
In the third quarter, the Trojans scored twice on their first six snaps. In the third quarter, the Irish ran 11 plays for zero yards.
“Disappointed, disbelief, it’s everything,” Bruton said. “You have people who can’t even pick up their heads.”
This left the student section to cheer a first down with 10 minutes to play. It left Notre Dame fans standing near the USC locker room to yell embarrassingly at passing Trojans players and coaches for challenging a late third-down play, with police officers brusquely instructing them to knock it off.
It left Weis to muster some sort of bravado at another low point, about 24 hours before he attends a Bruce Springsteen concert and temporarily escapes badlands for “Badlands.”
“Let me just say people better enjoy it now,” Weis huffed, though to borrow from “The Boss” himself, glory days were painfully difficult to envision Saturday.
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Irish 2-minute drill
Getting offensive: Mark Sanchez threw for 235 yards and four scores for USC. Irish freshman Armando Allen carried 11 times for 58 yards.
On the defensive: Irish nose tackle Pat Kuntz had five tackles, one for a loss, and batted down two passes.
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The number: 39. Sacks surrendered by Notre Dame this season, breaking the 2002 school record of 38.
They’re still talking about: A 48-yard touchdown catch by USC’s Vidal Hazelton, in which he cut and juked past three Irish tacklers. “It was a sick play,” Trojans coach Pete Carroll said.
Audible: If he wins the opening toss, Charlie Weis has said he always will take the ball. Always. Without fail. Never would he pass up the chance to put points on the board first. Except Saturday, when the Irish won the toss … and Weis deferred. Given his team’s offense, it was the right call — but a telling one as well.
Sick bay: Tailback James Aldridge (ankle) did not dress, as expected. Guard Dan Wenger (ankle), receiver David Grimes (ankle) and linebacker Maurice Crum (turf toe) all returned to action.
Looking ahead: The Irish have a much-needed week off before hosting Navy on Nov. 3.
— Brian Hamilton
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