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USC...does the pattern continue?

88ND

I've posted how many times?
Sep 9, 2013
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Holtz owned USC

Davie was 3-2...decent considering..

Willingham 0-3

CW 0-5

BK 8-3


Hopefully the trend of two's continues and we keep beating USC at a good rate
 
Devine was 2 - 4

Faust was 3 - 2 (Faust started the winning/unbeaten streak that Holtz extended through 1996)
 
The losing began under Davie along with the decline in the program (in many areas). Oddly enough, the r3cruiting turnaround began under Weis even though he never beat USC. Kelly was certainly a winner vs. USC (as long as it wasn’t Carrol), and he continued to recruit well. So hopefully we see the recruiting get even better with improved coaching.
 
The losing began under Davie along with the decline in the program (in many areas). Oddly enough, the r3cruiting turnaround began under Weis even though he never beat USC. Kelly was certainly a winner vs. USC (as long as it wasn’t Carrol), and he continued to recruit well. So hopefully we see the recruiting get even better with improved coaching.
The decline started in 94. Also around the time admissions tightened things up.
 
Devine was 2 - 4

Faust was 3 - 2 (Faust started the winning/unbeaten streak that Holtz extended through 1996)
Devine was 1-5 and Ara, 3-6-2. Devore was 1-0, Kuharich 3-1 and Brennan 3-2.
 
Devine was 1-5 and Ara, 3-6-2. Devore was 1-0, Kuharich 3-1 and Brennan 3-2.
Ara had to play USC when they were a machine in the mid 60s through mid 70s before he had to quit coaching
 
Ara had to play USC when they were a machine in the mid 60s through mid 70s before he had to quit coaching
And with Ara, it was closer than it looked. ND blew a 17 point halftime lead in 64; blew a 21-7 lead in 68; fell behind early in the rain in 70 because of turnovers; and blew a 24-0 lead in 74 -- all of which games were played in the Colosseum.

His record could have been at least 6-5-1. He simply COULDN'T WIN IN LOS ANGELES. Only once did he do it -- 51-0 in the 66 NC season.
 
And with Ara, it was closer than it looked. ND blew a 17 point halftime lead in 64; blew a 21-7 lead in 68; fell behind early in the rain in 70 because of turnovers; and blew a 24-0 lead in 74 -- all of which games were played in the Colosseum.

His record could have been at least 6-5-1. He simply COULDN'T WIN IN LOS ANGELES. Only once did he do it -- 51-0 in the 66 NC season.
Back then the Colosseum was a huge advantage for USC. The 64 and 70 losses cost us NC's and the 74 was simply horrible. We got a measure of revenge in 77 but we really did not even things up until Lou came.
McKay after the 66 debacle made ND pretty much the game of the year for his team; even more than UCLA.
 
Back then the Colosseum was a huge advantage for USC. The 64 and 70 losses cost us NC's and the 74 was simply horrible. We got a measure of revenge in 77 but we really did not even things up until Lou came.
McKay after the 66 debacle made ND pretty much the game of the year for his team; even more than UCLA.
The 74 game may have cost ND an NC as well as it went on to beat #1 Bama in the Orange Bowl. Presumably, beating USC would not have reduced ND's chances of beating Bama.

Yes, McKay vowed after the 66 game that something like that would never happen again on HIS WATCH. And he backed it up. The next year, OJ ran all over ND at South Bend.

Plus, OJ was also SYMPTOMATIC. USC had more DYNAMIC ATHLETES and MORE FIREPOWER during most of those years.
 
When USC has a good head coach they are a monster. Ara always said that even his best teams weren't as athletic as USC -- and this was the 60s-70s when ND could handpick whatever Catholic HS player they wanted.
 
When USC has a good head coach they are a monster. Ara always said that even his best teams weren't as athletic as USC -- and this was the 60s-70s when ND could handpick whatever Catholic HS player they wanted.
Well a couple of his teams were better but overall Ara was correct. And no ND did not have the pick of Catholic HS stars; not sure where you got that from. We had a better overall talent pool there but the same things that were against us now were pretty much there as well. Well,outside of the diva stars and obsession with making it to the NFL.
 
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The 74 game may have cost ND an NC as well as it went on to beat #1 Bama in the Orange Bowl. Presumably, beating USC would not have reduced ND's chances of beating Bama.

Yes, McKay vowed after the 66 game that something like that would never happen again on HIS WATCH. And he backed it up. The next year, OJ ran all over ND at South Bend.

Plus, OJ was also SYMPTOMATIC. USC had more DYNAMIC ATHLETES and MORE FIREPOWER during most of those years.
1968 we pretty much shut OJ down but the overall talent was there for them to come back and tie. Still it was considered an upset that we got that much.
 
1968 we pretty much shut OJ down but the overall talent was there for them to come back and tie. Still it was considered an upset that we got that much.
Correct.

But Ara simply couldn't FINISH against USC. Several extremely poor fourth quarter performances.

Couldn't be helped, I suppose. USC had great team speed and exceptional line play.

Plus, their backs were always among the BEST in the country. Willie Brown, Mike Garrett, OJ, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Ricky Bell, Sam Cunningham, Clarence Davis, Anthony Davis. The list goes on and on.
 
And with Ara, it was closer than it looked. ND blew a 17 point halftime lead in 64; blew a 21-7 lead in 68; fell behind early in the rain in 70 because of turnovers; and blew a 24-0 lead in 74 -- all of which games were played in the Colosseum.

His record could have been at least 6-5-1. He simply COULDN'T WIN IN LOS ANGELES. Only once did he do it -- 51-0 in the 66 NC season.
You know that 51-0 was billboard material!!!!
 
I’m not sure BK would’ve beaten USC if he went against those mid 2000s USC teams. SC was a dumpster fire for much of the Kelly tenure and outside of 1 year we were always battling to win. 2012 their starting QB was out and we still needed a goal line stand. Another year they had an interim coach and Kelly’s 1st year Ronald Johnson dropped a sure TD in the final minute. We really have had all the luck in the rivalry the past 10+ years.
 
I’m not sure BK would’ve beaten USC if he went against those mid 2000s USC teams. SC was a dumpster fire for much of the Kelly tenure and outside of 1 year we were always battling to win. 2012 their starting QB was out and we still needed a goal line stand. Another year they had an interim coach and Kelly’s 1st year Ronald Johnson dropped a sure TD in the final minute. We really have had all the luck in the rivalry the past 10+ years.
No chance we beat Pete Carrolls SC teams with Kelly
 
You know that 51-0 was billboard material!!!!
Yes, McKay realized he needed to recruit better players -- he actually SAID SO -- and he did so. Immediately. And the results were also immediate. It took ND SEVEN YEARS to beat USC, and there were ZERO ND VICTORIES in L.A. until, I believe, 1984.
 
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