That was Then
UHND.com - Michael Stoepler
November 23, 2000

Once again Notre Dame (8-2) heads out west with a bit more than just a little riding on the outcome of their annual clash with longtime nemesis Southern Cal. In the balance is a 9-2 regular season record and a shot at their first ten win season since 1993, a top ten ranking and a possible trip to either Tempe, Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl or New Orleans for the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

Sound familiar?

In 1996 the Irish came to the Coliseum with the same (8-2) record. With losses to Ohio State and and the Falcons of the Airforce Academy N.D. was poised to end the Holtz years with a perfect record against the Trojans and a trip to one of the big bowls. They lost. And with Holtz packing his bags the Irish thought that they would rather not make a bowl appearance.

In 1998 they stopped in Pasadena already having secured 9 victories. The only loss was to the Michigan State Spartans early on in the season. But an injury to then starting quarterback Jarious Jackson kept the Irish out of the end zone, out of the top ten and out of another big bowl game.

But that was then and this is now.

In ’96 the distraction of coach Holtz’s resignation, a woeful kicking game and the fact that the Trojans had not beaten N.D. in 13 years all contributed heavily in the eventual 20-27-overtime loss. In ’98, it was the injury to Jackson combined with the inexperience of the backup quarterbacks and the head coach that eventually spelled defeat.

This team is different.

There are no immediate distractions. Even the talk surrounding Offensive Coordinator Kevin Rogers departure for the Rutgers head post have subsided. The kicking game is solid with the likes of Setta, Hildebold and McNew. Lovecchio is hardly inexperienced, and Coach Davie is by far a better coach than he was two years ago.

And this is now not then.

As Coach Davie likes to say, I like this team. This team has character. This team plays with heart. It has good leadership and good talent. And, it is hungry.

Of course, they will need to play much better than they did against pitiful Rutgers. If they manage to give up 120 yards in penalties to the Trojans it could sink the Irish faster than the Kamikaze’s sunk the Arizona. And an errant pass to a USC defender with nothing but green pasture in front of him will cost plenty more than a stalled drive.

I don’t expect that to happen.

I expect that N.D. will continue to do the same things that have gotten them this far so far. I expect the special teams to continue to be special. I expect the offense to continue taking care of the football. I expect the defense to be well prepared and I expect that a good season will get even better.