Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/187176
Game Preview: USC dergast took over the USC defense this season when Kiffin dismissed his father, Monte Kiffin, from the job after the team gave up 396 yards per game in 2012. Pendergast brought with him an unorthodox 5-2 look to take advantage of USC's speed, and the results have mostly been good. Fifth-year senior outside linebacker Devon Kennard had three sacks and five tackles for loss through five contests. Dion Bailey, another linebacker, slid back to safety and now led the team with 28 tackles and two interceptions. "Other than last week, the defense has been fantastic," Schrader said after the Trojans' loss to Arizona State. "It was interesting that [Arizona State week] was the first week they didn't have any hitting in practices — and the defense came out and had their worst performance all year." Pendergast's defense will remain largely untouched with Orgeron in 2013 USC Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Aug. 29 at Hawaii (CBSSN) W, 30-13 Sept. 7 Washington State (FS1) L, 10-7 Sept. 14 Boston College W, 35-7 Sept. 21 Utah State (ABC/ESPN2) W, 17-14 Sept. 28 at Arizona State (ESPN2) L, 62-41 Oct. 10 Arizona (FS1) 10:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Notre Dame (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 Utah TBA Nov. 1 at Oregon State (ESPN2) 9 p.m. Nov. 9 at California TBA Nov. 16 Stanford TBA Nov. 23 at Colorado TBA Nov. 30 UCLA TBA charge, and it would seem unlikely that the intense former defensive lineman would allow his team to go a full week without tackling. Although, to be fair, the lack of contact is partially a result of USC's lack of depth while they weather the final season of scholarship sanctions that started three years ago. Kiffin may have spent the majority of his time at USC coaching with a deck stacked against him, but it was clear that he wouldn't survive to the following season. USC decided to make its change early in the year and try to salvage the final two months of 2013. It's not clear how long Orgeron will last at his current post. He's not worried about the big picture for the moment. "We have our team," Orgeron said. "It's what it is. It's what we are. We're Trojans. We put 11 out on the field and we fight." ✦ 2013 Notre Dame Schedule Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Aug. 31 Temple (NBC) W, 28-6 Sept. 7 at Michigan (ESPN) L, 41-30 Sept. 14 at Purdue (ABC) W, 31-24 Sept. 21 Michigan State (NBC) W, 17-13 Sept. 28 Oklahoma (NBC) L, 35-21 Oct. 5 vs. Arizona State^ (NBC) W, 37-34 Oct. 19 USC (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Air Force (CBSSN) 5 p.m. Nov. 2 Navy (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Pittsburgh (ABC/ESPN) TBA Nov. 23 Brigham Young (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at Stanford (FS1) TBA ^ Shamrock Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas