Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/440225
UNDER THE DOME USC By Lou Somogyi We all recognize that no game is more crucial than the next one, the opener at home versus Texas Sept. 5. That is the real and only correct answer. First-year head coach Charlie Strong's rebuilding 6-7 Longhorns ended the 2014 regular season with a 48-10 pasting from TCU, similar to Notre Dame's 49-14 trouncing at USC, so both tradition-rich schools have plenty to prove in 2015. Last year at this time, the Michigan game was viewed as defining the season's trajectory. Well, the Irish administered their larg- est margin of victory ever against the Wolverines (31-0), yet still ended up 7-5. Next September with Texas, Georgia Tech and at Clem- son will answer much — but the Oct. 17 showdown with USC could dictate how the second half of the season transpires the way this year's Oct. 18 contest at Florida State did. USC's probation is ending, and its young talent was showcased against the Irish this season. If the Trojans win on Notre Dame's turf, they could take control of the series again. USC usually is the ba- rometer on where the Irish stand in relation to top-10 and major bowl status, which head coach Brian Kelly said the minimum bar should be. Also, the USC game comes after Navy — and the Irish are 2-6 the past eight years the week after dealing with the confounding Midshipmen. A loss versus USC at home leaves a status quo feeling. A victory could propel a powerful finish to 2015 the same way the loss at FSU led to a nega- tive one. Georgia Tech By Andrew Owens After a disappointing finish in 2014 to year five of head coach Brian Kelly's campaign, every game is critical for the direction of the program in 2015. The Irish begin the slate at home against Texas, which should be better in head coach Charlie Strong's second season after a 6-7 finish this year. Win or lose, the trajectory of the 2015 campaign is likely to be determined two weeks later against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets entered the Orange Bowl 10-3 and nearly knocked off unde- feated Florida State in the ACC championship game. (Then again, a lot of teams, in- cluding the Irish, can say they almost beat the Seminoles.) Head coach Paul Johnson's triple option gave teams fits throughout 2014. Think of how many times in the past decade Navy has seemingly run at will against Notre Dame, and then imagine a similar system with better athletes. Added to the game's intrigue is that Johnson felt slighted when Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder removed the triple option from the playbook when he became head coach of Georgia Southern in 2006. According to USA Today, Johnson then wanted to schedule VanGorder to "beat the hell out of him." He'll have his chance in South Bend next September. A win or loss against Texas won't make or break the season, even if a defeat would increase the neg- ative noise surrounding the program. Regardless, it will be critical for Notre Dame to beat Georgia Tech to either avoid a pair of September losses or maybe cruise into October 4-0. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH 2015 GAME IS THE MOST CRUCIAL? The Trojans typically serve as a good barometer for where the Irish stand on the national scene. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA