Blue and Gold Illustrated

THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI The next year with USC head coach John Robinson on the hot seat, the Trojans were crushed 35‑7 at Arizona State the week before traveling to Notre Dame — so naturally they vanquish the Irish in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in 16 years. And, of course, last year USC played its worst game of the season the week before the Notre Dame game with a 38‑20 loss to UCLA. So naturally, it responded with its best contest of the year while building a 35‑0 first‑half lead against Notre Dame in its 49‑14 demoli‑ tion. This year, head coach Steve Sarkisian's team already lost 41‑31 to Stanford — and naturally the next week responded with a 42‑14 win at Arizona State. These schizoid, Jekyll‑and‑Hyde out‑ fits are the ones you worry about the most, especially with a head coach on the brink of being run out of town. In five seasons at Washington from 2009‑13, Sarkisian was a tepid 34‑29, never posting better than an 8‑4 single‑ season mark. He was 9‑4 in his first season at USC, but the huge loss to the cross‑town rival and rising Bruins left some natives rest‑ less — as did his public intoxication and speech that included profanity at a USC function this Aug. 22. Shortly afterward, USC athletics di‑ rector Pat Haden released the following statement: "I met with Coach Sarkisian and I expressed my disappointment in the way he represented himself and the university at our Salute To Troy event. While the details of our conversation will remain between us, I am confident he heard my message loud and clear." Another four‑loss season from USC would arouse even more negative vibes about Sarkisian, which is why a sec‑ ond victory against Notre Dame (which would make him the first USC coach to start 2‑0 versus the Irish) is vital to allay some of the intense heat. Sarkisian has dug himself a huge hole on and off the field, last year's top‑ ranked recruiting class notwithstand‑ ing. The loss to his former team (Wash‑ ington) now makes him 2‑4 at USC as a double‑digit favorite against Power Five foes and will make many ponder whether he is the man to lead Troy back to prominence. Late in the game with fourth‑and‑nine at the Huskies' 28 and trailing 17‑12, he opted for a 46‑yard field goal that was roundly booed even before the attempt failed. In some ways, this is the "Great Ex‑ pectations Bowl." USC was the pre‑ season Pac‑12 favorite while Notre Dame was picked by many outlets to make the four‑team College Football Playoff. The losing coach in this game will un‑ doubtedly evoke the hue and outcry of "he's not the guy to lead us to the next level" mantra. Just like great moments are borne from great opportunity, immense back‑ lash is borne from huge preseason ex‑ pectations that go unfulfilled. Sarkisian is feeling it loud and clear, which is what makes this game so dangerous. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com

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