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✦ NEWS & NOTES We Started This magical Season With a Tour To ireland. now Let's Finish The magic in miami! BCS ChampionShip Tour paCkageS Head coach Brian Kelly keeps in regular communication with former Irish bosses Lou Holtz (left) and Ara Parseghian (right), and hopes to follow in their footsteps with a victory at USC Saturday. coach of the Kansas Jayhawks is experi- encing a nightmare 1-10 season, but he had a significant hand in assembling the current roster of the nation's No. 1 team. Led by captains Manti Te'o, Tyler Eif- ert, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Zack Mar- tin, plus running backs Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, Weis and his staff signed more than half of the 22 starters on offense and defense. He sent a letter of congratula- tions to Kelly for Senior Day. "It was heartfelt and talked about the se- niors, wishing them the best," Kelly said. "It was really a terrific note from Charlie. Very classy." BUSINESS AS USUAL Although it's been a record 19 years since Notre Dame has reached the summit in the polls, Irish head coach Brian Kelly said nothing has changed in the way of how his players are preparing. "USC is going to play their very best because they're playing No. 1," Kelly said. "I don't think kids change when they're • Three night accommodations at the InterContinental Miami hotel (located in downtown Miami!) • Check-in Saturday, January 5th • Check out Tuesday, January 8th PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND No. 1. They go to work the same way; they practice the same way. The other teams are going to play their very best — but we get that every week anyway. … So for us, it's business as usual." Last year's 31-17 loss at home to USC became a valuable lesson about concentra- tion. The Irish were favored by more than a touchdown, but conversation centered on the first night game at home in 21 years, an epic recruiting weekend, new golden helmets, semester break … The game itself seemed secondary, and the Irish were down 14-0 after USC's first two possessions. Linebacker Manti Te'o admitted he tried to manufacture pre-game enthusiasm that came across as false. "That game in particular was certainly one where it required all of our players to really examine how they're going to be consistent winners," Kelly said this week. "… I would leave it in saying that Manti, Brian Kelly, [defensive coordinator] Bob Diaco … everybody on this football team learned a lot from that game." ✦ • Upper level, endzone ticket to the 2013 BCS Championship Game on January 7th • Roundtrip transportation via deluxe motorcoach to the stadium on game day, including police escort and parking • Continuous shuttle provided on January 6th, running between Downtown/Bayside and South Beach • Exclusive pre-game hospitality event • Welcome reception at the hotel on Saturday, January 5th • Official BCS Championship Game souvenir • Tour staff on-site to assist • Souvenir lanyard & credential holder • All taxes & gratuities included Call 877-289-5554 or see all the details at www.goprimeTours.Com $2699 per person double occupancy, $3345 single, $2575 triple Shop and Compare! ✦ PAGE 14