Closer Look

Trojans showed their BCS worth with rout of Irish

Carson Palmer helped the Trojans regain the Shillelagh for the first time since 1998. Robert Laberge/Getty Images

By Tim Griffin, Special to CNNSI.com

LOS ANGELES -- As far as statements go, the thumping that reverberated through Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night was meant for a purpose. Southern California players were hoping their 44-13 dismantling of Notre Dame was convincing enough to rattle around the computers crunching the BCS poll.

"I hope everyone was paying attention and saw the score," USC quarterback Carson Palmer said. "They need to know we are for real now. We are definitely worthy of being a BCS team. The decision is now in their hands."

It would be hard to believe that Southern California's season-ending performance could have been more forceful than Saturday's blitz -- the Trojans' biggest victory over the Irish since their memorable 55-24 victory in 1974. Palmer made his case for the Heisman Trophy by tormenting an old nemesis who once flirted with his affections before deciding they really didn't want him badly enough.

The 6-foot-6 senior quarterback blistered Notre Dame for four touchdown passes and 425 yards -- the most ever by a Notre Dame opponent. He ripped through the Notre Dame defense as he hit open receivers with the ease of someone putting magnets on a refrigerator door.

"He was able to pick us apart as a defense," Notre Dame linebacker Courtney Watson said. "He did what he needed to do. We couldn't slow him down, or his wide receivers."

The victory came with extra vindication for Palmer, who hadn't beaten Notre Dame since 1998 and once verbally committed to the Irish while in high school.

"I was going to commit there my junior year," Palmer said before the game. "I went there for a football camp and fell in love with the campus. Then they told me I needed to bring my SAT score up 100 points. If they wanted me, I thought they would try to get me in.

"That made me mad. And after that, I started to look around."

And if Saturday night proved anything, it's better for Palmer to get even than worry about past slights.

Palmer always had the big arm, size, chiseled looks and golden hair that would make him a prototypical football star at one of America's proudest and most glamorous football programs. Fans often booed him as he struggled early in his career. But he left Saturday's game to a standing ovation from most of the sellout crowd and a celebratory Gatorade bath from his teammates when he reached the sidelines.

"Carson did everything he needed to do tonight," Southern California coach Pete Carroll said. "It was a great moment to have him walk off the field. I wish that walk could have lasted forever."

The victory pushes the Trojans (10-2) to the cusp of a BCS bowl as an at-large team. They could qualify for the Rose Bowl if UCLA beats Washington State next week.

That game will put Southern California in the unusual role of favoring their crosstown rivals.

"We're gonna root for them in some way or another," Carroll said. "I don't quite know how we will do it. I know we can cheer against Washington State."

Notre Dame (10-2) failed to claim its sixth straight victory as an underdog this season. They will fall in the BCS poll released on Monday, but should have a good chance to make a BCS bowl if they finish 12th or higher when the final poll is released next week.

The margin of Saturday's resounding victory could have been much worse. Two USC red-zone drives were thwarted by Palmer interceptions in the end zone.

"I want two do-overs," Palmer said, laughing. "Those were two stupid passes and I was just trying to make something happen. It was a stupid play."

His first pick snapped a string of 147 consecutive passes without an interception. But he finished with four touchdowns, marking the fourth time in his last six games he has thrown for at least four scores.

The old intersectional rivalry hasn't been the same since 1988, when both teams were ranked in the top 10 for the last time before Saturday night. Notre Dame's defense kept the game close in the first half. The Irish took their last lead when Carlos Pierre-Antoine blocked Tom Malone's punt and scored by landing on the ball in the USC end zone for a 13-10 lead.

The Trojans then erupted for 34 unanswered points to blow the game open, starting the flood with a 19-yard scoring strike from Palmer to Mike Williams with five seconds left in the first half.

"Carson bounced back and was perfect in that last drive," Carroll said. "He played then just like we expected."

That touchdown touched off a wave of confidence in the Trojan locker room that was noticeable to Carroll at the half.

"We got a lot of momentum and played some phenomenal football in the second half," Carroll said. "We came in at halftime and we knew were going to kick their butt. We were ready to explode."

Southern California scored at least 30 points for the seventh consecutive game, erupting for a season-best 610 yards against a Notre Dame defense that was ranked fifth nationally.

"There were a lot of players involved and it was fun to be a part of it," said tailback Justin Fargas, who rushed for 120 yards to key Southern California's rushing attack. "We've got Carson, great receivers and great players here. We expect to make things happen and make plays and this is a result of all of it."

The Southern California defense was as big a story as Palmer. The Trojans limited Notre Dame to four first downs, two coming on the first drive. The Irish were held without a first down during the second and third quarters and netted a season-low 109 yards of total offense.

The big loss put Notre Dame's bowl plans in limbo. They still could go to the Orange or Sugar as an at-large team, although their blowout loss to finish the regular season was their most embarrassing of the season.

"After the way we played tonight, we don't deserve to play in the Orange Bowl," Notre Dame offensive tackle Jordan Black said. "This wasn't this year's team. It was last year's team."

Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.

 

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