USC 45 Notre Dame 27

The game went just about as expected and was over by the half 24-7. The one bright light for ND was the running of Josh Adams – 180 tough yards.

It was amazing that ND kept throwing to Corey Holmes, who can’t catch at all. Former walk on Chris Finke had 4 catches for 54 yards and a TD. Hopefully he will pay a bigger role in 2017.

For USC it was the Adoree Jackson show – see highlights plus Ronald Jones. The USC QB Darnold wasn’t as good as I thought, but he was good enough to win the game.

Here are the game highlights:

Unfortunately, ND’s big highlight was a classless act 2x by Jerry Tillery – purposely stomping on someone’s foot as well as a downed players head.

Kelly met the press and no he didn’t resign, but he did keep the team on the field at halftime in the rain to give them a good lecture. This didn’t work.

It would have been better if he had gotten up on a chair and led the USC band. He wasn’t fired either, so unless someone makes him president of a bank he’ll be back.

So what other changes? First, ST coach Booker is history. Maybe Frank Beamer is available.

Sanford won’t hang around, he’s too good and is ready to move on. My guess is Denbrock goes back to TE coach and Jeff Quinn becomes the OC.

Kelly keeps pointing out that he’s been a coach for over 25 years. The only problem is it was mostly in Div 2. He succeeded Mark Dantonio at Cinncy and used his recruits to go to 2 Bowl Games – losing both.

He slithered out if Cinncy with a heavy police guard rather than coach against Florida in the Sugar Bowl – Jeff Quinn did.

It’s hard to believe we all thought back in August that we were going to the Final Four. Harder to believe that not one player significantly improved his play over the Season and that is on the coaches.

Here is the Brian Kelly post game press conference: