Weis: Notre Dame can beat USC

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — “We believe” was written in chalk Tuesday on the walkway leading up to the building that houses Notre Dame’s football offices.

Coach Charlie Weis thinks his players believe, too. The 25th-ranked Fighting Irish believe they are going to beat No. 6 USC on Saturday.

“I don’t know if that’s always been the case,” said Weis, who is 0-4 against the Trojans. “They understand the talent level of who they’re going against, but I’d say this is probably the first time since I’ve been here where the players really believe they’re going to win. They might be in the minority but they certainly believe that.”

Three straight victories, all decided in the final minute, has boosted the players confidence.

“There’s an expectation where good things are going to happen instead of hopes that bad things don’t happen. I think that’s a very important comment,” he said.

Weis conceded that two years ago, when the Irish entered the game against USC with a 1-6 record and were beaten 38-0, “we might have been beat walking out the tunnel.” Last year they were able to hang in for a little more than a quarter.

This season, the Irish (4-1) head into their annual rivalry game with the Trojans (4-1) as 10-point underdogs, the smallest spread with Weis as coach.

The last time Notre Dame beat USC was in 2001, when Bob Davie was coach. Since then the Irish have lost a record seven straight to the Trojans. Six of those losses have been by 20 or more points, including last year’s 38-3 loss. Only the 34-31 loss in Weis’ first season, 2005’s Bush Push game, was close.

Weis said he thinks the lopsided losses are a thing of the past.

“I’m not expecting to be taking a whuppin’,” he said.

Despite the 35-point loss last year, Weis said there were some bright spots. Cornerback Robert Blanton intercepted the first pass of the game by Mark Sanchez and the Irish defense held the Trojans to one touchdown on their first four possessions. But the offense didn’t manage a first down until the second half.

“On offense, I thought we just got manhandled. From start to finish I thought we got manhandled. They were able to manhandle us without having to bring a lot of pressure,” Weis said. “They were able just to pin their ears back with four guys and get after us. I think they completely controlled the line of scrimmage, and I’d like to think that that won’t be the case this week.”