What USC players said about Notre Dame football
It’s Notre Dame. It’s USC. The pageantry that comes with one of the best rivalries in college football speaks for itself. A few USC players tried to put what it means into words this week.
Here’s what the Trojans said about the Irish.
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Wide receiver Jordan Addison
On the Notre Dame defense: “They got some solid DBs. They all do a good job of running to the football. What I notice, their DBs do a good job of tackling in space. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
On playing Notre Dame immediately after playing UCLA (back-to-back rivalry games): “We’re going to see what it’s about. We’re going to see what it’s about.”
Offensive lineman Brett Neilon
On senior night: “Obviously it’s a huge game. It’s the last one in the [LA Coliseum], so there will be a lot of emotions. But at the same time, it’s a big game so it’s business as usual.”
On this being a “revenge season”: “It’s tough going 4-8 and getting beaten badly by certain teams. It made the guys who were here previously on this team have that in their back of our minds. Some certain teams really whooped us and disrespected us, even in our own stadium. That made the bond even tighter between the guys who are left here. It had a trickle-down effect for some of the new guys.
“Last year, we had really good talent and we were just getting beat. Things weren’t going our way. Coming back this year, we’re making the wrongs right.”
Defensive back Max Williams
On the Notre Dame offense: “They’re a physical offense. They want to run the ball. They really focus on finding ways to get the ball to No. 87. He’s a great tight end. So we need to find ways to stop the run, be physical, match their physicality. We want to be more physical. Find ways to get off the field.”
On playing Notre Dame immediately after playing UCLA: “I would just tell the guys to be focused. We can’t hold our heads too high because we just won one. Can’t be too emotional with the last game. We have to move forward. Just focus on Notre Dame and the great rivalry that game has. It’s a good matchup for us.”
On what excites him about the Notre Dame rivalry: “Growing up, I was always a USC fan. My dad is a USC fan. I watched all the rivalry games. USC vs. UCLA, USC vs. Notre Dame. Just the excitement in those games and the excitement that those games bring, it’s amazing to be a part of it and have the opportunity to play them this Saturday — especially with the stakes so high.”
Linebacker Shane Lee
On the Notre Dame rivalry: “It’s two of the most storied programs in college football history. Just to know that in and of itself is amazing. All the games that have come before this one and all the people, it’s exciting. It’s really just a fun game to be able to play in.”
