After Notre Dame’s first home game of the season, a 44-41 overtime loss to Michigan State, coach Charlie Weis said he may not have anticipated the distractions that come with playing at home.
But wide receiver Jeff Samardzija said the Irish have a built-in relaxation method to handle the pregame hype that will surround Saturday’s game against No. 1 USC–pregame mass.
“The worst part at home is the bus ride. . . . That’s when I’m worked up. But then you come to the basilica and you have church before the game, that usually brings you back down a little,” Samardzija said. . . .
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Asked what a victory would mean to the Irish, tight end Anthony Fasano said, “I couldn’t imagine what this place would be like when we win, so it’s going to be fun.” Did Fasano mean to say “when” and not “if”?
Yes, he said, insisting his choice of words was “a good sign. The confidence isn’t just a whole bunch of idle talk.”
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Next: Saturday vs. Southern California, 2:30 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5