Weis vs. Willingham: The numbers might surprise you

San Jose Mercury News Sports Blog ^ | 22 Oct 2007 | Jon Wilner

[BGHater]

When I saw the final score of the Notre Dame-USC game, something about it caught my eye. It wasn

[capydick]

Any chance he’ll get fired?

Not a chance. He's still still playing with Willingham's last recruits so he has that as an out for now. The proof will be in the players that he has recruited and their place/his place in ND history.

Of course, if Tom Coughlin get's the boot after this season, all bets are off. I'll bet anything that one of the exceptions he has built-in to that 10 year contract will be a head coaching offer from the NY Giants.

You watch.

[Fiji Hill]

The Shillelagh

The winner of the annual USC-Notre Dame game is entitled to take home the Shillelagh as a trophy. It is adorned with ruby-studded golden Trojan helmets symbolizing USC victories and golden shamrocks embedded with emeralds for Domer wins.

During the 1990's, the original Shillelagh, having no more room to attach jewels, was permanently retired to Notre Dame. The current one, actually Shillelagh II, has resided at USC's Heritage Hall since 2002. For some reason, it has not been put on display for public viewing, but once when I visited, a staffer took me into the office of Athletic Director Mike Garrett, who was away at the time, where it was displayed on a table.

[Hebrews 11:6]

For some reason, it has not been put on display for public viewing

They ought to let Anthony Davis keep it on his coffee table.

[Fiji Hill]

I recall the LA Times headline of December 3, 1972, after Anthony Davis scored six touchdowns in USC's 45-23 victory over the Domers:
Davis! Davis! Davis! Davis! Davis! Davis!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Almost. It was actually

DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS! DAVIS!

I, too, recall it well and have often cited it as my favorite headline.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I believe the score was 55-24. ND had a 24-0 lead at one point. I remember watching that game on TV. Back then ABC would invite a coach to join the broadcast crew. On that day the coach joining the broadcast crew was Woody Hayes. I believe USC scored a TD just before halftime to make it 24-6 and Woody said that might inspire USC. It sure did.

[Fiji Hill]

It was in the 1972 game that Davis scored six touchdowns. The Domers held s slight lead for a while before the Trojans pulled out a 45-23 victory. Two years later, the Domers built up a 24-0 lead in the second quarter before Davis caught a pass from Pat Haden to make it 24-6. Then Davis ran back the second half kickoff for a touchdown to spark a scoring frenzy by the Trojans, who finished the game 55-24. Davis had scored four of the USC touchdowns, and when time ran out, the Trojans had the ball on the Notre Dame eight yard line.

I watched the game in the Coliseum, from a seat just outside the student section. When it became known that Woody Hayes was doing the TV commentary, our Yell King led us in a yell of “Woody, you’re next!” I believe that’s the loudest yell I have ever heard in the Coliseum.