OCR Text |
Show DAILY Sunday, August 21, 2005 HERALD COLLEGEFOOTBALL to captain its uinn keytotrish fertunes-| _USCready ship with Leinart, Bush Tom Coyne Todd Harmonson of a surprise since he is quiet off the field. “I think it's more on+he-field neti said. “During prac- THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER LOS ANGELES — USC quarterback veLeinart spoon SOUTH BEND,Ind. — Brady Quinn has thrown for more yards than Joe Montana, Joe and during games, I don’t really talc that tach | fot do on the field.” the sixth twotime jain saldoa history and only the third in the past 102 years when he was selected by his teammates Friday. Theismann or Paul Hornung. His name comes up repeatedlyin Notre Dame's record book. He holds the mark for Bush said he would have been surprised if he'd been picked last season as a sophomore,but Darnell Bing in a vote, and the he said he thought he'd earned the role for this season. “This year I felt it was a role that, whether I was chosen quarterback and the 2,586 end of practice. team captain or not, Td still be a leader on this team,” Bush said. are the second most in a sea- year in a rowis an even greater » Coming back: Sartz has been Yet the FightingIrish are a gamebelow .500 in the 21 said through a spokesmansince limited recently because of a right hip pointer but got exten- The Trojans also picked tail the best freshman season, and the best sophomore season as well. The 432 yards he passed for against Purduelast season is the second most byan Irish results were announced at the yards he passed for last season “The fact that it's the second honor and privilege,” Leinart son gameshe's started overthe past two seasons. Charlie Weis is out to changethat. The first-year coach, who as offensive coordinator for timeat practice working to develop Quinn intoa difference maker. While Weis has picked as fewhits as possible.” The Irish offense has taken its shareofhits, both on and Associated Pressfile photo BYU defensive lineman Brady Poppinga (49) grabs Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn during terback is key to the success of theoffense. Quinnlikes that “He puts that pressure on us all the time,” Quinn said. Weis makesnosecret of the fact he is spending mostofhis time with theIrish offense, saying hestudied what other off the field, in recent years. former NFL coaches have done five straight seasons, never when they moved to college. He looked at what Pete Car- The offense has struggled for ranking higher than 76thin the nationin total offense. The Irish have abandoned the West Coastoffense that went nowhere under coach Tyrone Willingham thepast three years in favorof the playbook Weisusedto help the Patriots win three Super Bowls, Theyalso have undergone roll did at Southern California, Nick Saban at LSU, Kirk Fe- rentz at Iowaand Al Groh at Virginia. He said each focused on their expertise. “Whenyoufirst comein, you comeinto a place because there’s some problems. The for the successofthe offense on offense except for tailback Ryan Grant. Heis being replaced by Darius Walker, who last yearled the team in rushing with 756 yards, a school record for a freshman. The defense has been a strength for the Irish in recent years. Theyreturn only three starters from last year’s squad that was fourthin the nation against the run but next-to-last against the pass. Linebacker Brandon Hoytesaid the solution is to simply begin making moreplays. “That's how we're going to win.A lot of people look for a scientific method to solve the problem,” he said.“The bot- first thing you better do is tomlineis: You makethe play, makesurethe one expertise you're going to win.” Weisalsoplans to put added emphasis on special teams, saying: “The easiest way to improvethe fastest is on special teams. Because not enough people spend enough time on a changeofphilosophy. While you do have, youget that right Willingham repeatedlysaid first,” Weis said. “Becauseif Quinn was no moreresponsible you can't fix that, then you've than anyother player, Weis has let Quinn know the quar- stincts, enoughthat Carroll said he thought Sartz had noticed. “I’m surehe's feeling Cush,” Carroll said. since he is a seniorleader of the place to start,” Weis said. “Because sometimes you have coaches with his strong in- was Sartz’s pickon defense “Moving in the pocket rather the second quarterSept. 4, 2004, in Provo. than from thepocket is a good coming from. That doesn’t always mean take the ball down or stand tall and go ahead and takea hit. I'd prefer he takes “I’m doing as muchas I can, getting in there three or four times a day trying to do as much as can to get better and get out on the field,” Sartz said. Freshman linebacker Brian not again until tailback Chad Morton in 1998 and 1999.Safety Troy Polamalu was picked in 2001 and 2002. The selections of Bush and Leinart seemed automatic, as to turnaround Notre Dame's troubled offense. Weis has spent muchofhis to feel wherethe pressureis result of his work with USC's training staff. Ir’spretty special for Matt.” the New England Patriots a two-time Super Bowl MVP, is depending heavily on Quinn decision making and composure. Trojans’ Practice. Hesaid his progress is a Pete Carroll said. “I don’t know. helped groom Tom Bradyinto apart Quinn's technique, he is focusing on improving Quinn's ie workFriday during the he generally only talks to reporters on Tuesdays. “I don't know how many times a guy's been captain two yearsin a row at ‘SC’,” coach got a problem.” Anadvantagethe Irish have is theyreturn every starter special teams.” While Weis may be spending moretimeon special teams, he's still spending most of his time with the offense and « Quinn. Irish fans hope Weis, ; whohelped transform Tom group.Bing, however, was bit ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 a See Te Aare Fs ee ee ee -place votes in parentheses, 2004 records, points based on 25 points nai Fel paldletareliellbabireet elaged final ranking, record vs. top 25 teams at time of game, record of opponents played, and extra points: Brady from a sixth-round draft pick into an NFL great, can turn Quinninto a winning quarterback. It’s a fact Quinn is reminded ofjust about every time he sits down with reporters. He's asked repeatedly about whether he's ever met Brady. Quinn did talk to him when he was beingrecruited by Michigan, butnot since Weis was named coachofthe Irish. Despite all the questions, Quinnis not tired of hearing about him or being asked about him. “Hopefully I'll be in his shoes oneday,” he said. “That will be a bettersituation for meand everyone.” Record Pts Vs. Opp. Pv T25 Rec. Extra Points 1, Southem(60) 13-0 1,619 -1- 30. 70-56. 36-3 last3 years,2titles: 2. Texas (4) 3Tennessee 4.Michigan~, SAS 6. Ohio St. Wowehoma 8. Virginia Tech 9,Miami 10, Florida 11100. 12. Louisville (1) 13,Georgia 14. Florida St. 15.Purdue 16. Aubum Wea 18. Boise St. WCalltonia 20.ArizonaSt. Aléastedy 22. Boston College 24,Fresno St. Virginia 1-1 1,500 5 3177-52. 403° 137613 32: 81-59 93 1,329 14 2-1 75-55 93 “1291 16 13. 7454 84 1,205 20 11 74-55. 12-1 1,206 3 31. 73-53. 10-3 1,184 10 3278-51 B12 1 44 7950. 75 1,080 — 1-4 64-52 W210 8 31 80-49. 11-1 892 6 1-1 63-62. 102: 69° 7 74-45 93 764 15 11 70-57 wom 70-58 13-0 650 QB Young in Heisman hunt At Florida LSUitSept’ Henne & Hart lethal combo Lost RB AlleyBroussard” 18 starters retum 11 playersdraftedNFL Defending ACC champions LT-eric Winstonsbate Meyer brings discipline Key losses fo O-tine Favorite in the Big East NewWRsforQBShockley. D-Line lost 3 starters 11 startersheckDefense 80-49 4 1st round picks NFI, Draft 2 75, 576 — 90-42 17 starters retum! 4) 0-1 70-60 71-56. $3 313 19 1-2 81-48 4 256 18 62-65. 9-3 232 21 20 55-61. ee 210 2 1-1 6452 W-1 375 12 93 19% 22 2-1 EOF 358. 9 Won 3 straight WACtitles Lost Rodgers & Arrington QB Keller is the key 17 starters retin’ First year in ACC Wannstedttakesover! 56-61 First preseason ranking eo 13 2B 0-3 73-55. GeorgeWelsh justenshrined OTHERS see VOTES: Alabama 121, Oregon 97, Utah 77, Georgia Tech 62, Green 57, N.C. State 57, Colorado 38, UCLA 19, iowa St. 18, Mines 18Mai is 3, Nebraska 3, ‘Wyoming 1 cob5, PeostN,oe SeentNee‘Clemson colorado St. 1 1, Southern Mi is. 1, Toledo 1, ies vga Poll Continuedfrom D1 Miami is No.9 and No.10 Florida, with new coach Urban us push and workharder every day just to stay on top,” Jarrett said. “Being No. is just going to makeus push each other and competeat the highest level out here andjust work as a team. “ Meyer,gives the Southeastern Miami's 21-week run at No. Gane three teams in the 1 duringits 34.game winning ‘op 10. streak a few years agois the weit says wehavea lot of exlongest consecutive stay atop perience. We havea returning the AP rankings. quarterback and somereturning USChas been No. since the players on defense.It doesn’t final regular-season poll of the say anything about the coaches,” 2003 season, when the Trojans said Meyer, who guided Utah wonthe APtitle but wereleft to an undefeated recordlast out of the BCS title gamefor season. LSU and Oklahoma. USC's AP championship re- Last season, the Trojans were peat was the 10th, and first since the second team to be a wireNebraskadid it in 1994-95. to-wire No.1, joining the 1999 The Cornhuskers werepreFlorida State team. And they season No. 1 in 1996,but lost 19-0 didn’t have to sharethe national at Arizona Statein their second crown. game ofthe season to snap a 26No. 1] Iowastarts the second reak. Secraake 10,followed by Louisville, Georgia,Florida State and Purdue. “The odds are aes against Auburn,which finished last you no matter what your previ- season 13-0 and No.2 in the ous history is,” former Nebraska country after being left out of coach Tom Osborne said recent- the BCS title game, is No.16. ly. “You have to overcomethe The Tigers must replace three tendency torelax. first-round draft picks from USC has won 22 straight their backfield alone in running games and has one huge adbacks Carnell Williams and vantage over that '96 Nebraska Ronnie Brownand quarterback team: Leinart is a three-year Jason Campbell. starter at quarterback. No.17 is Texas A&M,Boise “When you get your quarState is ranked 18th, California terback back, now ere 2p big is 19th and Arizona Stateis No. ,” Osborne said. “' 20. cause ofthat factor, if The final five are Texas Tech, topiclcateam, they'd Bethe Boston College, Pittsburgh, favorite.” Fresno State and Virginia. Many figured Leinart’s colMissing from the poll is Utah, lege career was over after his last year’s BCS buster from the record-breaking Orange Bowl. Mountain West Conference. Hestood a good chance at The Utes went 12-0 and finthe firsteein the NFL draft, ished fourth in the final AP rankbut instead decided to return for ings. But Utah lost Meyer to the his op year and a shot at a Gators and quarterback Alex Smith left after his junior year to ObieSe rating tae A. become the first overall pick in chie Griffin is the only two-time the NFL draft by the San FranHeisman winner. cisco 49ers. NOR ee ‘The last team tofinish that in straight APpolls, the and go unranked in the ‘second-best streak since the prePreseason poll was season rankingsstarted in 1950. “Welikeit because it makes Arizona State, which was No. 4 to end the 1996 season. |