Utah teen’s Fighting Irish dream comes true

If I were from South Bend, I’d be clutching my rosary beads, repeatedly chanting Hail Marys, and praying that the “real” Trojans don’t show up this Saturday evening in Notre Dame Stadium. But I love what’s returning.

Notre Dame and Louisville met earlier this season September 25 when the Cardinals swept the Irish (25-23, 25-19, 25-16) at Notre Dame, as the Irish were unable to hold on to 22-18 lead in the first set. “He just made me like Notre Dame”. “Coach Elston and I have built a relationship and when I got up there and got to see him and the other coaches interact with the players I could see that they actually care about their players and their futures, both on and off the field”.

But when it comes to the Trojans, a disliked rival, the Irish believe they can make a positive out of a huge negative.

“No question, it’s Demetrius’ Jackson’s team”. “I certainly don’t want him doing that. I’m confident in my ability to do it”, Helton said Tuesday at his first press conference in 2015 as interim head coach.

“That’s the biggest thing we have to look at”. The 6-10, 240-pound big man averaged 12.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the team past year, and with the squad’s previous leading rebounder (Connaughton) off to the National Basketball Association, it’s up to Auguste to fill part of that void on the glass.

Betiku said the visit could happen November. 14 for the Wake Forest game or after the season. “Learn from our successes and just get better”. USC fired Sarkisian this past week and stepping in for the second time as interim head coach will be Clay Helton who did the same when Ed Orgeron left the team after the 2013 regular season. We’ve sent guys that are in that position like ‘hey, we need you to be a main guy.’ Zach Auguste a couple years ago goes, now V.J. went. “One thing that we are really focused on is our blocking and being in the right place at the right time, so we’ll continue to work on those for this weekend”.

Southern California does have a game to play.

In an effort to avoid venomous Buckeye fans and limit distractions for his players during practice the day before the game, Layden took his team to a secluded seminary outside of Columbus city limits. “You have to coach it your own way”. It was an embarrassment; I think it’s fair to say that. “I told them to just relax and play their game”. “They have been unbelievably focused”. “In college football at this level, you have to prove yourself”. “When you put Beachem and Colson on the floor, and Grant and Connaughton out – don’t compare them as players, but think about the wingspan that is added to the court, and the wingspans that aren’t on the court anymore”. “We can deny, we can challenge shots – it definitely helps us out”. I am not one that kicks a man when he is down. Though they fell to Georgia Tech on Sunday, 3-0, junior middle blocker Katie Higgins said the win over Clemson gave her and her teammates confidence heading into this next string of matches.

Brey and the Irish open the season on October 30 with a home exhibition against St. Francis (Ill.) Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.