Marc My Words

“The sun will still rise in the morning,” I said to myself as I tried to maintain perspective. Then, on Sunday, I woke to a dark, rainy morning. No sun. Evil prevailed.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Preparing the defense for what USC does would have been a fine use of the time given us.

Pass interference on the quarterback… That’s a first for this old man.

I can understand why some Notre Dame fans might be contemptuous of the number of transfers USC added this season even though, in a strategic shift for the Trojans, it’s completely legal. Regardless, transfers into and out of programs are a fact of life that a coaching staff can’t allow to be a net negative. The ND basketball programs have done a good job adding excellent players who fit the school via transfer. Marcus Freeman should be doing the same.

It isn’t easy to keep television and live stream in sync, but it’s worth the effort to hear Ryan Harris analyzing the game. He is thoughtful and fair without pulling punches when he talks about play calling, individual breakdowns, and game plans.

It’s the final week of the regular season, and everyone knows what that means. Yes, it’s time to name the season’s Pinkel Award winner. Competition was stiff this season. Alabama’s late season scrimmage with Austin Peay comes to mind, and I think Miami’s game against Bethune-Cookman has earned first runner up. However, I’m pushing for TCU because I’m pretty sure AD Jeremiah Donati had to invent the Tarleton Texans before scheduling them. Are you with me?

ND’s basketball broadcaster Tony Simeone gave me the gift of an early Hardin Award quote that saved me some work beyond a cursory tour of the usual suspects’ websites on Sunday morning. As I listened to the radio wrap-up while driving home after Wednesday’s basketball game, Simeone shared the news that Youngstown State’s winless streak against now extended to 60 years. Historic dominance… or it would be if the two teams weren’t playing for the first time since 1972. They didn’t even play regularly between 1962 and 1972. Thanks for the gift of time, Tony.

Just when one starts thinking a Brian Kelly team is pretty good, it drops a really smelly turd. Get used to it, LSU fans.

Note to Michigan linebacker Trente Jones: Failing to pierce the ground when you try to plant your flag in an opponent’s stadium makes you look like a douche.

I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine all the clearer.

My only question: Who’s going to have the 85-yard run in Notre Dame Stadium next October?

Kayo