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10.16.13.USC Preview

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USC preview OCt. 16, 2013 A Fresh Face ✦ Game Facts Interim coach Ed Orgeron recharged the Trojans' offense in his first game last week By Dan Murphy T he final straw for USC head coach Lane Kiffin came during the third quarter of a blowout 62-41 loss to Pac-12 rival Arizona State on the last Saturday in September. It was then, during a 28-0 run by the Sun Devils with a bye week looming ahead for USC, that athletics director Pat Haden decided to cut ties with the fourth-year head coach. Kiffin's bosses let him know he was no longer employed when the team arrived at the airport in Los Angeles early the next morning. Later that day, former defensive line assistant and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron took over as the interim head coach. He has since filled the Trojans' locker room with the fresh air it needed. Simple and subtle changes like inviting media back to practice and adding butter and dessert to the training table meals have made for a more hospitable atmosphere in October, according to Scott Schrader, who covers the Trojans for 247Sports. "All the players are extremely excited. The words 'pumped up' and 'fired up' have been used quite a bit to describe the way they feel," Schrader said. Orgeron previously coached at USC from 1998-2004 as an assistant while Pete Carroll was building a dynasty on cam- Orgeron spent his first week in charge trying to restore some of the loose, fun atmosphere that former head coach Pete Carroll became known for during his time (2000-09) at USC, and then led the Trojans' to a 38-31 win over Arizona Oct. 10. photo by John McGillen/courtesy usc pus. He spent his first week in charge of the program trying to restore some of the loose, fun atmosphere that Carroll became known for during his time in Southern California. The good vibes prevailed in Orgeron's debut last Thursday night, a 38-31 win over Arizona. USC (4-2) jumped out to a 28-3 lead before the Wildcats made the game a little more interesting in the second half. The lifelong defensive coach, who spent three seasons as a head coach at Ole Miss, took his first step toward turning around a dismal offense by throwing the ball downfield early and often. USC entered that game ranked 88th in total offense, averaging 380.4 yards per game. Led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Cody Kessler, the offense picked up 546 yards against Arizona. Kessler beat out sophomore Max Wittek in a training camp competition for the starting job and has played the majority of snaps so far this season at quarterback. Through six games, Kessler has completed 81 of 134 passes (60.4 percent) for 1,129 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Kessler's aerial attack racked up big yards versus Arizona despite operating with a handicap. Junior Marqise Lee, the 2012 Biletnikoff Award winner, missed the game due to a knee sprain. Lee, however, is optimistic that he'll be able to return for Saturday's game against the Irish. Lee suffered a few other bumps and bruises in September, which has hurt his Date: Oct. 19, 2013. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795). Kickoff: 7:41 p.m. ET. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 85th meeting between Notre Dame and USC. The Irish hold a 44-35-5 advantage over the Trojans after winning last year's meeting 22-13 in Los Angeles. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (32-13, fourth season). USC — Ed Orgeron (1-0, first season). Noting USC: The Trojans have won in their last five trips to Notre Dame Stadium dating back to Oct.18, 2003; a sixth win would tie a record for the most consecutive games the Irish have lost to an opponent at home … The last time an interim head coach led his team into this series it was Notre Dame's Hugh Devore in 1963; that year the Irish upset USC, which was coming off a national championship season, but finished the year 2-7 … The 62 points USC's defense gave up during the final Saturday in September was the most ever surrendered by a Trojans team. production. He has only one touchdown among his 30 grabs for 385 yards this season, after hauling in 14 scoring receptions a year ago. Schrader said a case of the drops has been the bigger issue for Lee. "He's always dropped passes, but he's just dropping an unreal amount of perfect passes," Schrader said.

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