Scott Wolf notes that USC has scored 63 straight points since falling behind Oregon State 33-10.

Keep it up, Trojans! BEAT THE DUCKS!

UPDATE: Stewart Mandel writes:

Two weeks ago, I would have told you it was a no-brainer that Cal will beat USC on Nov. 18. Now, I’m not so sure. I think the Trojans’ offense found its identity in the second half of the Oregon State game last week (they poured it on hapless Stanford on Saturday), and while there’s not a darn thing wrong with the Bears’ offense, their defense has been strangely inconsistent. Saturday they gave up 516 yards in a 38-24 win over UCLA. Anything could happen at the Coliseum in two weeks.

And now, the latest from Virginia’s scandal-over-substance race for the U.S. Senate: “Blogger handcuffed at George Allen rally.”

The blogger, Mike Stark, is a University of Virginia 1L. His blog is Calling All Wingnuts, and the controversy has caused quite a traffic boost for him. He also blogs at Daily Kos.

Here is Allen’s response. We report, you decide.

When Notre Dame scored its final touchdown Saturday, the number of flash bulbs popping in the south end of the stadium was quite something:

That’s probably the most flash bulbs I’ve seen popping at Notre Dame Stadium since the USC game last year.

Here’s another video from the game, showing the tail end of fellow 3L Chris Drewry’s 21 pushups after ND’s third touchdown:

Heh.

Again, there’s a full gallery of my game photos here.

Patrick Stewart conducted the Michigan band at the Wolverines’ game against Ball State today. Heh. More here.

I’m thinking Captain Picard is a little cooler than Chicago (video here), but maybe that’s because I’m a giant nerd. Regardless, our fight song is still way better than theirs. :)

So… it’s been a good day. Let’s review.

Notre Dame 45, North Carolina 26.

USC 42, Stanford 0.

That’s a combined score of 87-26 — a 61-point margin, which qualifies the second-biggest combined USC/ND blowout since I became an “Irish Trojan.” It’s surpassed only by opening day of last season, when USC beat Hawaii 63-17 and Notre Dame beat Pitt 42-21 for a combined 67-point margin: USC & ND 105, Opponents 38.

The Irish/Trojans didn’t break 100 today, as I’d hoped they would, and Notre Dame’s win over North Carolina wasn’t as impressive as I’d like (giving up 26 points at home to North Carolina?), but still: it was a very good day to be an Irish Trojan. :)

Oh, and we had a great time at the game, as did my parents — for whom this was their first ever Notre Dame game. A few photos below; more to come.

My dad, my mom, me & Becky.

Chris Drewry does pushups.

Some girl I don’t know does pushups, with the Goodyear blimp in the background.

Meg does pushups. There were a lot of pushups on Saturday. :)

Another shot of Dad, Mom, me & Becky.

Like I said, more photos from the game will follow later. [UPDATE: Full photo gallery here.]

Oh, and here’s a bonus photo:

Charlie Weis says to one of his assistants: “What do you f***ing mean this sweatshirt makes me look f***ing fat? That’s bulls***!”

:)

P.S. Oh… and UCLA lost… and Michigan looked like crap. Did I mention it was a good day? :)

USC leads Stanford, 35-0, at the start of the fourth quarter. To realize my 100-point goal for the day, the Trojans need three more touchdowns. That seems unlikely, but not totally impossible, since Pete Carroll’s modus operandi in blowout situations is generally to bring in the second/third stringers and then let them play. This sometimes causes opposing fans to cry “running up the score,” but I’ve always felt that if the benchwarmers are on the field and you can’t even stop them, that’s your problem, not mine. And Irish Round Table thinks Charlie Weis should be more like Poodle Pete in this regard. Anyway, whether I have my 100-point Irish Trojan day is on the shoulders of Mark Sanchez & co. C’mon, Trojans!

UPDATE: 42-0! Just 13 points to go… ;) But I don’t think it’s going to happen, as there’s only 5:33 left.

Oh, well. I suppose watching my teams score “only” 87 points today isn’t so bad.

UPDATE 2: Trojans win, 42-0! It’s not 55-0, but I’ll take it. :) It’s our first shutout since beating Washington 38-0 in 2004. WOOHOO!

Incidentally, a note to Notre Dame: This is what a game against a truly awful team like Stanford (or, cough, North Carolina) should be like. Not leading by just 7-3 with 30 seconds left in the first half. Not having only a two-possession lead with 10 minutes to go in the game. Complete domination from start to finish, on both sides of the ball.

Final score: 45-26. So the Trojans need to score 55 to meet my 100-point goal. Beat the Farm!!!

They just announced over the stadium P.A. system that Buffalo beat Kent State, 41-14! Holy crap! Meanwhile, another Irish game against a vastly inferior opponent enters the fourth quarter with the
outcome still in doubt. It's ND 38, UNC 26.

It's Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 13 at halftime.

The game has started here at Notre Dame Stadium… and the Irish are already threatening. Check that: they just scored! 7-0! It took just 2 minutes, 3 seconds. The UNC defense looked completely
overmatched.

…is to see my teams score a combined total of at least 100 points today. Make it happen, Robot & Poodle!

GOOOO IRISH, BEEEEAT TAR HEELS!!!

FIGHT ON TROJANS, BEAT THE FARM!!!

Time for my weekly update on the undefeated and winless teams in college football, and who they play today…

THE FAB FIVE
(Undefeated teams ranked according to AP poll; opponents ranked according to the CBS Sportsline 119. Betting odds from Vegas.com.)

1. Ohio State (9-0) — at #88 Illinois (2-7), 3:30 PM — Buckeyes favored by 24 1/2
2. Michigan (9-0) — vs. #96 Ball State (3-6), noon — Michigan by 34
5. Louisville (8-0) — beat #3 West Virginia, 44-34 on Thursday
14. Boise State (9-0) — beat #110 Fresno State, 45-21 on Wednesday
15. Rutgers (7-0) — Idle

THE THREE STOOGES
(Ranked according to the CBS Sportsline 119. Betting odds from Vegas.com.)

114. Stanford (0-8) — vs. #9 USC (6-1), 7:00 PM — USC by 29
118. Duke (0-8) — vs. #47 Navy (5-3), 1:00 PM — Navy by 12
119. Florida International (0-8) — Idle

Check out these Border Cams in Texas and see if you can spot an illegal alien crossing into the US.

Beat the Tar Heels!

The National Transportation Safety Board blames a stiff wind for the plane crash in New York last month that killed Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, The Associated Press reports. Visit CNN for the latest.