Yahoo! Sports: Spander: Irish stand up to challenge

By Art Spander
The Sports Xchange

LOS ANGELES -- The kid, a freshman making his debut as a starter, didn't have much of a chance. Against that Notre Dame defense no one had much of a chance. USC went with freshman quarterback Max Wittek.

The Irish went off to the national championship game. The echoes are awake and inescapable. Like the Irish defense. That Notre Dame has a linebacker who's a Heisman Trophy candidate is only proper.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Newsday (N.Y.): Irish stop USC, head to national title game

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

LOS ANGELES -- Send a volley cheer on high. Top-ranked Notre Dame defeated USC, 22-13, Saturday night to finish unbeaten for the first time in almost a quarter-century.

The Irish called down echoes of past success with a defense led by linebacker Manti Te'o that was so unyielding that USC couldn't even score with a first down at the 2-yard line, along with an offense that enabled Kyle Brindza to kick a school-record five field goals.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2012 Newsday. All rights reserved.

RealClearSports: USC Not Stopped by Sanctions, Cal

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- The gulls showed up as always, drawn by the leftovers and the lights. Not an Alfred Hitchcock movie, although it made you think of one.

Cal football at a baseball park, at AT&T, where a year ago the Giants were in the postseason and right now Cal is in a funk. The Bears' own stadium across the bay in Berkeley is being renovated. The Bears' season looks like it could use some renovation of its own.

Read the full story here.


© RealClearSports 2011

RealClearSports: Leaving USC Early Works Out for Sanchez

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

Pete Carroll never really said Mark Sanchez would become a bust. But he certainly implied it. Sanchez was leaving USC early and while not exactly leaving Carroll in a lurch, was leaving him with a freshman quarterback replacement, Matt Barkley.

Don't you love hindsight? Looking backward is delicious. Never mind the famous stuff, the idea people said Lindbergh couldn't cross the Atlantic. It's the little things, particularly in sports, which keep us enthralled.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011

RealClearSports: USC Wins But Doesn't Sell

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

PASADENA, Calif. -- This is Hollywood territory, been-there-done-that country. All they're interested in around here is box office.

Tradition is for Peoria. Or Lincoln. You better put something on the plate -- or, more specifically, on the field -- if you want to sell tickets.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010