Sweet Homecoming: LSU Pounds Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl
 |
Quinn comes up short again in big game
LSU thrived in New Orleans' new symbol of hope
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - JaMarcus Russell thoroughly outplayed Brady Quinn and made a compelling case that the mammoth quarterback's next pass should come in the NFL.
As for Notre Dame, it was a familiar meltdown at bowl time.
The Sugar Bowl returned to New Orleans with a Cajun-style party put on by No. 4 LSU, which dominated college football's most storied program in a 41-14 rout Wednesday night that had the Superdome rockin'.
It also gave the 11th-ranked Fighting Irish a most unwanted spot in the record book.
The school of Touchdown Jesus and Knute Rockne now has a more ignominious distinction: nine straight bowl losses, breaking a tie with South Carolina and West Virginia for the most in NCAA history. And this was like most of the others, a double-digit blowout that showed Notre Dame still has work to do if it wants to compete with the nation's best.
Russell and LSU's feared defense took control after halftime, turning a tenuous 21-14 game into a laugher. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound quarterback, who is bigger than many players on Notre Dame's defense, threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns. He also had his first rushing score of the season and set up LSU's other TD with a 31-yard pass.
After brilliant junior season, Russell hasn't decided - or at least announced - whether he will return to LSU (11-2) for his senior year. But he would likely be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the draft with his linebacker-like size, stunningly strong arm and the ability to run when needed.
``One more year,'' the LSU fans pleaded to their quarterback.
Quinn doesn't have a decision to make, but the senior's hopes of being the No. 1 pick ion the NFL draft may have taken a blow. He struggled to cope with the speed and size of LSU's defense, completing just 15-of-35 for 148 yards, his two TD passes offset by two interceptions.
``They took it from us in the third quarter,'' Quinn said. ``I'm proud of my guys. ... We laid the groundwork for these guys to do great things in the future.''
LSU romped after halftime. The Fighting Irish, who piled up 261 yards in the first half, were outgained 333-30 over the final two quarters. Russell blew it open with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell in the final minute of the third.
Notre Dame (10-3) bounced back from an early 14-0 deficit and tied the game with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half. But Russell's took matters in his own hands - and legs - to put the Tigers ahead to stay before the teams went to the locker room.
First, Russell went deep to Early Doucet for a 58-yard completion. Then, Russell scored himself on a 5-yard keeper up the middle.
``Our quarterback was the finest quarterback in the country tonight,'' LSU coach Les Miles said.
Russell said he his matchup with Quinn wasn't personal.
``My main thing was to play a good game against Brady Quinn's defense,'' Russell said. ``I wasn't playing against him.''
And what about the NFL?
``I'm going to go home with my family, pray about it and hopefully I'll make the right decision,'' Russell said after being named the game's most valuable player.
Notre Dame hasn't won a postseason game since its 24-21 victory over Texas A&M in the 1994 Cotton Bowl. ``O-ver-ra-ted!'' the Tiger-dominated crowd roared after freshman Keiland Williams ripped off his second touchdown of the game, a 20-yard run with just under 7 1/2 minutes remaining.
Notre Dame was determined to get off to a strong start, but it sure didn't work out that way. Coach Charlie Weis called a fake punt that backfired, and the Irish looked just as tight and nervous as they did at the beginning of blowout losses to Michigan and Southern Cal.
Notre Dame didn't fold, at least not right away, as the Irish fought back to tie the game at 14.
The offenses had their way, with three 80-yard scoring drives and another covering 82. The only exception followed the fake punt on Notre Dame's opening possession. With the Irish facing fourth-and-3 at their own 34, the coach called for a direct snap to up-back Travis Thomas, but he was stuffed for no gain.
Two plays later, LSU had the lead. Russell hooked up with Doucet on a 31-yard pass and Williams powered over from the 3.
The Tigers made it 14-0 on their next possession. Russell broke off a 21-yard run on a draw to get deep into Notre Dame territory, and finished off the drive with an 11-yard scoring pass to Dwayne Bowe.
Notre Dame's next possession started ominously - Quinn was sacked for a 10-yard loss. But Darius Walker ran for 11 yards and turned a short pass into a 21-yard gain. Quinn finished it off with 24-yard TD pass to David Grimes.
Walker rushed for all but 3 of his 128 yards in the first half.
LSU's Colt David missed a 31-yard field goal try, and Notre Dame responded to that momentum-changer with the tying touchdown. Quinn scrambled for 12 yards, Walker broke off runs of 35 and 15 yards, and Quinn went to his favorite receiver for the touchdown.
Jeff Samardzija put a great fake on Zenon, and backup safety Craig Stelz was too late getting over to stop the 10-yard touchdown pass.
David bounced back in the second half with field goals of 25 and 37 yards.
The game marked another step in New Orleans' rebuilding effort from Hurricane Katrina. The Sugar Bowl was played last year in Atlanta because of massive damage to the Superdome, but a $185 million renovation got the stadium up and running in late September.
Thousands of Notre Dame and LSU fans descended on the Big Easy, which still has areas that look like a war zone from the flooding caused by Katrina more than 16 months ago.
But Bourbon Street sure was hoppin' with purple and gold.
