Notre Dame Loses Ninth Straight Bowl Game

The Fighting Irish Fall 41-12 to LSU In The Sugar Bowl

Brady Quinn was 15 of 35 for 149 yards (a season low) and two touchdowns, but that was all of Notre Dame's scoring, as the Fighting Irish lost 41-14 to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

The Irish defense gave up season-high 577 yards as the team lost its NCAA-record ninth straight bowl game. Following the team's regular season-ending 44-24 loss to USC, Coach Charlie Weiss and his players fell apart at the end of a season in which they were expected to contend for the national championship.

"This just won't cut it," the coach said, expressing his disappointment at the team's 10-3 finish this season. "You want to be an upper echelon team. You want to play for it all.''

The season started with dreams of a No. 1 ranking and a Heisman Trophy for Brady Quinn, Notre Dame's record-setting passer. Coach Weis's high scoring offense overwhelmed opponents such as Army, Navy, and Air Force, but the team's vulnerable defense gave up 47 points in a loss to Michigan in the third game of the season, 44 points to USC, and 41 points to LSU. Notre Dame never led in any of the games played against top 10 opponents.

Many of Notre Dame's key offensive players - Quinn, wide receivers Jeff Semardija and Rhema McKnight, and tight end John Carlson - are graduating seniors. Junior Darius Walker, the team's top running back, may opt to leave early and join the pro ranks. These developments will leave the Irish with a young team next year and the possibility that Weiss will be lured back to the NFL with an offer of a heading coaching job.

On the bright side, Weis has put together a strong recruitment effort, enticing Jimmy Clausen, rated by many scouts as the best high school quarterback in the country.

The challenge next year will for Notre Dame to improve its competitiveness and to win its first bowl game since 1994.