The Ultimate Rivalry : Even Without National Rankings, Pinkett Says, It’s Still USC vs. Notre Dame

Marv Goux, the former longtime USC assistant football coach who is now with the Rams, was at his oratorical best the week of the Notre Dame game.

He would tell the players about big man meeting big man, that nothing in life will ever be as significant as coming out of the tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium to confront the Fighting Irish.

Allen Pinkett, Notre Dame’s accomplished senior tailback, has never heard Goux’s Notre Dame speech that includes references to the leaves turning brown in autumn in Indiana and the sun gleaming on the Golden Dome.

But he has the same perspective on the rivalry as Goux.

“This game represents college football,” Pinkett said in a phone interview. “When I was growing up, I was exposed to the game on national television, watching Anthony Davis scamper down the field. You take more pride in it when you’re able to play and, perhaps, have a direct impact on what happens.

“Some of our coaches have a special gleam in their eyes this week because the game means something special.”

The rivalry will be on display for the 57th time Saturday at South Bend, Ind., and Pinkett says there is another aspect of the game that excites him. “I think the Notre Dame offense has always been predictable,” he said. “We like to take the ball and shove it down an opponent’s throat. Although it’s predictable, there is no way to stop it if executed properly.

“That’s why we like to play opponents like USC and Penn State, because they go brawn for brawn, muscle for muscle. No trickery. That’s the way football is meant to be played.

“I haven’t played against a tougher defense than USC’s in the four years I’ve been here.”

Although the Irish have struggled during the tailback’s career, he has been particularly effective against the Trojans.

In 1983, he surprised USC by teaming with tight end Mark Bavaro on a 59-yard pass play, setting up Notre Dame’s first touchdown, which Pinkett scored. He scored twice more and rushed for 122 yards in 21 carries as Notre Dame won, 27-6.

Last year, on a rain-soaked field at the Coliseum, Pinkett got a short-yardage touchdown and gained 98 yards in 27 carries. He didn’t fumble, despite the treacherous condition of the field. The Trojans lost six fumbles and the game, 19-7.

Pinkett and the Irish were better mudders than the Trojans, but Pinkett got the traditional toast, “Here’s mud in your eye.”

USC linebacker Rex Moore threw mud in Pinkett’s face, a deed clearly seen on national television.

Pinkett just laughs about the incident, saying, “He did it a number of times, but the TV cameras caught it only once. I was used to it. That is one of the milder things that have been done to me. I’m a marked man and I get some cheap shots while I’m on the ground.

“I’ve been punched in the face and stomach, taken knees in the back and even had people reach under my face mask and try to pull my eye out of the socket.”

It’s all in a day’s work for the 5-9, 181-pound tailback, who is tougher than his size might indicate. He is a darting runner with an explosive burst of speed and has been compared in style to Tony Dorsett.

He is, of course, durable and has earned a special niche at Notre Dame that will link him with the famous runners of the past--George Gipp, Emil Sitko, John Lattner, Paul Hornung, Nick Pietrosante and Vagas Ferguson.

Pinkett is Notre Dame’s all-time leading ground-gainer with 3,556 yards. He is also the school’s leader in touchdowns with 46, scoring with 278 points, all-purpose yards with 4,621 and 100-yard games with 18, not counting bowl games.

“It’s nice to have a piece of Notre Dame’s colorful history, but my main concern is winning, and we haven’t done enough of it,” Pinkett said.

Pinkett is associated with Gerry Faust’s coaching era, and the Irish are 27-23-1 in Faust’s 4 1/2 seasons.

“I think I’m set for life as far as adversity goes, because we’ve had plenty of it,” Pinkett said. “Try losing three games at home. That’s adversity for you--the criticism you take and everyone being down on you.

“When I have problems to deal with in real life, like losing money or a job, all I’ll have to do is think back to some of the times here and I’ll pull myself together.

“Notre Dame is known nation-wide, and the criticism comes in extremes. When we win, this is the best place in the country to be. When we lose, everybody looks for answers and tries to analyze the team.

“But we fully understood that when we signed letters of intent. To me, it represents a challenge.”

Before the season, Pinkett was regarded as a Heisman Trophy candidate. His statistics are in order--525 yards rushing, a 4.2 average and 4 touchdowns. But Notre Dame has a 2-3 record, and players on losing teams usually drop out of the Heisman running.

“The Heisman was definitely a dream, but it wasn’t my top priority,” Pinkett said. “I thought I had a legitimate shot at the start of the season if I put my best foot forward. But right now, Bo (Jackson of Auburn) is running away with it. There are a lot of factors in winning the Heisman, the team’s success, my consistency and some miracle games. But, as I said, my main concern is winning.”

Trojan Notes USC Coach Ted Tollner said he has only seven offensive linemen to play five positions since strong guard Tom Hallock suffered a knee injury. Hallock is expected to be inactive for at least three weeks. Tollner has the option of moving Dave Cadigan to strong guard, with Gaylord Kuamoo replacing Cadigan at strong tackle. Or he could leave Cadigan at strong tackle and have Bruce Parks play strong guard. Guard John Guerrero has already been lost indefinitely with a knee injury. . . . Defensive nose guard Tony Colorito, whom Tollner says is playing in the manner of an All-American, may miss the Notre Dame game with a sprained left ankle. Sophomore Gary Willison is his likely replacement. . . . Tailback Ryan Knight didn’t play against Stanford. He has been bothered by an ankle injury, and Tollner said that Knight is close to being ready to play. But he doesn’t know how much playing time Knight will get because Fred Crutcher and Aaron Emanuel are sharing the position now. . . . Inside linebacker Rex Moore, outside linebacker Greg Coauette, tight end Paul Green and tailback Steve Webster are expected to miss Saturday’s game because of injuries.