Polamalu Is Thorpe Award Finalist

The high ankle sprain that forced Troy Polamalu to miss most of two games and limited his mobility in others did not hinder the senior safety’s national profile.

On Tuesday, Polamalu was chosen one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

Mike Doss of Ohio State and Terence Newman of Kansas State are the other finalists for the award that was begun in 1986.

Mark Carrier, who won in 1989, is the only USC player to win the award.

Polamalu, an All-American last season, was injured on the first series against Washington State on Oct. 5 and also missed the next game against California. He is second on the team with 63 tackles, including seven for losses, and intercepted one pass.

“I don’t think I’m playing very well, but we’re winning and that probably makes a difference,” Polamalu said. “Receiving the [All-American] honor last year made me critique myself even harder.”

Polamalu made a game-high 13 tackles against Stanford on Nov. 9 and played well against Arizona State and UCLA. He moved without noticeable discomfort during the sixth-ranked Trojans’ final regular-season practice in full pads and is preparing to finish with a flourish against seventh-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday.

“The fact that he’s played through the injury and still been a great contributor in helping us win is remarkable,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said.

“He knows the end is in sight. There’s a break for him, so he’s going to push it hard this week. He isn’t going to pace himself.”

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Senior Derek Graf started the opener against Auburn at guard because of injuries and he might start the finale against Notre Dame at center in place of Norm Katnik.

Katnik, who suffered a high ankle sprain against UCLA, performed agility drills in shorts. He did not participate in contact drills, but said he expected to play Saturday.

Graf said he would be ready if called upon despite playing sparingly since his season-opening start. He replaced Katnik against UCLA and threw a block that helped spring Hershel Dennis for a 38-yard touchdown.

“I have to prepare as if Norm’s going to be out,” Graf said. “It was extremely exciting to start the first game and it would be the same to start the last one.”

Quarterback Carson Palmer took extra snaps from freshman Fred Matua after practice. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow said it was a precaution in case Katnik and Graf are unable to play.

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Carroll said he would not stand in the way of Chow or Trojan assistant coaches if opportunities arise elsewhere.

Chow is regarded as a top candidate for the head coaching position at Utah, but he said again that he has not been contacted by university officials.

Chow graduated from Utah, coached at Brigham Young for 27 years and still has a home in Provo, Utah.

“He’s a likely candidate and a great candidate with all of his background and knowledge of the area and the people that they played,” Carroll said. “They’d be very lucky to get him. But he has not expressed an interest.”

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Tight end Gregg Guenther, who caught his first career touchdown pass against UCLA, aggravated a left knee injury and sat out the last half of practice. Guenther was bothered by pain in the knee before the game against the Bruins, but said he expected to play against Notre Dame.... Cy Young Award winners Randy Johnson and Barry Zito, both of whom attended USC, will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Saturday.

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Dynamic Tension

A look at USC-Notre Dame games when both were ranked in the AP top 10:

*--* 1938

*--*

No. 8 USC 13, No. 1 Notre Dame 0

*--* 1939

*--*

No. 4 USC 20, No. 7 Notre Dame 12

*--* 1947

*--*

No. 1 Notre Dame 38, No. 3 USC 7

*--* 1952

*--*

No. 7 Notre Dame 9, No. 2 USC 0

*--* 1965

*--*

No. 7 Notre Dame 28, No. 4 USC 7

*--* 1966

*--*

No. 1 Notre Dame 51, No. 10 USC 0

*--* 1967

*--*

No. 1 USC 24, No. 5 Notre Dame 7

*--* 1968

*--*

No. 2 USC 21, No. 9 Notre Dame 21

*--* 1972

*--*

No. 1 USC 45, No. 10 Notre Dame 23

*--* 1973

*--*

No. 8 Notre Dame 23, No. 6 USC 14

*--* 1974

*--*

No. 6 USC 55, No. 5 Notre Dame 24

*--* 1978

*--*

No. 3 USC 27, No. 8 Notre Dame 25

*--* 1979

*--*

No. 4 USC 42, No. 9 Notre Dame 23

*--* 1988

*--*

No. 1 Notre Dame 27, No. 2 USC 10

*--* 1989

*--*

No. 1 Notre Dame 28, No. 9 USC 24