Rout of Army keeps Notre Dame in line for possible BCS title berth

SOUTH BEND, Ind. There wasn't much drama left Saturday at the end of Notre Dame's 41-9 victory over Army.

But then, there wasn't much drama left at the end of the third quarter, or even at halftime.

No, the real drama in the college football world was at Ohio State, where the No. 1 Buckeyes held off No. 2 Michigan.

What was left for the Irish was their national championship aspirations, augmented slightly with a quick, efficient dismembering of the overmatched Black Knights (3-9).

The Irish travel to Southern California next Saturday and a victory there eventually could vault Notre Dame into the Jan. 8 BCS title game outside Phoenix. The Irish (10-1) are fifth in the BCS standings and need to move past Michigan, No. 3 USC and No. 4 Florida.

Army got on the board first, taking a 3-0 lead on Austin Miller's 27-yard field goal.

And Army got on the board last, as Tim Dunn made a beautiful one-handed grab in the left corner of the end zone as the game clock ran out.

In between, Army twice stopped Notre Dame on fourth down and intercepted Irish quarterback Brady Quinn for the first time in 227 pass attempts. But the Black Knights' dogged determination, in the final accounting, was no match for Notre Dame's talent.

"Notre Dame is better than we are," Army coach Bobby Ross said. "We all know that."

So much better, in fact, that the Irish spent much of their practice time last week preparing for USC.

After the seniors finished their final lap around Notre Dame Stadium, receiver Rhema McKnight and quarterback Brady Quinn led the cheers as the student sections chanted, over and over, "Beat SC. Beat SC. Beat SC."

"I agree with them," Irish coach Charlie Weis said.

Notre Dame's first drive ended when Army safety Jordan Murray picked off a Quinn pass intended for Jeff Samardzija.

The follow up wasn't much better, as the Irish opened with a holding penalty and followed with a four-and-out.

"What I told them after two drives is to relax, it's 3-0. You're not down 100-3," Weis said. "Let's just get things under control, realize I'm going to run the ball and throw short intermediate routes."

That turned out to be very effective.

The Irish transformed a 3-0 first-quarter deficit into a 20-3 halftime lead. By the end of the third quarter, Notre Dame was up 34-3.

Quinn completed 22 of 30 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Samardzija caught nine of those passes for 87 yards and one touchdown. Of McKnight's three receptions, two were for touchdowns.

In addition to all that offensive air power, Darius Walker rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

The defense was equally good, holding Army to 2.8 yards per play. In fact, the entire team's effort was worthy of the green jerseys Weis decided Notre Dame should wear for its final home game this year.

The last time Notre Dame donned the green jerseys? In its 34-31 loss last season to USC.

"It was a nice surprise. It gave us a little more energy," said cornerback Mike Richardson, who had two interceptions. "It's usually reserved for special games."

Will the Irish wear green again this season?

"I think that's too early for me to answer," Weis said.

But one thing he knowsSaturday's victory, although satisfying, was only the first step in making sure this season is special.

"You're always remembered by how you go out at the end of the year," Weis said. "You're not going to be remembered by beating Army 41-9. They are going to be remembered by that game out in California, and what happens in that bowl game. We have a lot of work yet to do."

The drama, it seems, has only begun.