Fighting Irish Preserve Title Hopes With Win

Notre Dame wide receivers David Grimes (11) and Jeff Samardzija celebrate with a leaping high-five after Samardzija scored on a 16-yard touchdown catch during the second quarter of a college football game against Army in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings - AP)

"We are going to nickel and dime them because that's what they have been dictating for you to do," he told them.

The Black Knights have lost five straight heading into their season-finale against Navy on Dec. 2. Coach Bobby Ross said the Irish were too good.

"Notre Dame is a better team than we are. We all know that," he said.

The victory ended a four-game losing streak for the green jerseys. The Irish lost 34-31 to top-ranked USC last October; 14-7 to Boston College in 2002; 35-28 to Georgia Tech in the 1999 Gator Bowl; and 41-24 to Colorado in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl.

"At least I got that stigma out of the way," Weis said.

Weis said Thursday night his 13-year-old son, Charlie Jr., suggested wearing the green. Weis resisted at first, telling his son Notre Dame has an unwritten rule that the jerseys are saved for highly ranked opponents.

"He goes, 'Dad you tell me how special this senior class is. It just doesn't seem right that they don't get an opportunity to be honored as seniors going out," he said.

Weis agreed, so he asked his captains what they thought. Weis said Quinn hesitated.

"I called him a wimp and he said, 'OK, I want to wear them," Weis said.

Their last victory wearing green was 1985, when they came out in the first half wearing blue against USC and at halftime switched to green in a 37-3 victory.

Notre Dame's most well-known green day was 1977 _ Weis' senior season as a student _ when the 11th-ranked Irish beat No. 5 USC 49-19.

The only disappointment for the Irish was the interception thrown by Quinn ended a streak of 226 straight passes without an interception _ the longest such streak in Division I-A this season. The record is 271 consecutive passes by Trent Dilfer at Fresno Sate in 1993.

Quinn was 22-of-30 for 218 yards. He threw a 16-yard TD pass to Jeff Samardzija, who had nine catches for 87 yards, and add scoring passes of 8 and 24 yards to Rhema McKnight. Walker ran for TDs of 10 and 7 yards. He had another shot at a TD, but fumbled on the 1. David Grimes recovered in the end zone for the touchdown.

The 162 yards rushing gave Walker his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season, becoming just the fourth player in school history to accomplish the feat.

Asked what he thought about Quinn climbing up into the student section, Weis joked that Quinn has been watching too many Green Bay Packers games, where Quinn's brother-in-law, linebacker A.J. Hawk, plays.

"I think he wanted to share that moment with the fans, especially the student body at the end," Weis said. "He's really a special person."