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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Powlus’ Prowess Won’t Lead Him To Heisman Trophy

Larry Bortstein Orange County Register

Ron Powlus won’t win the Heisman Trophy twice, as one expert predicted before the Notre Dame quarterback had played his first college game.

Unless the Fighting Irish barge back into national championship contention next season, Powlus might not challenge for one Heisman.

And with Tennessee’s Peyton Manning only a sophomore, even the 1996 All-America team could be a reach for Powlus.

But for a guy who has led his team to only 11 victories and a tie in his 19 games at Notre Dame, Powlus, perhaps surprisingly, sounds at peace regarding the attention that has swirled around him since he first set foot on the South Bend, Ind., campus.

He was going to be the next quarterback legend at Notre Dame, following such famous names as Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack, Paul Hornung, John Huarte and Joe Montana, who went on to lead the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles.

Like many legends, the Powlus story has been more hype than history.

“I can’t help what other people have said and written about me,” the 6-foot-2, 217-pound junior said. “It hasn’t added to the pressure, because everyone who plays football at Notre Dame always feels pressure. You know that when you come here.”

The pressure figures only to magnify proportions this week. The 17th-ranked Irish (5-2) play host to No. 5 USC (6-0) Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

This once appeared to be a game with national championship ramifications.

It still is, but only for the Trojans, who have not beaten Notre Dame since 1982, but ended an 11-year losing streak in the nation’s most famous intersectional rivalry with a 17-17 tie at the L.A. Coliseum last season.

Losses to Northwestern and Ohio State - as well as narrow escapes the past two weeks against Washington and Army - have made it virtually impossible for the Irish to finish the season ranked No. 1.

But Notre Dame still can qualify for a major bowl game by sweeping its final four games. Following USC, the Irish close with Boston College - not as strong a club as the one that beat Notre Dame the past two seasons - and decided underdogs Navy and Air Force.

“Obviously, the USC game is pivotal for us,” said Powlus, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in last year’s game against the Trojans.

“They’ll be the best team we’ve played this year. We can’t win the national championship, but beating them could go a long way to making our season.”

If he is to avoid becoming the first Notre Dame quarterback since Blair Kiel 13 years ago to lose to USC, Powlus will need help in areas over which he has no control - defense.

Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz believes no quarterback should be asked to shoulder sole responsibility for the winning and losing of football games.

USC’s John Robinson has trumpeted this point all season in support of having Brad Otton and Kyle Wachholtz share the Trojans’ quarterback position.

Powlus has taken virtually every Notre Dame snap the past two years and, barring the most dire circumstance, will continue to do so.

He has quietly put up some impressive numbers this season, ranking 18th nationally in passing efficiency with 96 completions in 170 attempts for 1,529 yards and nine touchdowns.

“Our quarterback is playing very well; we have no complaints about him,” Holtz said.

But the Irish defense has given up yards and points in great gobs.

“We can’t stop anybody,” Holtz said. “That’s just the way it is. We play hard, but we have limitations. As a result, we put our offense at a disadvantage. We have to keep our starters in longer than we’d like.

“Even when we beat Texas (55-27), I couldn’t take people out because there was no way I could know how many points we’d need to win it.”

In contrast, Notre Dame was able to beat USC with its backup quarterback the last time the schools played in South Bend.

When the Irish routed the Trojans 31-13 two years ago, Paul Failla went all the way at quarterback because regular starter Kevin McDougal was out because of a dislocated shoulder.

But Notre Dame’s defense - along with a powerhouse running game - smothered USC.

Things haven’t gone altogether swimmingly on offense, either for the Irish.

Dusty Ziegler, a preseason All-America candidate at center, was moved to left guard when Jeremy Akers went down because of an injury. Powlus and Rick Kaczenski, the new center, have had some troubles on snaps. One fumbled exchange against Ohio State led to a Buckeyes’ touchdown and one against Army last Saturday came with the Irish needing only six inches to make a first down.

Notre Dame’s offensive scheme isn’t one Powlus might have chosen.

Holtz, who has coached the Irish since 1986, is a disciple of the option. To run his favorite offense, Holtz needs a quarterback like Nebraska’s fleetfooted Tommie Frazier.

Powlus, a drop-back passer since he began playing football, runs like Joe Frazier.

“I never claimed to be an option quarterback,” Powlus said. “I could have gone somehere else and played in a pro-style offense. But we’re not running many option plays this year.

Even if he doesn’t make anyone at Notre Dame forget Montana, Powlus’ throwing arm will lead him to stardom in the NFL, in the opinion of ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper.

“Ron Powlus is the only kid playing quarterback in college football that I see greatness in,” said Baltimore-based Kiper, who predicts that Powlus will be the first player picked in the 1997 NFL draft.

ESPN’s Beano Cook, long recognized as a college football authority, was the man who forecast that Powlus would win two Heisman trophies.

Though that prediction won’t come true, Cook also is convinced that Powlus will be a great pro.

“The three greatest players I ever saw coming out of high school were Herschel Walker, Dan Marino and Powlus,” Cook said from his home in Pittsburgh. “The first two had better college careers than Powlus is having. But I think when he gets to the NFL, Powlus will show how great he is.”