Notre Dame still hurting from its $8.5 million loss

LOS ANGELES USC coach John Robinson said it was "great to have aone-game win streak."

Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus said it was awful to bepart of the reason the Trojans were bursting with pride Sundaymorning.

For the first time in 10 years, it appears the Irish won't beplaying in a bowl game. Bowl Alliance officials are scheduled toconduct a conference call today. But Notre Dame (8-3) doesn't figureto be a topic of discussion.This is because the Irish fumbled the ball away four timesSaturday night at the Coliseum. They missed an extra point thatwould have put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Theytired, Holtz said, on defense in the second half. They lost 27-20in overtime to a team that had lost its last three games.And they almost certainly lost all hope of receiving a bid toan Alliance Bowl game and the $8.5 million paycheck that goes withit. Maybe they lost recruits who were watching on nationaltelevision, too. Who knows?In any event, it was their first loss to USC since 1982. And itwas a gift. After the defeat, athletic director Mike Wadsworthindicated his school would not be interested in overtures from lesserpostseason games such as the Independence Bowl.The Irish definitely have lost Holtz, who resigned two Tuesdaysago and will leave Notre Dame neither a legend nor a failure with awon-lost record of 100-30-2. They also appear close to losingoffensive coordinator Dave Roberts, who said he will know more thisweek and looks to be headed to Tulane. The most significant signRoberts won't return, sources said, is that he hasn't beenparticipating in recruiting the last three weeks.Then there's Powlus. Once again he looked mostly slow andtentative when flushed from the pocket. He completed just eight of19 passes against USC for 108 yards and was sacked twice. If hewants to, he can return for a fifth year. After the game, he soundedas if he was leaning the other way."We'll see," he said, "It may be the end of my career. I don'tknow. It's a mixed feeling. My life is moving on. I may be movingon. I don't know right now."USC returns 40 of its top 45 players next season. IncomingNotre Dame head coach Bob Davie wishes he could say the same. Thestrength of his defense this season was his aggressive front seven.But the only significant returnees from that group next season willbe linebacker Kory Minor and end Melvin Dansby. Dansby must petitionthe school to return for a fifth year. He is expected to be back.Davie said he felt like "the luckiest man alive" eight days agowhen Wadsworth named him to replace Holtz. Now Davie is faced with amountain of work and no guarantee the Irish will bounce back into thetop 10 next season.Their schedule includes games against improvedMichigan State in South Bend and a USC team that can't help but bebetter. On the road they go back to Michigan in September and mustplay at LSU in November.Right now the Irish are still licking their wounds from the $8.5million loss to the Trojans. Asked if he ever would be able to getover the defeat, senior linebacker Bert Berry offered a one wordresponse:"Never."