Hype: Excessive publicity and the ensuing commotion.
Did I rip this straight off of the first credible definition found from a Google search? Yeah, I did. Based on everything else that is been said leading up to the eighty-second meeting of Notre Dame and USC, that seems to be the gold standard of thoughtfulness and insight behind this game.
It is all too easy to say things on the internet, in front of a camera, or to a microphone that are half thought out and dripping with unnecessary drama. By the same token, it is just as easy as it is to become consumed by the pomp and circumstance being poured into tonight's match up.
Newly christened gold helmets – now with added sparkle!
Brian Kelly's winks and nudges towards the inevitability of alternate uniforms.
Notre Dame's first night game since the death of the beeper.
Kelly camping out in Bristol, Connecticut a week in advance of game day.
Speculation on grass height. That's right, you heard me.
Chuck Martin playing Pied Piper to dozens of elite high school prospects, with their own form of sparkles next to their names as well.
Kiffin calling this game Notre Dame's Super Bowl, and being honored to be a part of our history – tongue, meet cheek.
You see, that’s just what they want you to think about. If the powers that be throw enough nostalgic, flashy, enticing, exciting, and emotional words and images at their fan bases, the waters are muddied and replaced with this ambiguous, ominous feeling of “What if?” Kiffin vowing to never lose to Notre Dame again. This highlight reel of USC posterising the Irish for a decade. That Ronald Johnson's drop heard 'round the world. This Robert Hughes pushing the pile into the end zone. That Youtube; ATTACK!
You know what none of those things will impact?
Tonight's final score.
The fact remains that none of these factors being discussed address the reality of what we will see transpire Saturday night between the lines. The “swag” of ND's jerseys will not make Cierre Wood run any harder. Kiffin's personal feelings about it's significance to Notre Dame's histrionics will not make Nick Perry any more physical at the point of attack. Kiffin, media, and others alike want you to think that those things matter. They want you to soak it in and become consumed by all things unimportant. They want you to watch the birdie.
Once the sediments of sentiment settle in, and the muddied waters become clear again, all you have left to see is a reflection of you and your opponent. That is all this game really is. You vs. Them.
Its Notre Dame. Its Southern Cal. Lets get down to it.
