With USC quarterback Matt Barkley having been ruled out of Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, most people have already penciled Notre Dame into the BCS National Championship game. Max Wittek, Barkley’s freshman backup who has attempted only nine passes in his collegiate career, is here to tell those people to pump the brakes.
“We haven’t got the full game plan yet, but from what I can tell, we’re going to play our offense, whatever coach (Lane) Kiffin feels comfortable giving me,” Wittek told ESPN Radio in Los Angeles, via Dr. Saturday. “If he wants to air it out, let’s air it out. If he wants to pound it on the ground, let’s do that. Like I said, I’m going to go out there, I’m going to play within myself, within the system, and we’re going to win this ballgame.”
It sounds like Wittek learned how to deal with the media from Rex Ryan, but I have no problem with it. He’s basically been put in a situation where he has nothing to lose, so Wittek might as well try to show his teammates and USC fans that he feels he is capable of having success against the No. 1 team in the nation.
For what it’s worth, Wittek is 8-for-9 passing for 95 yards and a touchdown in spot duty this season. He looked sharp on three pass attempts against UCLA last weekend after Barkley went down, but none of his playing time has come against a team of Notre Dame’s caliber. All the freshman can do is give it his all and try to shock to college football world.
