Chris Marinelli flashed a 0-4 prediction signal to Washington fans who heckled him before the game last week.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Coach Charlie Weis didn't even bother to post Stanford offensive tackle Chris Marinelli's comments on Notre Dame on the locker room bulletin boards.
"This one got more individualized attention," Weis said, smiling. "It didn't have to go to the bulletin board."
In an interview with CardinalReport.com, Marinelli ripped Notre Dame, its defense, Notre Dame Stadium, the field itself and the whole South Bend area. He even got a shot in at people in the Boston area where he is from.
"I grew up with a bunch of Irish and Italian Catholic people back home. And all the Irish Catholic people, all they talk about is Notre Dame this, Notre Dame that," said Marinelli, who is from Braintree. "And they've never even been there, ya know. So I hate those guys, I hate that school."
He also had a prediction about the game Saturday between Notre Dame (3-1) and the Cardinal (3-2), who have lost six straight to the Irish and haven't won in South Bend since 1992.
"We are going out there to mash them up, and that's all there is to it," he said.
Most Irish players who spoke to the media Thursday after Marinelli's comments became public would say little about them. They admitted they were aware of what he said.
"It gives it a little fuel," safety Sergio Brown said.
Linebacker Brian Smith, who said the article was stapled to his locker, added he didn't want to provide the Cardinal with any inflammatory incentive, but would have something to say to Marinelli on Saturday.
"I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm going to let him know his comments are false. That's as far as I'm going to go," he said. "All my talk is going to be done on the field."
Marinelli issued an apology for his comments through the Stanford sports information office on Thursday, saying he "was caught up in the emotions of the game and should have been more thoughtful in my comments."
One of his comments, though, has been the subject of questions the past two weeks by media covering Notre Dame.
"They have one sack all year on 200 blitzes," said Marinelli, who predicted the Cardinal offense would "gash" Notre Dame's blitzing defense.
Irish defensive coordinator Corwin Brown said part of the reason the Irish have just one sack is opponents have been throwing quick passes. But he also concedes the Irish have had trouble timing the blitzes.
"There are times maybe where we don't do things as well as we should, the balls coming out quick. At the same time, we aren't getting the sacks, but we're getting off the field when we want to," he said.
Entire article:
Stanford OT on Notre Dame: 'I hate that school' - NCAA Football - SI.com
