SC NOTEBOOK: QB'S VIEW: NOTRE DAME NOT SO SCARY.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst shrugged off naysayers who believe the Trojans stand little chance of stealing a victory from favored Notre Dame today.

``I don't care what people think,'' Van Raaphorst said. ``I've been around too long and through too much to care what people think.''

The last time USC played here, Van Raaphorst was a bright-eyed freshman just trying to gain ground on starter John Fox. He ended up completing 2 of 3 passes for 21 yards in the Trojans' 20-17 victory over the Irish.

Today, Van Raaphorst is the full-fledged starter, albeit because Carson Palmer is out with a broken collarbone.

``I remember being in the locker room afterward and how good everyone felt,'' Van Raaphorst said. ``I hope we do it again.''

Van Raaphorst said he doesn't think he will be intimidated by the atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium, and thinks the extra adrenaline will have a positive effect.

``It's just a fun place to play at. You've got to get excited,'' Van Raaphorst said. ``If not, there's something wrong.''

Other players, like true freshman wide receiver Kareem Kelly, will make their first visit to South Bend.

``There's going to be butterflies, but not because I'm scared but because I want to do well,'' Kelly said.

Deep in pocket: Van Raaphorst said he isn't worried about getting injured because he takes more hits than Palmer. He isn't as mobile and was sacked seven times against Arizona.

``That's my game. I'm not a Randall Cunningham-type scrambler,'' Van Raaphorst said. ``I take some hits. Usually nothing bad happens. It's not my job to run around.''

In USC's past two games, Van Raaphorst has stayed on the ground after hard hits and twice required medical attention.

``That's just getting the wind knocked out of me,'' he said.

Ready for rain: The weather was sunny Friday, and today's forecast was mixed. There were predications of rain, but also forecasts that placed the temperature around 70 degrees.

The rain doesn't especially bother USC coach Paul Hackett, who said fumbling is usually the biggest problem in wet games, and the Trojans have lost just four fumbles in five games.

``We're pretty good at hanging on to the ball,'' Hackett said. ``I think it's fairly standard that the pass rush is not as fierce on a wet field. Unless it's a downpour, a rainstorm or a typhoon, you stick to the game plan.''

Life or death? Notre Dame coach Bob Davie on the importance of the rivalry: ``When you talk to other coaches that have coached here, for instance talking to Ara (Parseghian) about these games, he told me a story about when he lost out in Los Angeles, he went back to the hotel.

``He felt so bad that he contemplated jumping out of that hotel. He said he went over to the window, happened to look, he was on about the 15th floor. He said he'd have jumped, but he didn't want to screw up his golf game, so he came to his senses before he went out the window.''