Clausen congratulating Tate after the game
From Doug Karsch:
"One thing I saw that maybe people wouldn't have noticed is that when the game ended, [Jimmy] Clausen walked over to Forcier, and while Forcier was being interviewed by ESPN, stood there by himself while his teammates went up the tunnel, Michigan players celebrating all around him. "He patiently waited for Forcier to finish the interview, and then congratulated the kid, and said, 'That was a great throw and a great drive. I wish it would have worked out differently, but that was a great throw and a great drive.'"http://michigan.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=988164 ($)
September 13th, 2009 at 11:15 PM ^
Never would have expected that out of Clausen.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^
Co-signed.
On one hand, good to see good sportsmanship and Clausen growing up. But how does that jive with his behavior all game? Oh well, good stuff Jimmah.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:19 PM ^
you guys - maybe little Jimmah is growing up.
After one of last week's premier games ending in a punch to the dome, it is refreshing to hear of individual displays of sportsmanship.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:20 PM ^
showing of humility and class enraged Weis.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
I'm impressed. Good sportsmanship, Jimmy.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:17 PM ^
be and emu, but he is a classy emu!
September 13th, 2009 at 11:19 PM ^
Weis could learn a thing or two from this kid.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:21 PM ^
He'll probably eat him for making him look bad
September 18th, 2009 at 5:16 PM ^
I'm sure in one deft gulp no less.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:27 PM ^
Weis was too busy making his way to the food in the coaching office to pay attention to Jimmah. Very class act tho. Wouldn't have expected that out of him.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:23 PM ^
Well I gotta hand it to the Emu there.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:25 PM ^
Clausen a little bit after that show of sportsmanship. Also, he's really growing as a QB. I was extremely impressed.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^
I was also impressed with Clausen during the game - his playing ability that is. The entire Notre Dame offense impressed me. I think the Spartans will have their hands full this week. I don't see MSU having a chance against Notre Dame, not this year. Notre Dame looked too good.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:28 PM ^
everytime I saw Clausen got 3 seconds in the pocket. It just seemed like if he can set his feet, the throw is going to be strong and accurate. Here's to hoping we can apply more pressure in his senior year next year.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
I hope he goes to the NFL after this year, along with Tate and Floyd. I would hate to face that offense in South Bend next year.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^
Floyd is only a sophomore.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^
Thanks for pointing that out.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:34 PM ^
Here's to hoping Clausen decides to enter the NFL Draft so we don't have to face him next year. If Clausen, Floyd, and Tate all return next year, they could have a good shot at winning the National Championship. That passing game is virtually unstoppable.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^
reading my mind.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
should be interesting. i've got to imagine that weis getting canned (1 large can), could really affect who comes back or not for them next year...
September 14th, 2009 at 12:41 AM ^
"Here's to hoping Clausen decides to enter the NFL Draft so we don't have to face him next year. If Clausen, Floyd, and Tate all return next year, they could have a good shot at winning the National Championship. That passing game is virtually unstoppable."
I don't want to take anything away from ND's offense, which was spectacular yesterday, but I think unstoppable is a bit extreme. They were a good matchup against Michigan's defense and the following should be considered.
1. Michigan never consistently got in his face or made him hear the clock in his head tick away. Lots of pocket QBs look great when they have lots of time to read, set and throw. Not as many are also good when pockets are collapsing. FWIW I don't recall Jimmy flushing out and making big throws on the run (yesterday or ever).
2. Michigan's defensive backs played great down the stretch, but UM doesn't have a top-flight shut-down secondary. and until the end they didn't make ND receivers fear being hit.
3. There will be teams that can either generate a serious pass rush or intimidate in the secondary, which will change the game for Notre Dame.
4. The type of big-play passing performance they put on yesterday tends to be a statistical outlier for any team. Teams just don't complete that many deep balls on a regular basis. I have seen teams throw it all over the place one week and look great, then sputter the next week because of a key injury, a tactical disadvantage (stud defender in the right position), never gaining momentum with an early big play, playing catch-up, the coach ate the QB's lunch on the bus, etc.
Just sayin', if ND runs into a game where that passing game is NOT working they will not be scoring much, and at least one team (USC) has enough talent to intimidate them.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^
I agree with your points, but I still think they have a decent shot at winning it all next year. If you think the passing attack is good now, imagine how good it will be in a year if all the key parts return. Clausen will probably be a Heisman candidate, Floyd and Tate will be two of the nation's top receivers. Rudolph and Evans will give Clausen more reliable targets. That group could set records together. Also, I thought that Armando Allen appeared to be pretty good. He may not be elite, but with that good of a passing attack, he is definitely good enough to at least mix things up and provide balance. They will lose a few key offensive linemen after this year, but I think they are fairly deep there. The defensive front seven will return most of its starters next year. The secondary looks like it will be pretty inexperienced at a quick glance, but I still think this team will be great next year.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:15 AM ^
2010 is the season ND fans and Granny Holtzsh are pointing to. Unless Dame somehow gets to the NC game this year, I suspect Clausen will be back. He seems like the kind of kid that wants to become a ND legend (and not in the Ron Powlus kind of way), and knows they'll have the personnel to be a Top 5 team coming into the 2010 season. Floyd can't enter the draft, as pointed out above. Tate? I dunno.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:48 PM ^
ND will win the NC whether they come back or not.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
Here's hoping he torches the rest of their schedule, and some bottom feeding NFL team floats some ridiculous Stafford-esque contract offer into the ether and Clausen jumps ship.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
That's not something I would expect, but assuming this is true, Clausen just went up a few notches in my book. And the dude looked dang good throwing the ball too. I guess it's no longer a tie, Pryor moves into the clear lead for my most hated CFB player.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:36 PM ^
Very classy. Heres to hoping ND goes undefeated the rest of the way. That makes our win over them that much more sweet.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
Especially if the claims the announcers were making about a rivalry between the families is true.
I'm not looking forward to facing them next year. The score may double with the possibilities of these two offenses.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:45 PM ^
High class for Clausen. Well done.
September 13th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
He's already more mature than Cryin Crosby.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:34 AM ^
I HATE Crosby!
September 14th, 2009 at 12:02 AM ^
OK everyone needs to calm down with the Clausen fellating. Even though this was a classy move doesn't mean he is a classy guy, just like how a stupid action doesn't define someone as a stupid person. He is still a spikey-haired brat.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
Notre Dame should be proud to call Clausen theirs. He may have some "poise" issues to clean up. However, by-and-by, Clausen is "1st round" talented and, apparently, he's a decent kid, too.
It's refreshing to hear.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:31 AM ^
"Notre Dame should be proud to call Clausen theirs. He may have some "poise" issues to clean up. However, by-and-by, Clausen is "1st round" talented and, apparently, he's a decent kid, too."
I hesitate to call him a kid, isn't he like 23 years old now?
September 14th, 2009 at 12:34 AM ^
Wow, I didn't see that one coming at all.
Unexpected maturity shown by that young man. ND should be proud of their QB because that takes a lot.
To be honest, I don't think I can root for him while he is at ND. But maybe when he gets into the NFL. Oh, and please opt for that NFL Draft at the end of this year.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:38 AM ^
That is quite a gesture. I now feel bad for hating him for no reason.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:43 AM ^
"That is quite a gesture. I now feel bad for hating him for no reason."
Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves...anyone who showed up to his signing announcement in a stretch Hummer, wore his coach's Super Bowl rings, and made statements about winning four national titles deserved some ribbing at the time.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:51 AM ^
Although, in my defense, all I knew was the stretch limo part. And the bad hair, goofy, chose ND, looks like an emu part.
September 14th, 2009 at 2:34 AM ^
The four national titles thing goes down right next to "powlus will win 2 heismans" in the prediction hall-of-fame
September 14th, 2009 at 7:50 AM ^
The way he acted in that announcement was worthy of ridicule, but that was a few years ago now. It looks like he's grown up since then.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:11 AM ^
Classy move by Clausen.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:15 AM ^
"You can be my wingman anytime. Speaking of, wanna go down to Skeepers?"
September 14th, 2009 at 10:17 AM ^
"Oh Yeah!"
September 15th, 2009 at 9:06 AM ^
CONER!
September 15th, 2009 at 9:09 AM ^
Top Gun analogy is funny but the Coner pic killed me. Great job.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:58 AM ^
I wish the kid the best after this week. I am actually not a ND hater (although I can't stand Weis, even if he did coach Tom Brady). I usually favor ND over whoever they are playing, just now when they're playing Michigan.
Oh . . . and this Saturday, GO IRISH! Crush Sparty.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
I think it was Karsch who asked the question. Tate said Clausen waited to congratulate him and tell him he was impressed by how well Michigan moved the ball. Classy move by Clausen.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^
"Stay Classy -San Diego"
September 14th, 2009 at 11:36 PM ^
gradulate