Jimmy Clausen Finally Pays For Being an Insufferable Jerk

From the moment he arrived at Notre Dame, we detested this punk. No, wait, check that.... from the moment he arrived at the College Football Hall of Fame in a limousine (presumably thinking it was like his prom), flashing high school championship rings (exactly four years to the day before he didn't get selected in the first round last night), and announcing he was going to Notre Dame, we loathed this douche.

We get accused of being too negative sometimes. We get accused of hating and not representing Purdue fans well. However, most of you, we think, come here at least partly because you like the sarcastic, sharp-tongued nastiness we sometimes espouse. And this is one of those examples where, I think you'll see the record reflects, we were right....again.

Jimmy Clausen was projected to be a star. He was going to be perfect for Chuck Weis' system, since it would basically be like playing in the NFL but against college teams. And then Jimmy barely survived his freshman year and the Domers went 3-9.

"But just wait until we get some guys for Jimmy to play with!" we kept hearing. Then you'll all be sorry. And then Jimmy went on to have two .500 seasons, following one with a bowl win over a less-than-mediocre Hawaii team, to run UND's record in the JC era (that's Jimmy Clausen, not the other JC, though I'm sure Jimmy sees them as similar) to 16-21. Wow. Impressive.

Jimmy, on one of his last weekends as a college football player, then managed to get his lights punched out in a restaurant/bar in South Bend. Of course, the story is that he was jumped by hoodlums (or an "irate fan"), because, as I'm sure we can all agree, this guy is just too damn sweet to have said or done anything obnoxious that might have precipitated someone wanting to spin his head around.

On his way out of office, Emperor Weis advised Jimmy Heisman and Golden Tate to declare for the draft. You know the cliches...they were "ready" and had "nothing more to accomplish." Nothing more than, you know, having a season with fewer than six losses. Or a regular season over .500. Or a win against USC.

Jimmy-boy then went and sat down with Jon Gruden for Gruden's Draft Camp routine, where Gruden -- I guess -- gives the kids advice and they watch some film, etc. From what I understand, the exchanges in this video (and some that aren't included in the clip I was able to find) were definitely talked about at the draft. Namely, the part where Pickles blames pretty much everyone else besides himself when things go wrong. Gruden clearly doesn't like what he's hearing in that regard and is doing his best to warn Clausen that isn't going to fly with the adults. Of course, Jimmy yes-es the Super Bowl winning coach and doesn't maintain eye contact -- dismissive, much? And where do you think Jimmy learned how to throw teammates under the bus?

Why, the master himself, Chuck Weis. The guy who loved to hear himself drone on and on during press conferences, saying things about certain guys didn't do this or that and then saying, "but it's on me." You know, the most disingenuous douche out there.

The point of all this rambling? Well, it's just that character has become a bigger deal to NFL teams over the years. And while being an insufferable a-hole to people gets guys like Clausen through high school and even through a place like ND, it does not work as well at the NFL level. This morning on the radio, I heard that at least two teams had Clausen rated higher than Sam Bradford (as per Peter King) but that Bradford's character is unquestioned, while Clausen's is a concern. Huh, interesting. Sounds like another UND QB who's always been a douche.

As reader Gregg Z sums up:

"Neither Jimmy 'Avatar' Clausen nor Golden Tate were picked in the first round, despite being ahem, "encouraged" by Weis to declare for the draft. Certain Domer faithful see this as Charlie's scorched Earth policy, robbing Kelly of key talent on his way out in hopes of burnishing his own image as an offensive mastermind. But whatever.

The Germans have a word for it-- schadenfreude-- satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune. Not that Clausen or Tate aren't going to be multimillionaires in the next 2 days, but these guys seemed to believe (or were told by their barely-competent fired coach) they were First-round material. Like Nelson from The Simpsons says: Ha ha!"

Indeed. These guys could have come back to UND and played under a new coach who loves to throw the ball and, really, aside from injury risk, what would be the harm? Finishing out of the bowls again? Big deal. Maybe one of them would actually have wound up being a first-round pick.

Regardless, Jimmy Clausen is now considered a character risk, which is something we knew a long, long time ago.

Fire Your Agent, Jimmy

Oh, my. Oh.... just.... wow.

Seriously, Jimmy, you make it far too easy to mock you.

(Thanks to Gregg Z for the heads up.)

Nothing Says Stand-Up Guy Like Ducking Media Obligations

Thanks for the support, guys! See ya, suckers!

In recent weeks, Charlie Weis has become less and less arrogant-sounding and more and more contrite, even admitting last weekend that he wouldn't blame UND if they cut him loose (his buyout will cushion the fall, of course). Reports circulated that he had cleaned out his office, though who knows if those are accurate. AD Swarbrick told Weis not to go on his west coast recruiting trip and instead head right back to UND after Saturday's inevitable loss to Stanford. And Charlie is now apparently telling friends that he's had contact with at least six NFL teams about coordinator positions.

Speaking of that last point, if I were Notre Dame, I might view that as tampering or maybe Charlie acting inappropriately, and I might try to reduce his buyout as a result. BC fired their coach for listening to other job offers -- how is this any different? Notre Dame is still paying Chuck a lot to be their coach. If his instructions are to lay low, he should lay low and not be fielding job offers. But I digress.

UND lost their last game of the season -- and fourth consecutive -- to finish 6-6, a mere one game better than our rebuilding Purdue program. So about 25 seconds of that September game against them is now all that stands between them being sub-.500 and Purdue in a bowl game. Interesting, given the star-talent on that squad.

After the game, everyone was of course eager to hear from the coach. He had shunned an interview during the game and so this was the first chance to talk to him about this game and his future. As I've said before, part of being paid all these gobs of money is being required to speak to the media and, by extension, the fans. Not doing so is a giant "F U" to all of us. And also, maybe more tellingly, to his players.

These guys stood up for Coach Weis in recent weeks, talking about how they would want him back. Current and former players said firing him would be a mistake. Even after the Stanford loss, when his defense did him no favors, Jimmy "Shiner" Clausen said he wouldn't be at Notre Dame without Coach Weis' influence. Golden Tate said the coach has played a huge part in his development. High praise, and the players have consistently defended their embattled coach.

And how did he pay them back?

By not showing up to speak to the media and leaving his 18-22 year old players to answer questions about the coach's future at Notre Dame. Questions they have no idea how to answer, nor should they. It's awkward and embarrassing and something they should not have to deal with.

But that's what you get with this kind of classy guy.

Winless QB Is Charlie Weis' Lone Defender

Who knows more about winning than the QB of a 1-9 team?

Brady Quinn thinks firing Charlie Weis would be a big mistake.

He also thinks all the smart people at Notre Dame make for...uh...wait for it.... schematic advantages:

One of the arguments often given for Notre Dame's struggles is that the school's high academic standards make it difficult to recruit. Quinn sees it differently.

"It plays to their advantage, too, that smart players on the team are able to do a lot more from a schematic standpoint and prepare for teams in better fashion than other teams," he said.

Yes, indeed. Schematically-speaking, they're the best 6-5 team out there.

Brady also felt for innocent Jimmy Clausen after the latter got punched in the mush late Saturday night:

Quinn had sympathy for Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who was punched in the eye outside a South Bend bar early Sunday morning, hours after the Fighting Irish lost in double overtime to Connecticut.

"It's unfortunate anytime that sort of situation occurs," Quinn said. "You just hope everything is all right and there's nothing else from it. That's just part of it sometimes when the season is tough."

"I also hope his beautiful face wasn't damaged," Quinn did not say. But his eyes said it.

(Thanks to John for the link.)

Clausen to "Face" Stanford? Hey, I Get It!

Does someone at ESPN.com have a sense of humor?


No, not about Weis still having authority over anything.

How Ya Feelin'?

We had a great podcast last night...had a few callers, some good conversation...lots of hugging.

In all seriousness, the Podcast is growing slowly and as J and I figure out these new-fangled computers, the weekly event might even get better. If you listened, you heard that both J and I aren't real optimistic...But that doesn't change the fact that we really don't like the rich kids coming to RA this Saturday.

So consider this an invite-
-Tell us what's your favorite UND memory and why?
-Why is it so easy to hate the domers?

I'll start-

I have two memories that come to mind. The first UND v. Purdue game I attended was in the Hoosier Dome. I had been to a PR event in the dome months before for the Colts, but had never really heard a venue that loud, at that point in my life. My Mom, Dad, older brother, Grandpa and I went to the game, but we had to sit apart from eachother. Every time Everett would lead Purdue down the field to score, I could see my brother literally running up and down the aisle of the dome. Pretty great...and at 9 years old, it set me in the right direction.

The second memory that comes to mind was the '97 game. I had graduated the previous May from Purdue and had just gotten a job out on the East Coast. But, I had tickets for the Purdue v. UND game in RA before I moved out of the Midwest. With Purdue coming off of a disappointing loss to Toledo, I wasn't expecting too much. And since I didn't get to see any of the Toledo game, I didn't know what to expect. That offense was fun to watch...they passed about every down...and even when an older Joe Tiller might have sat on the lead, Cowboy Joe didn't...he kept passing. The subplot, as you all know was pretty tasty- Purdue had wanted to hire Bob Davie, but Davie ended up at UND...turns out this hiring loss was actually a gain. Following my four years at Purdue, this one was nearly unbelievable.

Take a moment and remind yourself about the mentality that forces you to hate UND...
Erin Piroutek

The Liberace of college quarterbacks is putting up big numbers this season.

This Just in: The Meaning of success has changed.

Matt Barkley has a good chance of being dreamy while at USC

Success used to mean "Favorable or desired outcome" (according to Webster's Dictionary).

But USA Today has decided to ignore that definition.

Today, the sports page of this silly paper had an article about USC's true-frosh starter, Matt Barkley. And clearly, the writer is someone who doesn't have the internet to research his articles and has a depth of college football knowledge similar to my son's (he's three).

The author, David Leon Moore, thinks Barkley has a chance at being a "successful" QB at SC, but can only remember three other true Freshman from major conferences that have been "successful".

Chad Henne- absolutely (25TD, 12 INT, 60.2% comp, 9-3 record).
Matthew Stafford- ehhhhh... (7TD, 13 INT, 52.7% comp, 9-4 record)
Jimmy Clausen- Alright, dude is drunk (7TD, 6INT, 56.3% comp, 3-9 record).

I can't figure out what makes Pickles successful in this stat line- he had more TDs than INTs, but he only had 7 TDs...his completion % is under 60, and unlike Stafford, his record as a starter during his first season was a rock-solid 3-9.

Good research, Mr. Moore.

I get the point- it's difficult to start as a true freshman and succeed- TRUE!! But, you could have said it like the LA Times instead of grasping at straws while making comparisons.

Last year, as a true-Frosh, Terrelle Pryor had more TDs, fewer INTs, a better completion percentage, and the Buckeyes won a lot of games. Adam Weber had a TON more TDs and a better completion percentage in '07. I just thought of those...and I don't get paid to write for a living...but I do have an internet connection to research my theories; I guess I'm one-up on Mr. Moore.

At least Moore got this right-

"This is the Barkley that Carroll and the Trojans have come to know. He has the looks (ruggedly handsome, blond hair and a toothy grin) and stature (barrel-chested, 6-2 and 230 pounds) of a central casting big man on campus."

Nice reporting, sir...Women between the ages of 16 and 20 will love reading your story.

Notre Dame Dominates...Yet Again.

We all saw what UND and Pickles can do when they played a lousy defense at the end of last season...but they really got to show their stuff this weekend as UND's offense played UND's defense in South Bend.

The quarterbacks, two former number-one recruits out of high school, Crist and Pickles gleamed like the golden dome. They went a combined 12/27, 0 TDs, 1 INT (for a TD).

Ooh, ooh, but Joe Montana was there to watch his son!! It was awesome. Nate Montana wowed the crowd with an aerial that included a pass to the third-team tight end for 34 yards.

But the awesome passing wasn't the only story. UND running backs pounded their great defensive line* for 4.2 yards/carry...and scored a ton of points and they all got to do coordinated dances after each score...it was cute.

Is everyone else thinking what I'm thinking? Probably not, but, are the echoes waking up again, seriously this time? Regardless, Irish football is once again rising to glory.

*Great defined as #45 in the nation v. the run

I Really Hate Notre Dame Week

I really hate this week of the college football season. And it shouldn't be that way, but it is. This is Notre Dame Week, and with it comes a side of myself that I really don't like -- the hateful side.

Sure, I'm a sports fan, obviously, and there are teams and schools I like and dislike and respect and detest. But then there are a precious few for whom I have nothing but loatheful feelings for. And Notre Dame is one of them.

I'm not sure if it's because of their arrogance as a program or the arrogance of their fans. Or maybe it's just the complete lack of justification for that arrogance on either's part.

The program is just not that good, and it hasn't been for quite some time. The last time they won a bowl game, lil Pickles Clausen was just a six-year-old wee lad. Last time they won a National Title was, well, the year ole Pickles was born. Two decades of mediocrity, overblown media predictions, and crushing defeats whenever a legit program faces them, have followed.

And yet the arrogance remains. From fans to alums to hayseeds who live nearby, everyone thinks Notre Dame is a notch above everyone else and that they not only are a bastion of morality and academics, but that they're also better at it all than everyone else and the only reason they've been terrible lately is.... what? Tyrone Willingham? You mean, the guy who recruited the players that Charlie Weis has won with?

Getting back to my irrational hate and how this week brings out the worst in me, one of the few Irish blogs I check out, Her Loyal Sons (and only because they are so around the bend it amuses me), has repeatedly taken shots at Purdue... and their main barb is that we're.... "boring."

I took umbrage with it last year, but really, that's fine, I guess. Purdue could be called a lot worse things than boring. At least we're not arrogant a-holes or cheaters or arrogant a-holes or underage drinkers or kind of girlie-looking.

I think I got all pissy last year because it was Notre Dame fans -- 0-4 UND, at the time -- mocking a 4-0 program. The obnoxiousness cannot be curbed. It's relentless. Just like they wish their defense was.

I simply detest the entire program. And this is one of the few times you'll see me continually use "we" as though I'm actually playing. I think the Purdue faithful as a whole feel the weight of battling Notre Dame, knowing we're in a no-win situation. Beat them -- soundly, even -- and some of them still yap and find ways to bash your program and find excuses. Lose to them.... and, well, every front-runner Domer wearing a #10 jersey at the supermarket becomes risky... in the sense that, if you're like me, you're in danger of committing assault when you see these people. And winding up in a jail cell when you're sent out to buy milk is almost never good.

Hate is a strong word. And I don't hate anyone in particular. I just detest the unwarranted arrogance. I cannot stand the big-mouth "loyalty" when things are going well. I dislike them so much that I actually become angry, more reactive than usual, and downright cranky by game time. I just want to go out there and smash Pickles myself. And maybe send someone rolling into fatty's other knee.

Losing to them is awful anytime, even when we're lousy. Losing to them when they're lousy is almost unbearable.

Let's Boiler Up.

Coaches Poll Shravesty.

Alright, we know UND "proved they're a good team"...and Weis thought "they did some very good things" on Saturday, but seriously, what two other coaches voted for them in the coaches poll? Perhaps Skip Holtz (as a favor to his pops) and...uh...Rich Rodriguez to inflate the Irish before they play them? I don't get it...But I only watched about 20 games last weekend. Clearly, I need to put aside more time for collegiate football so I can see why UND is Returning to Glory.

On a serious note, the Manatee had a chance to rub the Aztecs face in their crushing defeat, Saturday...but he sat on the ball during the last Irish drive. Is it possible that Chuck has learned humility during the '07 campaign? Naaaah. Regardless if he has or hasn't, that was the right thing to do- Hats off to the fat man.

Colts
I watched my hometown's professional football team last night...Yikes! To me, they actually looked worse than the score indicated. Things the Colts faithful have become accustomed to were not there...and too me, it seems like all is not lost. The simple fact that Manning hasn't practiced but two full weeks has everything to do with I witnessed last night. While his footwork looked surprisingly good, his audibles were off and the offense's timing was lousy. Marvin Harrison's fumble didn't help anything either...That guy's been the second or third-best receiver on the Colts for two or three years now.

Key injuries to Saturday, then Clark and Addai's temporary injury aren't good either...but the Colts have won with a skeleton crew before. Manning needs to get his reps and get back up to speed in a hurry. God knows that defense needs to play with a lead.

IRL
I watched yesterday's season-ending race in its entirety- very fun to watch. Much like Texas, Chicagoland is a fast track that allows cars to run side-by-side for laps at a time and the packs of 9 were both fun and very tense to watch. The last two laps were as good as the rest of the race and the ending was as good as I've ever seen.

I'm looking forward to next season and hope to see other ex-open wheelers join Franchitti back on the circuit in '09.

News Bulletin: Notre Dame Fans Remain Classy

Wow. So as you probably have seen if you're a scouring scoundrel of the Interwebs, The Big Lead took some flak from ND "fans" over posting the fairly innocuous pictures of Jimmy Clausen drinking at a party. Well, the drinking was fairly tame -- the outfits were fairly embarrassing.

As TBL displays in a post today, here's an example of an email he received regarding those pics:

Hey,

What kind of scum sucking c**t posts pictures of college kids drinking beer at a party?

I don’t give a sh*t if it was J**** F**king Ch****, only a worthless cocksucker trades in this kind of sh*t.

F*ck you.

I can only assume this email came from Charlie Weis, Rudy or Jimmy Clausen's mom.

And yeah, I know, I know, one mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, douchenozzle doesn't represent an entire fan base... sure, sure, I've heard that before. And it's true.

Most of the time.

---------------------------------------

Also, hey, if you didn't bother clicking through to see the other pics TBL has, here's perhaps my favorite one. Is that a shredded bottom shirt Jimmy Montana is wearing? Oh, dear, does our hero also tie the little shirt off to the side in order to expose his midriff while prancing around his room wearing leg-warmers and aerobecizing to "Maniac"?

Even Jimmy Clausen's Beer Pong Balls Are Intercepted

Don't fumble, Pickles!

In a story the Chicago Tribune and The Big Lead have, Jimmy Clausen is potentially going to be disciplined for the above photo that apparently shows him drinking. Underage drinking, that is.

While this isn't a major revelation that college students drink beer -- and if I were the QB of a team that went 3-9 and lost to multiple service acadamies I think I'd want something stiffer than beer -- apparently ND is looking into how to act on this.

Frankly, I think he should be disciplined for that stupid-ass outfit, but that's just me.

It's Notre Dame Week

So we're a month into the college football season and all seems right with our world -- Purdue is 4-0. Also making this a fun football season is the fact that Notre Dame, led by genius Charlie Weis, is 0-4... for the first time in their history. It took the Domers until week four against Michigan State at home to score an offensive touchdown. So I mean, there's bad and then there's.... bad. Not being able to score for a month is kind of horrendous. And you'd think this would make fans of the Golden Dome a bit more humble. You know, like when Michigan lost to App St. and the guys at MGoBlog turned their site pink and full of kittens for several days. They raised the white flag and admitted they had nothing to say to defend their beloved team's performance. But are ND supporters like this at all? Well, take a look at this post from "Her Loyal Sons" and judge for yourself:

It’s bad enough that ND is 0-4 this season. It’s even worse to know that this is Purdue week - The Most Boring Week In College Football Blogging.

If you guys hear anything that we should know and that we should let other ND fans know about Purdue, please feel free to e-mail us. We’re digging. We really are, but Purdue is simply the most boring college football program in the nation, and it’s hard to keep our attention on the task at hand. I got distracted by some pre-Algebra homework problems earlier when I was trying to pull some facts together about whoever their coach might be. I think he sells diabetes equipment or something.

This would be a vastly more interesting week if we’d dump Purdue from the schedule and take on a team like, say, ITT Technical Institute. Do they have a football team? I often wonder why kids go to play at Purdue. What, hate the difficulty of playing for a team that people might actually look up in the Sunday papers? Have a masochistic love of tedium?

Maybe we’ll do a “look back” on what’s happened in the last 4 weeks since, apparently, nothing much will be happening this week.

Wow. I mean, just... wow. The level of obnoxiously blinding arrogance is hard (nay, impossible) to measure here. Are you guys f-cking serious?? Shall we take things a-hole comment by a-hole comment? Okay.

It’s even worse to know that this is Purdue week - The Most Boring Week In College Football Blogging.

Really? In-state rivalries are that boring to you? I suppose so if you know a beatdown is coming. I hate to break this to Notre Dame, but USC doesn't really consider you guys a "rival" the way you do. They see you as a nuisance from the midwest. You don't matter to them, you're a W on their schedule and then they move on to actually challenging opponents. Your best try still wasn't good enough a couple of years ago. Long grass, home-field, hometown refereeing... and you still lost. So why not embrace an in-state rival that has actually been a good series in recent years?

If you guys hear anything that we should know and that we should let other ND fans know about Purdue, please feel free to e-mail us.

Um, oh, hey, I have something: We're 4-0, bitch. We have a top ten offense... in the nation. We're ranked. Our QB has 16 TDs and one pick. We're averaging almost 50 points a game. Want me to keep going? Or should I have started small? Like with: It didn't take us a month to score a touchdown.

Purdue is simply the most boring college football program in the nation, and it’s hard to keep our attention on the task at hand.

Really? The most boring? With an explosive offense and a suspect defense? You think that's boring? The fact that against any good team we'll probably be playing shootouts? That's boring to you clowns?? Right. So now you're just lying.

I got distracted by some pre-Algebra homework problems earlier when I was trying to pull some facts together about whoever their coach might be. I think he sells diabetes equipment or something.

I love that they're doing pre-Algebra at Notre Dame. Well-played, moron. You just made yourself look brilliant. Pre-algebra is something that's done by seventh-graders... outside of South Bend, I imagine. At ND, you can probably major in it. Unless this blog is written by a seventh-grader. Which, given its quality, actually seems possible. And yes, Joe Tiller looks like Wilford Brimley. We've done that joke a million times and he's our own coach. Do you want me to comment on what your coach looks like?

This would be a vastly more interesting week if we’d dump Purdue from the schedule and take on a team like, say, ITT Technical Institute. Do they have a football team?

I'm sure you boys would love to "dump Purdue" from the schedule -- who wants a team that can beat you and perhaps even steal some recruits? You guys only have 6 or 7 gimme wins a season on your schedule so ITT Tech would fit right in with the plan. That way, you can continue to put up the occasional 8 or 9 win season, secure a nice bowl and then get blasted by a far, far superior program. Oh, hey, did you guys know that the last time Notre Dame won ANY bowl game was when Jimmy Clausen was about six years old?

I often wonder why kids go to play at Purdue.

I don't know, maybe because they like to score points? Play in a conference? Not live in South Bend? Shall I go on?

What, hate the difficulty of playing for a team that people might actually look up in the Sunday papers?

What does this even mean? College football is on Saturdays. But these guys haven't seen something resembling college football in a while so it's easy to see how they might be confused.

Have a masochistic love of tedium?

Again, this irrational shot at Purdue for being boring and tedious. I don't get it. You can certainly take shots at us -- lord knows we take shots at our own program all the time and there's plenty to shoot at. But to call us boring? I just don't get it. Nine bowls in ten years. One losing season since Tiller has gotten here. Was Drew Brees boring? Was it boring when Kyle Orton and Taylor Stubblefield embarassed the Domers in South Bend in 2004?

Maybe we’ll do a “look back” on what’s happened in the last 4 weeks since, apparently, nothing much will be happening this week.

This last line made me laugh. You're going to "look back"? At what? At all the insanely awful play from your team this year? Give me a break. You have fun with your look-back. We'll be looking ahead at the rest of our schedule.

The Next Ron Powlus? (and other notes)

In case you missed it, the Jimmy Clasen era at UND began Saturday night...and I'll be honest, I think he's pretty talented, seriously. But, He also looked like a Freshman who didn't know what he was doing at times last night. All that said, after the first half, I had a question- Clausen started the game 7 of 8, pretty darned good, especially versus a stout Penn State defense. Why couldn't the genius see that he was the clear starter last week v. GT? ESPN can't seem to answer the question either...Heck, ESPN wouldn't ask.

Much like Ron Powlus, Clausen was extremely-highly touted out of high school...does anyone consider Powlus a legend? How about a great? No, I think is the answer to both...so ESPN, ABC and others can stop making cross-sport comparisons to Tiger Woods & LeBron James (yes, they really did that during the telecast) and start looking at what's in front of them. Here it is: 17/32 (53%), 144 yards, 1 Int. & 0 TDs (A Brandon Hance-esque performance). Yep, Jimmy Woods-James-Clausen's offense has not scored yet (nor won)...it will eventually, and probably will be pretty prolific before he graduates or leaves UND. But, anything can happen and a great high school prospect does not a collegiate great make. I do believe he'll be pretty good, eventually...Another Ron Powlus (0 bowl wins, legendary coach run out of town)? Perhaps.
Notes

-The University of Michigan did the impossible Saturday as they resisted the urge to fire Lloyd Carr following their second home loss in the same amount of weeks. I still have no idea why he wasn't fired on the 2nd of September...I guess we can keep saying this each week. Not only do I think he should be fired, but I now think the AD should as well. UM alums have been asking for 2-Ls to be fired for too long to no avail. Rumor has it that Les Miles will take over for Carr following this season. Despite UM's complete lack of defense and poor offensive production, I still don't know if Purdue can beat them...They should, but will they? If Tiller's record v. UM is any indicator, the answer will be "no."

-Ty Willingham (one of Boiled Sports favorite coaches) led his Huskies to the convincing, upset defeat of Boise State. Nice job coach...We're cheering for you! Perhaps our Boilers will be seeing you in Pasadena in January??? (it's fun to dream)

-I've been looking for a good nickname of Notre Dame's coach for a long time. I think I've found it...Let me know your thoughts. He was hired and trained by none-other than Bill Parcells...(later, Bill Belicheck). I'm told that the moniker, "Big Tuna" is flattering...I don't know why, but it is. So, if he's Parcells disciple, his nickname should also be of the sea...and since he's much smarter than Parcells (a genius in his own right), I think he deserves a more-grand nickname. How about The Big Manatee?

Charlie Weis Clears Things Up

In case you didn't know, Notre Dame's latest golden boy, Jimmy Clausen, was charged with a misdemeanor in June when he was caught transporting alcohol in his car -- something illegal in Indiana if you're under 21.

The story goes that Clausen drove the car while a 23-year-old purchased the alcohol. And I'm sure -- I'm just certain -- that the 23-year-old wasn't buying it for Clausen to drink it. No way, right? Oh, you think that might be possible? Well, I call you a cynic then. Jimmy Clausen is pure as the driven, flamboyant snow.

Charlie Weis referred to it as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time." Sure, I can see that. I'm sure the 23-year-old forced Clausen, probably at gunpoint, to drive him to the liquor store and then back to wherever they were headed to (not) drink the alcohol in question.

Sorry, Charlie, but being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" is more like being in the liquor store when it's held up, or standing in the crosswalk when Tim is driving through town. It's not like intentionally driving somewhere to have a friend buy you booze. But okay, you go with that.

Some more Weis tidbits from the story:

Weis compared the incident to a hypothetical in which he purchased alcohol while one of his son's friends drove him to the store for it.

Well, that's not really the same thing, now is it, Charlie? Not the same as an underage college student driving another (slightly less) young person to a liquor store to purchase liquor. Come on.

"So I plead ignorance on that one. I would plead that I would not know the law on that one."

And as we all know, pleading ignorance is the best way to have all charges dropped against you in the state of Indiana. Why, I remember getting into a bar fight at Purdue and then telling the judge I really had no idea it was, quote, against the law, to smack someone in the face with a frosted beer mug. When he heard my ignorance, he dismissed my case.

"So was (Clausen) in the wrong place at the wrong time? Absolutely. But I think it's out of ignorance, and by ignorance I mean lack of knowledge. I don't think he was defiantly trying to get himself in trouble with the law."

Oh, you don't think so, Charlie? Gosh, are you sure? Because I know a lot of athletes do it on purpose. For example, a little-known fact about the Michael Vick dogfighting fiasco is that Vick himself called the authorities because he was, and I quote, "defiantly trying to get himself in trouble with the law." Frankly, Charlie, I think you're a putz. And by putz, I mean turd.

"You've just got to roll with the punches," Weis said. "The problem when you're the quarterback at Notre Dame, or the head coach at Notre Dame — when things go good, you get more credit than you deserve. When things go bad, you get more blame than you deserve. Like it or not, that's the way football is."

And when things go mediocre, you get to go to a BCS bowl and get curb-stomped by LSU.

Jimmy Claussen Can Sing, Too

As though you needed any more reasons to dislike Notre Dame, here's a particularly rousing rendition of them singing their own fight song... I think.



Is it me, or do they seem a bit... disinterested?

Jimmy Frickin' Claussen!

From what I've heard, Charlie Weis' jewel of the recruiting class of 2007 has not yet separated himself from the other QB's in the stable. No need to write too much on the topic...I just can't wait to see the bestest player to ever play the game, Jimmy Clausen, don the sacred gold-plated helmets of NBC, er UND. Enjoy my pictorial tribute to Notre Dame's most recent addition to the genius pool.

I am looking forward to September 29th already. (Please note, none of these photos have been changed...he really looks like this.)