Clausen maturing quickly for Irish

by Pete Byrne (pmbyrne@wsbt.com)

Tools

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

By WSBT Sports

Story Created: Oct 7, 2008 at 6:02 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 8, 2008 at 4:32 PM EST

NOTRE DAME -- Five weeks into the football season, Jimmy Clausen is beginning to fulfill his potential.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

He's thrown twelve touchdown passes, and only six interceptions. And no interceptions the past two games, both Notre Dame wins.

It appears the baptism by fire he experienced as a freshman is now paying off for the Irish!

"There's not a chance in the world we would be 4-1 right now if he hadn't played last year," Charlie Weis said Tuesday.

Ironically, for all the playing time Clausen did get as a freshman, it was the time he spent not playing that's been the most critical. For two games last season, Charlie Weis sat him down, and told him to just watch. Ever since coming back, he's been a better payer.

"The light switch came on for him when sat those couple of games last year, to tell you the truth," Weis said.

"You get a chance to sit back a couple of games and watch the stuff, and you get to see things that maybe you didn't see when you're under center. I really think that's where it started. I think the couple games he sat out last year, and came back. That was the beginning of the maturation process."

Now, because of all this, Charlie Weis no longer has a young quarterback. He's got a veteran ... who just happens to be a sophomore!

"Last year he was just a freshman quarterback who happened to be in the huddle. Now, every day, in every practice, he's become more and more of a leader. Tough. Trying to do the right things. Getting annoyed when he does something wrong. That's a good sign."

For the 4-1 Fighting Irish, it's a very good sign.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

Current Temp 46.8

More Weather

WSBT Weather

More Weather

On Demand

iPhone
Get the WSBT News and Irish Sports Report apps for your iPhone! Read more »
On DVD
Order a DVD of a WSBT news story! Read more »
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter! Read more »
Facebook
Connect with us on Facebook! Read more »
WSBT E-News
Daily StormTracker e-mails right to your Inbox! Read more »
Video On Demand
Miss a story on WSBT News? Watch it here! Read more »
CBS Shows
Watch CBS shows and news online, free! Read more »
WSBT Alert
Breaking News & Weather right to your cell phone! Read more »
Mobile
WSBT News on the go for your cell phone or PDA. Read more »
RSS Feeds
Get news and updates as soon as they're published. Read more »

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.