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

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.