Clausen QB, I'll take the TD

There is no doubt in my mind that, barring injury, Jimmy Clausen will remain as the starting QB for Notre Dame so far this season.

Let's think about this. This team has pulled almost a complete 180 from how they played 4 weeks ago. Jimmy had time to throw the ball against Purdue and show an absolute cannon of an arm and a confidence to throw the different passes down the field. This was finally a game that we could see him make some freshman mistakes (the throw back across his body that resulted in an INT). But you know what, it's ok, he was checking down receivers, fled the pocket and was trying to make something happen. It wasn't like he didn't have time to throw and just threw a junk ball. I'll take that kind of INT.

Now, this has to be told, regardless of how excited I was about scoring more TD's this past weekend, they almost should not have happened. I mean look at the 4th down catch by Carlson in the endzone. I know, I know, he's an all-american caliber TE and has better than excellent hands, but come on. We all said the same thing when they lined up with 7 TEs and then Jimmy tossed a ball towards 4 defenders and Carlson. But the points went on the board. I can accept that. But my god did it have to be that freekin' close of a pass!!!???!!! And the other pass to Tate (Trust the Midas Touch) on the other 4th down (I'm sorry, this might not have been 4th down but I was knee deep in the keg I was drinking from by then) was another pass that made me grasp when the ball was released. "No, No, No, we don't need that many yaar. . . .wooooohoooo yeeeeeeaaaaahhh. . great catch!!" was the reacting in the room full of fans I was watching with.

Like I said, this is what I wanted to see, the excitement of a comeback. We just need to figure out now how to put a whole game together and implement both a running game and passing game. I know that that's the goal every week, but it seemed to be heavily directed towards the passing game this week because we got down early. I definitely don't want to be UCLA this weekend and playing this team that is just dying for an offensive/defenseive explosion!

Oh, and just because it wasn't on the kick-offs, Golden Tate was the difference maker.