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what a player this youngster turns out to be. even though the irish lost and their offense looked worst than any could expect, this young man will lead the irish to victory, there is no doubt about that. and to all of you nay sayers watch the game don't just watch Mark May tear the offense up (punk). Claussen showed more poise and leadership in his first game than i've seen outta any true freshmen qb in cfb history!

WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! Sorry, just wanted to get that in. He's like David Carr, can't get away from a sack.

The QB may be OK, but what's up with the running game? GOOT LAWD! Minus eight yards rushing? That's getting it done.

He was poised and fine but Irish need to resurrect running game to beat Michigan......

He is much more mobile than I had expected. He also should have had a TD pass in that game if that receiver wasn't such a butterfingers. Clausen gift wrapped that TD to him and he blew it. I'm not talking about the one that was picked off, but the one in the back of the end zone. ND needs to get him some receivers for next year.

Considering this guy was a freshman, he did excellent. Had the rest of ND's players played as well as Clausen, they might have won. At least it would have been competitive. A qb can't do much when he has to wear track shoes the entire game. I'm glad Penn State won, but I think the irish have a keeper in Clausen.

He was poised and fine but Irish need to resurrect running game to beat Michigan......

djroxalot | 09/09/07

You can't have an effective running game if the blocking is "sub-par" to say the least...the kid did a pretty good job out there, but this freakin O-line is gonna get this kid killed...he has so much promise...

his pic is a little funny

CW-Yeah. He looks like a pissed off little kid.

He was very good. He started his first game on the road against a very good defense with 107,000 fans behind them. The short passes worked well for a while. Also, the running numbers are deceiving. Sacks count as rushing yards. The running backs, especially Armando Allen, are very good. The offensive line is abysmal. Paul Duncan, number 74, had his number called about every other play for a penalty. Travis Thomas, number 26, is an absolute idiot. He is an embarrassment to this team. His attack on that Penn State player was horrendous. Thomas is our captain, but I think that Charlie should revoke that honor.

Mark May is the biggest idiot on the face of the earth. He doesn't watch the games. He just looks at the stats and goes from there. This game easily could have been 31-21 if Zibby would have scored, and if Parris didn't drop the touchdown pass. The Irish will win 6 or 7 games this season. There's no question in my mind.

The announcers for this game were terrible. They kept on talking about frikin' sticky buns instead of the game. "Clausen takes the snap. Drops back. And he...completes the pass to Duval Kamara! That's five straight completions!" Other guy: "Give this man a sticky bun!" These guys were too busy making love to sticky buns to actually talk about this game.

IrishR#1

I am a ND fan because of my kid, but you my friend have what is called blind loyalty....I am a realist and did strap on a helmet once in my life...but Stevie Wonder can see how that O-line will make for an extremely long season...tough games this early can break the spirit if young players on the O-line....hurts me to say that but I PRAY that they win 6 or 7 games....keep ya head up champ!!

weis needs too re-vamp that "O" line quickly.they couldnt stop a ****-wee league team if they needed too..clausen did ok.he does have a arm.just needs time too use it and as a few readers said rec that can catch it...ateam begins with that "O" line.even if you had Tom Brady back there you would see same results.sacks and sacks....what seems too be the problem is the Line doesnt care too want too work as a TEAM..the defense is far better than last yrs....CBrown has done wonders..but what I dont understand is all these critics who right away jump down on ND..LOOK at who Penn state/Usc and others played for there 1st game TEAMS that arnt even rated or will ever be rated..sure they get big scores and right away there fans are jumping with joy saying watch what they'll do too ND...Yet these same fans who knock ND come next yr when weis program is in full swing I'll bet You'll never hear good words from these critics.they'll have a excuse like will there team is in 'rebuilding"..Yet they'll never admit that having ND on there schedule ups there schools tv revenue.Nd is about education 1st!!!!!! sports 2nd...USC is sports 1st education in basket weaving is best class all there players take and pass...

Cheezhead!! you allready have 2 problems.one ur a mets fan and other U knock a team like too read ur comments when Penn State returns too ND.I'll bet score will be far different.and then like with ur mets you can go find a dark corner too hide in and hope you can see a few rays of hope,,,If ND "O" line was up too there potential score might have been alot different Penn State didnt blow out ND like your tean did in 1st game..But I like too see PennState or USC open a season againts TOP RATED teams.not those hillbilly schools u all seem too find too pad your football program...ND will rise from this thats a given..with the kids coming in too play and the coaching staff thats Now in place ND will once again get those kids that others missed out on...Clasusen is real.and with His 2 brothers working with him he can only get better.they (brothers) did quite well at tenn...so in closing GO RED SOX Go New England patriots go ND

Chad Henne had a 10X better freshman year then this kid...too bad Henne isn't much now.

Please let this mean that Manningham doesn't decide to enter the draft this year.

It's hard to say that Henne had a better freshman year than Clausen when Clausens played ONE game. Clausen will have a very good year. I'm really liking his potential.

Side note: Is it me, or is it difficult to take someone seriously on a topic when their grammar and spelling are blatantly incorrect?

The announcers were doing the same thing at this game that they did last Saturday night.

I agree that Clausen showed more poise than I expected--at least in the first half--but I disagree with him showing strong leadership. I feel that he's too green for the O to completely trust him--which is why, overall, the Irish offense looked subpar. Our continued defensive attacks didn't help either.

Next week could go either way--ND's problem is its offense, and Michigan's is its defense, so we'll see where that gets those teams.

Clausen did a fine job showing some poise and it is a good experience for Clausen. The problem really is the offensive linemen and they need to come together. Without the offensive linemen the running game and passing game would have problems. However, the good side to these two past games are gaining experience for the freshmen on the field. Which would help for the 2008 season and this season would depend on how the offense would gel together and especially the offensive line. The defense is fine and the defense must have some rest in order for them to play well. In addition, the defense is gaining so much experience which would benefit in the future games. Michigan says they will win next week and we shall see in game day. Goo Notre Dame!!!

I was there in that sea of white and believe me it was intimidating. Clausen had some ups and some downs and he came out of it in one piece. Charlie needs to get some consistency in the offensive line play to create some running ability and to give Jimmy an opportunity to get the ball down field. I truly believe if he had some time he could have struck for a couple of big plays. Give the kid time I think he will turn out to be something special. If you all remember Brady had a tough go of it when he first broke in against Purdue.

clausen played as expected, but he does need help from the inexperienced o-line.
several years back, i remember a skinny kid by the name of brady quinn making his debut.

give clausen some time, and he will find his way.