When Notre Dame visits Penn State for Saturday's highly anticipated game, the Irish will throw a freshman quarterback into what will likely be a frenzied Beaver Stadium crowd.
Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis announced yesterday afternoon that Jimmy Clausen, a 19-year-old true freshman, will make his first collegiate start against the No. 14 Nittany Lions.
"I think he's ready to run an offense," Weis said during his weekly press conference in South Bend, Ind. "If I didn't think he was ready, I wouldn't do this."
Clausen, rated by some as the nation's top high school recruit last year, entered Notre Dame's season-opener against Georgia Tech as the third-string quarterback following offseason arm surgery. He had a bone spur removed from his throwing arm this past spring, which limited his practice ability in preseason summer workouts.
Had Clausen not been injured, Weis said he would have probably opened the season as the starter.
"At the end of the spring, he was the leader of the competition," Weis said. "But he wasn't ready to do everything on a daily basis until Sept. 1. So we got kind of in that gray area where we really couldn't consider him as the starter for the opening game."
The Irish used three quarterbacks in their 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech, the most lopsided season-opening defeat in Notre Dame history.
Demetrius Jones, a sophomore, started the game, and Evan Sharpley, a junior, came in for relief before Clausen entered for Notre Dame's final two series. Clausen finished 4 of 6 passing for 34 yards.
The three quarterbacks were constantly pressured and sacked a combined nine times. The Irish passed or 130 yards as they failed to score a touchdown in a season-opener for the first time since 1985.
"I wanted to vomit," Weis said, recalling how he felt when reviewing the tape from the loss.
"If you're asking me what was going through my mind, the bathroom was close by."
Weis informed the three quarterbacks about his decision to start Clausen on Monday night, before telling team captains, players and addressing the media yesterday.
"I think he gives us the best chance of winning," Weis said.
Yet Clausen faces a tough task, starting his first college game in an atmosphere that Penn State players expect to be comparable to 2005's home night game against Ohio State. During that game, players and coaches said they could barely hear the person standing next to them on the field because of the crowd noise.
"I could think of easier venues to go to than this one," Weis said.
But even if Clausen falters, he will likely be the Irish starter beyond this week.
Weis wouldn't even name a No. 2 quarterback, saying Notre Dame's backups "won't get a lot of work" with the first team in practices.
