2008 Woodie Awards
Football: Status unknown
Weis said Clausen will start at UCLA if ready
Chris Khorey
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Sports
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Freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen will start Saturday against UCLA if he is healthy enough, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis said in his press conference Tuesday.
Clausen was in full pads for Tuesday's practice and is cleared to play. But whether he will be recovered enough from the undisclosed injury he suffered against Purdue to take the field ahead of junior Evan Sharpley is up in the air.
"I'm not 100 percent sure what Jimmy's going to look like," Weis said. "I'm going to have to see on the field [at practice] how it goes."
Clausen played most of the first three quarters against the Boilermakers Saturday, completing 18-of-26 passes for 169 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He was spelled by Sharpley after taking a big hit during the third quarter. Sharpley came in and completed 16-of-26 throws for 208 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in slightly more than a quarter of action.
"Last week, both quarterbacks did a lot of good things, but neither was perfect," Weis said.
When Sharpley entered the game, the Irish trailed 26-6, but two touchdown passes by the junior brought the score to 26-19 before a game-clinching touchdown by Purdue.
Weis said that while Clausen is still going to be the starter if he's healthy enough, Notre Dame is fortunate to have two quarterbacks with game experience.
"They both have done a very good job progressing and running the team," he said.
Combined, Sharpley and Clausen threw for 377 yards against the Boilermakers, over 200 more yards than the Irish had passed for in any other game this year.
Weis said the improvement was partially because he made the quarterbacks practice without play calling wristbands all last week.
"Last week was a turning point with both of them going from calling plays to running plays," Weis said. "They did a lot better job of running the offense in practice."
Weis said without the wristbands, Sharpley and Clausen had to focus on the play being called.
Clausen was in full pads for Tuesday's practice and is cleared to play. But whether he will be recovered enough from the undisclosed injury he suffered against Purdue to take the field ahead of junior Evan Sharpley is up in the air.
"I'm not 100 percent sure what Jimmy's going to look like," Weis said. "I'm going to have to see on the field [at practice] how it goes."
Clausen played most of the first three quarters against the Boilermakers Saturday, completing 18-of-26 passes for 169 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He was spelled by Sharpley after taking a big hit during the third quarter. Sharpley came in and completed 16-of-26 throws for 208 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in slightly more than a quarter of action.
"Last week, both quarterbacks did a lot of good things, but neither was perfect," Weis said.
When Sharpley entered the game, the Irish trailed 26-6, but two touchdown passes by the junior brought the score to 26-19 before a game-clinching touchdown by Purdue.
Weis said that while Clausen is still going to be the starter if he's healthy enough, Notre Dame is fortunate to have two quarterbacks with game experience.
"They both have done a very good job progressing and running the team," he said.
Combined, Sharpley and Clausen threw for 377 yards against the Boilermakers, over 200 more yards than the Irish had passed for in any other game this year.
Weis said the improvement was partially because he made the quarterbacks practice without play calling wristbands all last week.
"Last week was a turning point with both of them going from calling plays to running plays," Weis said. "They did a lot better job of running the offense in practice."
Weis said without the wristbands, Sharpley and Clausen had to focus on the play being called.