Jimmy Clausen thinks about the NFL draft when he needs motivation.

Its not the draft this April the Notre Dame quarterback thinks about, though, or the 2011 draft following what would be his senior season. Its the 2004 draft.

Thats when he sat with his oldest brother, Casey, in their Westlake Village, Calif., home and watched for hours as the names of 17 quarterbacks were called by NFL teams. Casey was never picked even though he ranks only behind Peyton Manning on Tennessees passing list. The family was numb afterward.

I looked at him and told him, Dont let this happen to you, Casey recalled.

Its a moment Jimmy Clausen recalls often.

Thats something Ill never forget until the day I die. When I work out in the offseason, each and every day I think about that, he said. When were running gassers, and Im so tired I just want to lay down and grab some water, I think about that and run an extra one, run two extra. When Im in the weight room, I think about that all the time.

I dont want that to happen to me.

Until Notre Dames 23-21 loss to Navy last Saturday, the hottest topic around South Bend wasnt whether coach Charlie Weis would be back next year but whether Clausen would. The 22-year-old junior who expects to complete his sociology degree in May is being projected by many as a first-round pick.

Clausen, though, said he hasnt thought much about whether he will leave Notre Dame early, saying he knows that sounds hard to believe.

Im just worried about the next day, the next game, he said.

Weis said hes not thinking about it either. He plans to check with his NFL sources to determine where Clausen will likely be taken, then talk with Clausen and his family in December.

It isnt like I have any idea of whats on his mind. He has no idea whats on my mind, Weis said. Well talk.

Clausen said watching his backup, Dayne Crist, sustain a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago on a play where he was barely touched or Oklahomas Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford sustain a season-ending shoulder injury after opting not to enter the draft wont influence his decision.

You cant be worried about things down the road, things in the past, he said.

Some might view the statement by Casey as placing a heavy burden on his little brother. Clausen doesnt feel that way.

To be honest, I have fun with it. People always say theres a lot of pressure on me, but I dont think Id want it any other way. I dont know any other way, he said.

He said hes focused this week on No. 8 Pittsburgh (8-1), which provides Clausen a chance to post the biggest victory of his career.

So far, Weis describes Clausens defining moment as this seasons 24-21 victory over Purdue.

Clausen had to leave that game because he was hobbled by turf toe, but returned with the game on the line. On Notre Dames final drive, he completed 6 of 9 passes for 69 yards, capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph with 24.8 seconds to play.

Until that game, the only question marks you could have with this kid were: Could he run that 2-minute drive at the end of the game to win? And did he have that all-day toughness that most of the great ones have? Weis said. In that game against Purdue, those two things both matriculated. I think he showed toughness and showed that he could have that great drive to win a game at the end of the game.

Great drives to win the game against a Purdue team that now has a 4-6 record is not what legends are made of at Notre Dame. But a win this week against Pittsburgh might help, especially because the Irish have lost seven straight to Top 10 teams.

Weis believes Clausen always gives the Irish a chance.

The best thing you know is when you have a quarterback like Jimmy Clausen, there isnt a game you go into that you arent expecting to win. When you have a quarterback like this, you say: Well, how is the game going to go? I say, Is Clausen going to be the quarterback? And he wants that burden.

Posted on November 13th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football