You lose credibility when stuff like this finally comes out.
We all knew something was up ages ago.
Is this why JC did not have any break-out drives at the BG game? (To start another rumor)
My $$ is still on Demetrius Jones to start against the Dawgs.
Go IRISH, even in those unlucky Green Jerseys against the Trojans.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 4:38 pm | #

I'll be very surprised if anyone but Clausen starts in the opener (barring some complications from this surgery, of course--and wouldn't THAT set off the Powlus comparisons).

It seems more and more clear to me that Weis is doing everything he can to tone down the expectations surrounding Clausen.

If you ask me, they've done a very good job.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 4:45 pm | #

So, when did the "medical procedure" take place? If he's really 100% by opening day, then I also think he'll start against the Jackets (I assume you also meant Jackets, Subway).
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 5:12 pm | #

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!!
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 5:49 pm | #

I heard they removed his elbow.

I'm pleased that this blog was above some sort of "the Blue-Gray Sky is falling" post about how the season is now ruined. Seriously, this attention to JC's medical condition (from other media outlets) is rediculous. How quickly we forget that the last time a highly-touted frosh QB got hurt in fall practice, ND ended up :47 away from the MNC. Damn Jesuits.

Perhaps ND fans could be little more concerned about our offensive line being able to block a D-line made of my grandparents (who are all dead by the way) and whether we have shut down the interstate highways that are our cornerbacks.
IndyTom | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 5:50 pm | #

Gabe - I get those teams in Georgia mixed up all the time. Thank you.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 5:50 pm | #

This is nothing. If Jamarcus Russell had the same problem, he'd perform the surgery on himself with a rusty pocket knife and then just rinse it out with whiskey.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 5:54 pm | #

Did anyone catch the announcement that Yeatman was named the national lax rookie of the year?

It amazes me how much talent we have at TE when you include the current recruiting class. How athletic do you have to be to win rookie of the year at Yeatman's size (being somewhat familiar with the sport, I can't say I recall too many 6'6" attackmen) ? Seriously, that is amazing. I look for big things from him after Carlson goes in the first round next year.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 6:23 pm | #

Voice, Russell would simply *look* at his elbow, and it would fall off and then regrow of its own accord.

For the record, he can throw the ball 60 yards without an elbow. Or wrist.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 6:47 pm | #

It's good that he gets the bone spurs trimmed out now rather than later. I predict Sharpley starts and plays the first quarter against GT until CW gets a read on the defense. Then he will bring in Sir James to do his thing. If this strategy is not successful, CW will resort to DD playing the fourth quarter and he will drive the Yellow Jackets wild. Irish Win! Irish Win! They all can play - so let them. Give Michigan something to prepare for a 3 QB attack!
Doc Possum | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 7:16 pm | #

Subway Alum,
How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!
As someone who did his undergrad at Georgia Tech (grad at ND), I can't believe you would get GT and UGA mixed up. It's like saying the Army Midshipmen or the Auburn Crimson Tide or the Ohio State Wolverines. You should be whipped with a wet noodle.
bgregor4 | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 7:57 pm | #

Just a little background on the probably procedure he had for any of those who are wondering.

Bone spurs and loose bodies in the elbow can be caused by repetitive motion or high stress motion often associated with weight lifting or any over the head motion. What happens is that small pieces of bone in the elbow as well as cartilage may dislodge from the elbow and wind up residing in the actual joint (loose bodies). As you can imagine, this can be fairly painful. Elbow spurs are calcium growths of bone in and around the joint, but they are still attached. Either of these symptoms/causes seem to be in line with what we know about JC's injury.

The condition can be alleviated through an arthoscopic surgical procedure in which the loose bone and cartilage are removed, or the spur can be shaved down. It is a fairly short procedure, and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

The prognosis is a little bit better for the loose bodies, in which he should be back to full activity in 3-6 weeks, however it is usually twice as long if it is the bone spur condition. Regardless, its safe to say he won't be throwing much for the next month at least.

The best thing about this surgery is that it won't hurt as much when he throws. It could come back though in a few years though...
Keenan | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 9:33 pm | #

Don't you think it would be best that Clausen maybe sat out or red-shirt this year. Why not have Jones and Sharpley split time. Sure, it usually doesn't work (if you look at Tennessee), but if you give Clausen time to heal and take in some of the college atmoshpere.

We all know this kid has talent, but do we really want Clausen to be roughed up with an inexperienced line against Georgia Tech, @ Penn State, @ Michigan, MSU, @ Purdue @ UCLA, BC and USC to start out the season? Quinn didn't start immediatley and that seemed to work out. He's not going to take us to the National Championship immediatley so why not take it slow?
Kyle McMorrow | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 9:44 pm | #

Thundershaker, you beat me to the punch. Yeatman is a freak on the lacrosse field, and being 6'6" 260lb. definately helps. Many lacrosse analysts are announcing him as a tewaaraton trophy dark horse for next year (the equivalent of the heisman). And I really believe that by the time he graduates he will have a tewaaraton and Mackey award.
Champ | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 9:52 pm | #

you said tewarraton. Heh Heh.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:08 pm | #

Seriously though, If this trophy is significant, it might want to think about not hanging around the Heisman too much. Let's make good life choices, people.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:11 pm | #

Thank God he's alright. BTW Chad Henne will be making his 40th start on September 15.
Korea Blue | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:11 pm | #

He's right up there with the rocket, ain't he blue?
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:12 pm | #

We all are expecting great things from the future Argonaut.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:17 pm | #

oh god I started another flame war.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:18 pm | #

Yeah, faster than I could type "Argonaut".
Korea Blue | Email | Homepage | 06.13.07 - 11:20 pm | #

It will be Zibby's 39th start. Would have been his 40th if not for that one game he missed last year due to injury.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 9:47 am | #

Kyle,

I get the sense that Weis is not big on waiting for anything. If a guy's ready and he's the best avaialable, he plays. If we need him for another position, we move him. I think it's a smart and simple approach: field the best team you can at all times.

The waiting thing is dicey because you just don't know what happens over the course of a season. As someone alluded earlier in this string, who would have predicted K. McDougal's '93 season? (Remember Holtz, in his sand-bagging way, expressing doubts about McD's ability to lead ND to a first down, much less a NC?)

In case you care, waiting is a strategy employed by Willingham with their "can't-miss" QB, Locker.
He could have played the guy for two or three games last year after Stanbeck went down. But he chose to preserve a year of the guy's eligibility or something. As much as this might seem like the smart thing to do, it just smells bad to me to essentially say, "We'll get 'em next year."

Weis, for better or worse, is all about the moment. There are times where this can backfire on us--the 1Q fourth-down call against LSU comes to mind--but the man's sins will be of commission, not omission.

This is something I can live with.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 9:53 am | #

It is hard to understand why the surgery, which was apparently very recent, wasn't done sooner.

Does anyone know when it was done?
Bill | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 9:53 am | #

Clausen should only be redshirted under the grimmest of circumstances. The '08 QB verbal commit Crist is planning on redshirting in '08 thus creating a two year gap between himself and Jimmy. I don't want to see Crist's commitment jeopardized.

indy...you're en fuego! LMAO!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 10:14 am | #

The only thing that would concern me about the surgery is if he is unable to practice next fall. He is not (and was not) going to start in the first game. Maybe, if he is in fact good enough, he might start later in the year, but no coach puts a freshman in at QB unless he has no other choice.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 10:27 am | #

I'm sorry, but what about this didn't make it 24 hours?

Clausen did, in fact, have the surgery. And how long he's out, if at all, remains to be seen.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 10:53 am | #

This situation scares me. I have been trying to not think of any negative "bust" like thoughts, but an injury to the elbow scares the living daylights out of me. The fact that it was shrouded and covered up also is not something I like to think about
Gilligan28 | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 11:12 am | #

Ben - Re-read the first sentence. The rumor that he was going to miss all next season didn't make it 24 hours. It was posted on a blog and less than 24 hours later the ND Director of Football Media Relations allowed himself to be quoted (not anonymously sourced) as saying that Clausen will be ready to go on August 6th for the start of fall practice.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 11:29 am | #

I wonder if Zach Frazer is having second thoughts about transferring now?
Mike | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 11:43 am | #

Mike,

As far as I know, Zach Frazer has not transferred anywhere. For someone in his situation, a little looking can't hurt.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 11:56 am | #

We should have confidence in CW to make the decisions he believes are best for JC and Notre Dame Football. The goal he has, and that we all want to see happen, is to bring to ND mulitple national championships. Remember that CW initially visited with JC when he was a high school sophomore. He is the future under center.
Ted | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 12:10 pm | #

Weis' 3-way QB race announcement was enough for Frazer. Sounds like he wants to start (and I don't blame him) and 3rd string = playing time against Duke in the 4th quarter if he's lucky.
TJ | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 12:12 pm | #

Correction: multiple
Ted | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 12:12 pm | #

I still think if Frazer is as good as he was projected to be coming out of high school, he could very well get a shot at the job if Sharpley or Demetrius can't handle it and Clausen is hurt. I know that Clausen is the future, and with Crist coming in next year it will be a long shot unless somebody gets hurt, but with a relatively young o-line, Clausen could get hit by a mack truck d-lineman, and then we are stuck with a third-baseman moonlighting as a QB or a kid with great potential that has happy feet and crappy aim. Hopefully Zach is re-considering his thoughts about transferring and decides to stick it out. I have this gut feeling that he could surprise the crap out of a lot of people if given the chance.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 1:10 pm | #

Love your optimism, Mike, but apparently ZF didn't show CW enough of that potential to make CW choose him over mr. "happy feet and crappy arm." Sharpley is in the mix as a verteran to push the young guys, and Clausen is the golden boy, so between ZF and DD, one of them showed CW more than the other.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 1:47 pm | #

Haha, I meant your optimism in ZF, not in our O-line.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 1:48 pm | #

On a side note, SI.com is out with another ridiculous list. This time it's the top 10 unis in CFB (ND is #5). The shocking thing is Texas is #1- puuhlease...that burnt orange is hideous.

Oh the joys and boredom of the offseason
PM | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 2:06 pm | #

Oh it's great to be an ND fan (or hater). ND made both the ugliest AND best uniform lists? Gotta love the money machine.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 2:29 pm | #

I have always thought that UCLA's home uniforms are quite snazzy. Much like the old powder blue San Diego Chargers unis. I don't agree with Chris Berman too often, but he is correct that San Diego's original 1960's gettup is the sweetest ever in all of sports. Period.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 3:39 pm | #

PM, it's not the burnt orange, it's the long sleeve tights.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 8:26 pm | #

Pat,

Re-read my comment. I asked what didn't last 24 hours: (1) the surgery was confirmed and (2) how long he'll be out has yet to be determined -- despite a spokesperson's lukewarm reassurance of the variety we all know isn't worth the paper it's written on.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 8:39 pm | #

Hey, as far as Clausen's 'injury' take it from the orthopedic, Keenan, above.

I asked my wife about the bone spur surgery in her knee. She's an old gal and really gets around the yard.

She says it's a matter of a few weeks or a couple months at most.

So, forget this out for a season BS.
Judge60 | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 9:50 pm | #

Ben - I guess I just have a little more faith in Hardin to not lie given that he allowed himself to be quoted directly and have his credibility attached to that statement. Given that he is basically serving as a spokesman for Charlie Weis in this case, I guess you can say he's putting Weis's credibility on the line too. I just don't think they are lying here, and that's why I said that the rumor that Clausen was out for the year didn't make 24 hours before an official rebuttal from the football program.

If you don't believe them, then I guess all that's left for us to do is wait and see.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.14.07 - 11:45 pm | #

keenan,

is that you, bill?
yz | Email | Homepage | 06.15.07 - 11:23 am | #

Not necessarily lying, Pat. Moreso an assurance of something that cannot be known. Similar to the assurance Weis gave that Clausen was 100% back when spring practice started -- we pretty much know now that he wasn't.

I'm not trying to flame. I just thought it was a bit disingenous to post something that, again, reeks of media martyrdom when in fact the rumor, while admittedly a bit exaggerated, certainly wasn't completely off-base.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 06.15.07 - 11:27 am | #

Fair enough Ben, maybe I am being too dismissive of the story. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

And I didn't take any of your comments as a flame. Intelligent criticism is certainly welcome.

I will concede that the title of the post is a bit overstated, but it's also the name of a song by the band Elbow and I just wanted to see if anyone would pick up on that. I guess not. *sniff*

I do find it a bit curious that no one has raised the possibility that he injured his elbow during spring ball and that the surgery is unrelated to the previous bone spur issue. Odds are low that this is the case, but it's a possibility.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.15.07 - 2:04 pm | #

This topic isnt really even worth discussing. Either he's healthy or not, and we won't know until the fall.

Anyone read the Clayton's report on Brown's minicamp and Brady's subpar accuracy?? On espn.com.
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 06.15.07 - 4:00 pm | #

i am not bill, sorry. is there another keenan that posts here?
Keenan | Email | Homepage | 06.15.07 - 11:41 pm | #

Boy, the way poeple are talking CW better start Clausen or the lighting bolts may strike him. How can there be any ?s that Jimmy wont start, I mean come on, not let the second comming happen.
Lets get a grip poeple, walking into this season the QB spot is still up for grabs regardless what CW tells the press.
But then again, JC ...., could it be???????
irishmike | Email | Homepage | 06.16.07 - 10:05 am | #