Young Irish think future
It has been a tough year for everyone involved with Notre Dame football. That much is beyond dispute. If it has been easier for members of the freshman class, it's because they are convinced that better days are ahead.
''We are going to get better,'' wide receiver Duval Kamara said. ''We have a lot of talent. We can all see that.''
Notre Dame freshmen are allowed to speak to the media only on predetermined days. Tuesday was one of those days.
Almost to a man they talked about the importance of building an identity and momentum during the final four games, not so much to save this season -- the 1-7 Irish are beyond saving -- but to use it as a springboard to next year.
''It's not the way everybody wanted it to be, but we have to move forward,'' quarterback Jimmy Clausen said. ''If we win our next four games, it will give us a boost going into next year and get our confidence to where it should be.''
Jimmy Clausen has not necessarily been Notre Dame's most improved or impressive freshman, but he has by far the highest profile after being one of the most coveted quarterback recruits in recent memory.
The Parade All-American said he is ''day-to-day'' while recovering from a hip injury and general soreness after being sacked 23 times in six starts before junior Evan Sharpley replaced him last week for a 38-0 loss to USC.
The Irish have a bye this week. Coach Charlie Weis said he expects Sharpley to make his second start Nov. 3 against Navy.
''The game experience is definitely going to help me mature, improve faster and slow things down for me,'' Jimmy Clausen said.
Most of Notre Dame's talent is condensed into freshman and sophomore classes that are making larger contributions each week. Weis said that trend will continue now that Notre Dame has been eliminated from bowl contention.
Armando Allen was the team's leading rusher against USC. Kamara was the top receiver. Jimmy Clausen has shown flashes of his ballyhooed potential and was behind center when the Irish benefitted from seven turnovers and beat UCLA 20-6 on Oct. 6.
Freshman linebackers Kerry Neal and Brian Smith quickly have become playmakers and could develop into a devastating tandem. Neal has 11 tackles; Smith has 10.
''I keep saying how the arrow is pointing up on [Neal and Smith],'' Weis said. ''It's not just because they get on the field and they make a few plays. It's because they play this game with passion, and any time you play the game with passion and have some athleticism, you have a chance to be something special. Both those guys have a chance to be.
''When it's all said and done, by the time they leave here, they'll be household names.''
Having so many emerging freshmen and sophomores represents the good news. The bad news is they haven't made a big enough impact to prevent Notre Dame from seven double-digit losses.
More help is on the way. Notre Dame reportedly has landed two more verbal commitments to a class that CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming already was calling tops in the nation.
Michael Floyd, a 6-3 wide receiver from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minn., and Jonas Gray, a 5-10, 213-pound running back from Detroit Country Day, are the most recent top recruits to chose the Irish, according to the South Bend Tribune and IrishIllustrated.com. Floyd has 35 catches for 717 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Gray originally had committed to Nebraska.
All but four of Notre Dame's 21 commitments have four- or five-star ratings from Rivals.com.
''It looks bright,'' Neal said when asked about Notre Dame's future. ''Just look at the guys we've got that are freshmen and sophomores. Look at the recruits we have coming in next year. That's a lot of talent.''
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