Clausen comparisons, Lemming gets targeted, and training tables (LOTD 6/23)

I actually have quite a bit to write about today, which is nice (for the writer and reader). Let's get to it.

The guys at NDNation have a very encouraging comparison of Jimmy Clausen to most other quarterbacks in their sophomore years. The stats show Clausen outperforming nearly all of his counterparts in their second season, with the exception of Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. I documented Clausen's comparison to #1 draft choice Matthew Stafford last week, showing that Clausen's numbers were actually better dispite playing with less talent. NDN furthers the point, noting that the second quarterback drafted, Mark Sanchez, had terrible numbers his second year.

NDN notes that Vince Young competed 58% passes with 6 TDs and 7 INTs his sophomore season, while future Heisman winner Carson Palmer completed 55% of his passes and had a 16-18 TD-INT ratio. Another Heisman winner, Troy Smith, completed 54% of his passes with a 8-3 TD-INT ratio. Furthermore, Clausen has outperformed all of the top 15 QBs from his class to this point, and the numbers aren't even close.

This raises expectations, and rightfully so. Clausen hasn't been the savior everyone has expected, but he has been a very good college quarterback to this point, given his experience coupled with the lack of experience around him. I have been skeptical of the Cluasen to Quinn comparisons (predictions?) heading into 7's junior season, but I see no reason why Clausen can't come close to the number Quinn produced in his junior year.

Another story from the Nation hints at the implementation of training tables for ND athletes. ND has been hesitent to put training tables in up to this point, but AD Jack Swarbrick seems to be in favor of the move. There's little doubt that the missing link for Notre Dame, at this point, is strength and conditioning. The S+C program took some hits when it was revealed that there are voluntary speed workouts, along with rumors that some players are taking the S+C program lightly. Last year our players looked out of shape towards the end of the year, especially in comparison to USC. A commitment to S+C could do nothing but help, and is a main reason why there is a divide between ND and programs like Texas, SC, and Florida.

There's another story on the '09 schedule (Hooray!). Dr. Saturday's Matt Hinton takes the admirable (and correct) position that the ND schedule won't put them in the BCS, but it shouldn't keep them out of it either. Hinton points to ND losing 16 of 17 games to teams with winning records, with the only win coming in narrow fashion against Navy last year. There is a likelihood of 9 of the 12 teams on this year's schedule having winning records, so that trend has to change in a hurry. Hinton finishes by saying that a 10-2 season should result in a BCS game, especially when considering the cupcake infatuation that has gone on with most team's OOC scheduling.

Bruce Feldman has a story up on the WWL regarding the attack on recruiting services, and (not) surprisingly, Tom Lemming takes a hit. A quote from Myron Rolle during his recruitment:

"Tom Lemming is a huge Notre Dame guy. He kept saying to me, 'You know they have a great coaching staff. You know Charlie Weis is Mr. NFL. You're an academic guy. That place is for you.' Then he killed Florida State. He said, You're stupid if you go there.' Um, OK. Thanks."

These rumors have been going on for a while. Lorenzo Booker said many of the same things, so it's either coming from the FSU program, or there is actually smoke behind the fire. Luckily The Neck has seen his stock drop since ESPN dropped him, so one has to wonder just how much of an impact he has.

Recruiting news: DE TJ Clemmings has selected the Pitt Panthers over the Irish, Rutgers, Penn State, Maryland, and South Carolina. Another defensive line loss for Charlie Weis. Clemmings will now play for the Wanstache, most likely being a part of an underperforming team in a forgotten conference. So it works out for all in the end.

Some non-ND news: USC AD Mike Garrett is willing to put his hiring record up against anyone elses. That's interesting, especially when one considers that Garrett just saw the Tim Floyd regime go down in a ball of flames, with Floyd being run out after handing money to a handler. Pete Carroll is one of the winningest coaches in college football over the past decade, but Poodle Pete is feeling the hot flames of the NCAA's firey furnace. It appears that USC is the wild, wild west for coaches, where rules aren't all that important as long as you don't get caught. Furthermore... we'll, I'll just let the guys from Deadspin explain:

"To be sure that Garrett's record does 'hold up,' Adam Rose of the LA Times runs the down list of coaches who have turned down/been run out of town by the Garrett administration ... and it is very impressive! Dennis Erickson, Mike Riley, Mike Bellotti, Rick Majerus, Jamie Dixon, Jeff Van Gundy, Lon Kruger. Scratch that, Lon Kruger has never been impressive. But Garrett also has the distinction of firing one USC's greatest coaches (John Robinson) and replacing him with the worst (Paul Hackett.) Plus, he hired Chad Kreuter to coach their baseball team, which is sorta mindblowing, but not in the way you probably think."

So maybe Garrett means he will let anyone compare his hiring record to that of Kevin White's at ND. But to anyone in the country... well, I think not.

Finally, the Florida Gators are actually using the bulletin board for bulletin board material. It's not surprising that Kiffykins has a full slate before the season even starts, but apparently Mark Richt and the boys in black have made their fair share of contributions. The headline of "Beat." has me a bit confused. You would think that a coach as hip as Urbie would know that if something is "beat" it's not a good thing, so having a "beat" board is old news. Maybe "Beat..." would have been better, but that's just journalistic nitpicking, I guess.

That's all for today. It's a gorgeous day in Ithaca, so I'll be out for the rest of the day. Get you PeeYou preview somewhere else (or just wait a day or two... it will be up soon).