California’s Jimmy Clausen, the nation’s No.1-rated high school quarterback who committed to Notre Dame, was watching a film compiled by QB guru Steve Clarkson when one player’s mannerisms beckoned from the screen.
The similarities were uncanny – the release, the ball held high next to the ear, even that cocky swagger of a walk. Jimmy Clausen was looking at Joe Namath but he might have been looking in a mirror.
“He just said, ‘I can see it,’ ” Clarkson said.
As Clausen prepares to take the reins in the 2007 season from Brady Quinn, he has to learn to think about every move he makes. When horsing around with teammate Marc Tyler several months ago, he broke a bone in his left hand when he punched a garage door.
“I called coach [Charlie] Weis right after it happened and the first thing he asked me was, ‘Which hand?’ ” Clausen said. “He wasn’t too mad but he told me to be careful.” Be careful, indeed. When comparisons are being drawn to Namath before you’ve thrown your first college pass, the pressure can break more than a hand.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
The quickest way for a new coach to transform his team from losers to winners is special teams. Notre Dame had two punts and one kickoff returned for touchdowns while scoring none on special teams in 2004 when it went 6-6. In last season’s 9-3 campaign, the Irish scored two touchdowns and gave up one on special teams.
“We looked at a program like Virginia Tech which was solid until Frank Beamer used special teams to take it to the next level,” said Irish special-teams coach Brian Polian.
Which brings us to LouisianaLafayette, where former Tech assistant coach Rickey Bustle is entering his fifth season. The Ragin’ Cajuns blocked seven kicks last season and went 6-5 after going 4-7 in 2004. Louisiana-Lafayette has 23 blocked kicks in four seasons.
FYI
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has a great way of ending two-a-days – the Scarlet Knights hold their last practice in the South Plainfield Municipal pool.
Joe Paterno had this piece of advice for Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, 31, who became the youngest coach in Division I-A after Randy Walker died of a heart condition. “Look in the mirror once a day and say, ‘I’m the boss.’ ” Oklahoma and Nebraska don’t play this season which is flat out wrong.
Lousiana State isn’t sold on QB JaMarcus Russell, even though he’s orchestrated six comeback wins in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The leading returning rusher in the state of Florida isn’t at Florida, Florida State or Miami. It’s Central Florida’s Kevin Smith, who ran for 1,178 yards as a freshman.
Auburn has won 16 of its last 17 league games so its opener against weak Pac-10 foe Washington State is an automatic W, right? Wrong.
Last year, Auburn “celebrated” its undefeated 2004 season by getting upset at home by Georgia Tech.
The Tigers opened the 2003 by losing at home to Southern Cal and an unknown QB at the time named Matt Leinart.
Paterno, 79, says he hasn’t retired because he doesn’t like golf and wouldn’t know what to do with himself after football.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, 76, summed it up a little more strongly at ACC media day:
“After you retire,” Bowden said, “there’s only one main event left.” Georgia’s starting QB is Joe Tereshinski III. If the name doesn’t sound as if it belongs to a QB, consider this: His grandfather and father were offensive linemen for the ‘Dawgs.
With David Cutcliffe back at Tennessee as the Vols’ offensive coordinator, look for QB Erik Ainge to have a breakout season.
Notre Dame hasn’t joined the Big Ten, but it will play four straight Big Ten teams – Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.
There are six new punters in the Pac-10 this season, which almost guarantees a couple of blocked attempts.
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THE POST’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Offense
POS. NAME COLLEGE
WR Calvin Johnson Georgia Tech
TE Greg Olsen Miami OT Justin Blalock Texas
OG Josh Beekman Boston College
C Dan Mozes West Virginia
OG Mike Jones Iowa
OT Sam Baker Southern Cal
WR Dwayne Jarrett Southern Cal
QB Brady Quinn Notre Dame
RB Adrian Peterson Oklahoma
RB Marshawn Lynch California
K Mason Crosby Colorado
KR Ted Ginn Jr. Ohio State
Defense
POS. NAME COLLEGE
DE Quentin Moses Georgia
DT Marcus Thomas Florida
DT Brandon Mebane California
DE Lawrence Jackson Southern Cal
OLB Paul Posluszny Penn State
ILB Brandon Siler Florida
ILB Patrick Willis Ole Miss
OLB Rufus Alexander Oklahoma
CB Daymeion Hughes California
SS Michael Griffin Texas
FS Brandon Meriweather Miami
CB Antoine Cason Arizona
P Daniel Sepulveda Baylor
ST Brian Toal Boston College
THE POST’S ALL-UNDERPUBLICIZED
TEAM Offense POS. NAME COLLEGE
WR Sidney Rice South Carolina
OT Doug Free Northern Illinois
OG Derrick Markay Bowling Green
C Samson Satele Hawaii
OG George Batiste Southern Miss
OT Herbert Taylor Texas Christian
TE Clark Harris Rutgers
WR Joel Filani Texas Tech
QB Colt Brennan Hawaii
RB Garrett Wolfe Northern Illinois
RB Rafael Little Kentucky
K Chris Manfredini Texas Christian
KR Quinton Jones Boise State
Defense
POS. NAME COLLEGE
DE Mkristo Bruce Washington State
DT Gilberto Perez Air Force
DT Howie Fuimaono UNLV
DE Daniel Bazuin Central Michigan
OLB Stephen Nicholas South Florida
ILB Rob Caldwell Navy
ILB Colt Brooks Boise State
OLB Jason Phillips Texas Christian
CB Marcus McCauley Fresno State
SS Eric Waddle Utah
FS Wesley Smith Memphis
CB Chaz Williams Louisiana-Monroe
P Chris Miller Ball State
ST Michael Adams Louisiana-Lafayette
THE AWARDS
Coach of the Year Bobby Bowden, Florida State
Offensive Player of the Year Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
Defensive Player of the Year Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Impact JuCo Transfer QB Brent Schaeffer, Ole Miss
Impact Freshman S Myron Rolle, Florida State
HEISMAN ODDS
Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame * 2-1 Being on TV every weekend can help and hurt.
Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State * 3-1 Mini Vince Young does it all.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma * 5-1 He is the Sooners’ offense.
Chris Leak, QB, Florida * 50-1 A breakout season in Urban Meyer’s O.
Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State * 100-1 An All-America LB at Linebacker U.
