Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by Erin McLaughlin

Mr. Clausen, this is nothing personal. You did all you could and have played your heart out all year. You made some amazing throws in your three years. You and Golden Tate could make your own highlight reel with some of the plays the two of you made. I will never forget that long bomb in San Antonio against Washington State.

I will never forget your arrival. You showed up in that hummer and waved four fingers indicating four national championships. You were set to follow a very tough act in Brady Quinn. All the hype said that you would be even better than Quinn. I skeptically thought, “I sure hope so.”

Now here we are three years later and still no national championships. It isn’t all your fault. There were alot of factors involved. Certainly the offensive line has let you down in alot of ways. Your recievers have let you down lately with key fumbles.

Having said that, it has been three straight games in which you were unable to move the ball with the game on the line in the last minute. I know you are not the only one out there, but when you arrive the way you did and I hear how you are even better than Quinn, I expect you to come through in that situation.

It may not be fair, but NBC Sports’ Pat Haden said it best last Saturday when you took the field in the final minute of regulation. Haden said, “This is where Notre Dame legends are born.”

Sure it was Armando Allen who fumbled. However, you threw two incompletions on 1st and 2nd down. Allen fumbled as a result of trying stretch for the 1st down. Sure you did come back in overtime and hit Michael Floyd. Unfortunately, the defense couldn’t stop Connecticut.

While the defensive struggles are not your fault, they could have been avoided had you produced in the final minute of regulation. Like I mentioned earlier, this is three straight weeks you failed to produce in this situation.

I know the line has let you down, but a great quarterback escapes the rush and makes a play. When I am told you are better than Quinn, I expect you to do that. Quinn would have.

Now you do do some things better than Quinn ever did. Your accuracy on the deep ball is incredible. With good pass protection, you can display that skill. For that reason you may ultimately be better than Quinn at the NFL level.

However this isn’t the NFL, this is Notre Dame. At this level you don’t get as many great offensive linemen to protect you. Therefore you have to make a play after escaping the rush.

Before the season you said that Charlie Weis wouldn’t be fired because of you. The reality is that Weis will be fired. He should be. He said it himself. While other Notre Dame fans may not want to hold you accountable, I do. Your inability to move the ball late in games is a big reason why Weis is soon to be looking for a job.

Like I said this is nothing personal. I will root for you to succeed at the next level and I hope you are the next great quarterback (unless you get drafted by the Raiders). However, at this point I think it is best if you and Notre Dame part ways. I am ready to give the ball to Dayne Crist. Having you around will only slow his development.

Good Luck Jimmy and Thank you for all your contributions to Notre Dame.

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