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Clausen, Tate skipping final Notre Dame seasons

| 10 Comments | UPDATED STORY
By Brian Hamilton

The two premier performers in an otherwise dreary year for Notre Dame won't be back for an encore.

At a news conference today in South Bend, Ind., quarterback Jimmy Clausen and receiver Golden Tate announced their intentions to enter the NFL draft and forgo their senior seasons with the Irish.
ESPN first reported Clausen's intentions this morning, but the both players' decisions have long been expected and will come as zero surprise. Clausen threw for 3,722 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2009, is almost dead-certain to be chosen in the first round in April and was not going to play for another Irish coach other than Charlie Weis.

Tate, meanwhile, may never see his NFL stock go higher after he set new single-season standards at Notre Dame with 93 catches and 1,496 yards receiving. Tate also added 18 total touchdowns for the Irish in 2009, and only 13 players nationally accounted for more than Tate's 108 points scored this season.

Both players met with Weis late last week to discuss their future prospects.

10 Comments

May I congratulate you on this intelligent work.You have won me over and gained a new subscriber. in comparison to many of the posts on the world wide web this is a joy to read, I am ecstatic that I discovered your work. I promise to be linking to this on all my blogs.

Denver2009--- Notre Dame's current AD is not the one who hired Weis. And Weis was planning on suggesting the move to the NFL for Clausen anyway. He's said all season he didn't look forward to that talk. He also said he hopes the next coach has more success than him and he will still come to games and cheer them on. He also spent his own money and time AFTER being fired to talk to recruits and assure them that they needed to stay at ND and that regardless of the coaching situation, they'd made the correct decision. Know more before being critical.

Weis is acting out like a kid and a sore loser taking as many pot shots at others as he can. Unlike Coach Willingham who left talent at ND (which helped Weiss have his only winning season) Weis is openly encouraging to leave for the NFL or for other schools. All this points to Weis's poor character and mean spirited person that he really is. ND's AD shld also be on the hot seat for hiring such a nincompoop in the first place.

Any truth to the Armando Allen punching Jimmy Clausen rumors???

So Jimmy is leaving so he can be a 5th round draft pick, rather than sticking around for a new coach who may improve his status?
That sounds like he is getting some good advice.

Tate would be welcomed by virtually every NFL team. He's clutch and classy at the same time. He's a step or two ahead of any receivers coming out this year (2010)and will make a ton of bucks and worth every cent.The Bears amy certainly be in the running if they win only one more game this season which is not too far fetched. They stink and will be helped by Golden Tate. GO BEARS.

Maybe the Cubs can draft Tate and make him into a pitcher.

No , next year the blogs will be talking about how the new coach won with Weiss's players. It never ends. Hopefully we bring in a defensive minded smash mouth type of coach.

when you throw the ball all the time it evens out the game . i say use your size advantage over a lot of these schools and smash the ball down their throats...remember 88-93. Notre dame start taking a dive when the coaches following Lou tried to turn us into a throwing first offense. If i remember correctly Davie and Ty only started to win , when they went back to run first mentality. If charlie would of had half the defense he had we would be in the championship running every year.

Wake up the echoes!!!!!!

wow - real breaking news (NOT) - now let's get a freakin' coach that can get the program going again

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