Jimmy Clausen's Date with Destiny

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. That will define Jimmy Clausen's career. Will he be mentioned in the names of greats like Joe Montana, Paul Hornung, Tony Rice, and countless others? Or will he go down like Ron Paulus...the hyped recruit who turned out to be more style than substance?

For one day to mean so much is unfair to a man who's got much of his life left to come, but alas, these are the days and time that we live in. When you think about it, college football is pretty much boiled down to three questions...Did you beat the teams you were supposed to beat? Did you take a game away from a team that you shouldn't? And last but most important...when your name comes up, what can be said about you?

For the last, there is much to be said about Jimmy Clausen. He came in as one of if not the most highly touted freshman in the history of Notre Dame. Read that last sentence again, the greatest school in college football history and they wanted James Richard Clausen over everybody else. WOW. That praise is good enough to solidify most legacies, but for this kid...it was just the beginning.

Unfortunately Clausen's career hasn't gone the way it was supposed to. He led Notre Dame to the worst record of any quarterback ever in his first two seasons. While the record doesn't reflect the level of play that Clausen's contributed...the losses are put on the quarterback and the coach.

Clausen's legacy goes hand in hand with Charlie Weis. For the most part of the Weis era, Jimmy Cluasen has been the leader of the Notre Dame program. When Jimmy loses, Charlie is looked down upon. Charlie's losses are intertwined with the image and legacy of Jimmy Clausen. Both of those will be on the line Saturday afternoon in South Bend.

With the rest of the country watching, Jimmy Clausen has the chance to write his own story. There has never been a more perfect storm for a star to be born. They face off against a wounded Juggernaut. USC is not the same team that's been dominating the college football landscape for almost a decade.

Gone is the feared defense that would win games by just showing up. USC has only played one game against stiff competition (Ohio State) and looked anything but world beaters. Terrelle Pryor was able to make throws and hit targets and at points in the game had USC on their heels ready to break.

And for all the talent and athleticism that Pryor posses at this time in his life he is no Jimmy Clausen. Add to that a freshman quarterback who still hasn't been given the keys to the Trojan car and USC will not be looking for their offense to win the game...but Notre Dame will surely be looking for the offense to.

More than anything, USC brings respect. If Jimmy Clausen is able to knock down the Trojans this weekend, everything in his life will change. Take away a victory from the most dominant team this decade and everybody remembers you. To put it bluntly, his name is on the line.

Think of Roethlissberger...you immediately think of the drive against the Cardinals to win the Super Bowl. Think of Eli Manning...you immediately think of "That Miracle Catch."

Everything anybody has ever wanted from Jimmy is on the line...from the hype, to the talent can make for instant stardom and a Heisman Trophy. No seriously...Jimmy Clausen can win the Heisman Trophy in one night.

Nobody has really separated themselves in the pack this year. Jimmy Clausen is in the mix with a number of other prospects, but nobody has really separated themselves. With one good performance against USC, Jimmy can start picking out suits for the Nokia Theatre.

You don't think one game can win you a Heisman? Go ask Eddie George. The 1995 Buckeye took the Heisman from Tommy Frazier in one of the closest votes in the history of the award by rushing for 314 yards and three touchdowns against Penn State.

What carries the weight in this game is that nobody thinks Notre Dame has a snowball's chance in hell of going up against USC. Well not everybody, Beano Cook and Lou Holtz think Notre Dame will beat USC. And for once they are to be spot on.

Notre Dame matches up with Notre Dame better than they have in 10 years. They have the horses on offense to go at the "Vaunted" SC defense. I wish to God that Floyd was playing, but they still will have two of the better offensive talents in Clausen and Tate.

USC's offense matches up against Notre Dame because they play straight up and they don't look for the big plays with Barkley, and look to win games by putting up 20 points and smothering the other team's defense.

The key is that Notre Dame can put up 30 points on any team in the country. Clausen, right now, is playing the best ball of any QB...period.

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