Notre Dame Obsession Post: Watch Out, Irish--History Could Repeat Itself

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Unfortunately, this is not a story about Notre Dame charging off to another national title or Jimmy Clausen being yet another Irish Heisman Trophy winner.

It is instead a story pops up out of the South Bend Tribune itself, but it merely summarized by SI.com. Super Hyped Blue Chip Freshman Jimmy Clausen was nabbed by the long arm of the law grabbing some booze at a local liquor store with a 23 year Notre Dame alumnus. Clausen escaped with a slap on the wrist (which is very proportional to the crime) -- a small fine and probation.


So why the "History Repeating Itself" tagline? Well, Clausen was the top ranked high school QB in the nation last year. He made a big deal of signing with a resurgent traditional power in hopes of competing instantly. His bravado was that of message board pride/disdain depending upon loyalties. Does this sound familiar? OU Fans will warn the Irish this is true.....

Remember Rhett Bomar? The top rated high school quarterback in 2004 who signed with Oklahoma, had a few brushes with the law, never quite lived up to the incredible expectations--part because the bar was too high, partly because he brought the wrath of the NCAA on the Sooners and was asked to leave Norman. Perhaps this August '06 column by The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel will help. Seems like Bomar had wracked up two alcohol related offenses in his first 2 years on Campus before his cush summer job program pushed OU over the brink and Bomar out of the picture.

Clausen has 2 older brothers who have played at football mad locals--LSU and Tennessee and you would hope that Rick and Casey would take a moment and explain that he is now on a pedestal-- for both the positive and negative. While Irish fans hope that Jimmy doesn't become College Football's Lindsey Lohan--society isn't gonna make it any easier.