Weis' tough practices will continue for Irish
Charlie Weis made it clear after Saturday's game that losing still doesn't sit well with him.
"You all have been around those type of guys where losing is OK," the third-year Notre Dame coach said. "I'm not one of those guys. I've never been a finger-pointer, either. So there's a fine line between how you deal with things."
Weis will straddle that line again this week as Notre Dame continues full-pads, full-speed "training camp" practices in preparation for its upcoming game at Purdue.
Topping Weis' seemingly endless to-do list is the development of quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who regressed the last two games after an encouraging debut.
The Irish defense also must find ways to get off the field after Michigan State converted 8 of 17 third and fourth downs. But Notre Dame's chief concern is maintaining confidence after an 0-4 start and a bleak upcoming schedule featuring Purdue, UCLA, Boston College and USC.
"It's a really important part of my job is to see if guys you think are going to throw in the towel," Weis said Sunday. "As I said to them in the locker room, 'Fellas, you're either all in or all out. It's either one or the other.'
"The majority of people are all in."
Puzzling percentage: First, the good news.
Opposing quarterbacks are completing only 48.8 percent of their passes against Notre Dame this season, with Penn State's Anthony Morelli the lone signalcaller who connected on more than 50 percent of his attempts (12-for-22). Not surprisingly, the Irish rank fourth nationally in passing yards allowed (119.3).
Michigan State's Brian Hoyer went 11-for-24 Saturday, but 4 of his completions went for touchdowns.
"That's because they are running the ball so effectively that the play-action pass ends up being almost a slam dunk," Charlie Weis said.
Notre Dame's offensive woes haven't exactly helped the defense. Of the 133 points the Irish have allowed, 60 have come on drives spanning 45 yards or less.
Cats ailing: Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton missed his second consecutive game with a right ankle injury after not responding well in pregame warmups. Senior linebacker Eddie Simpson (leg) also missed the Ohio State game, and NU lost cornerback/kick returner Sherrick McManis to a head injury.
Inches to go: Notre Dame freshman linebacker Kerry Neal recorded his first career sack in the second quarter. … The 99-yard kickoff return by Northwestern's Stephen Simmons at Ohio State marked the team's first since Jeff Backes had a 97-yarder against Minnesota on Sept. 25, 2004. … Northwestern has lost its last three meetings with Ohio State by an average of 45.3 points.