Irish rely on Aldridge's toughness

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- When Charlie Weis needed an attitude infusion for Notre Dame's ground game, he turned to James Aldridge.

Maybe Weis should rely on the sophomore tailback to revive the Irish passing attack too.

No, benching Jimmy Clausen didn't make Weis' to-do list this week, but Notre Dame's new leading rusher owns the credentials to line up under center. Considering the Irish offense has just 2 touchdowns to its name, both on the ground, Weis would seem open to advice.

If that's the case, he should call former Hazelwood Central coach Jim Pukala.

Before Aldridge moved to Crown Point, Ind., for his final two years of high school, he played for Pukala at the St. Louis powerhouse, learning on the practice fields and in his coach's living room.

The two lived five doors down from each other, Aldridge befriended Pukala's daughter, and the coach grew close with his running back's parents.

Of course the pair bonded, too, usually over game plans centered on the Hawk formation, named after the school's mascot.

In that set Aldridge lined up at quarterback, A.J. Jimmerson, now a running back at Michigan State, motioned into the slot and Nick Patterson, now a safety at Ohio State, split wide at receiver.

"Coach saw me in gym class playing sideline football and I was playing quarterback because I didn't want to do much," Aldridge laughed. "I didn't know how to play quarterback, I didn't know the reads, I was just having fun.

"I wanted to throw the ball but when you take a couple steps back and everybody drops, I'm like, 'Well, I've got to go!' Then I'd tuck it and take off."

Aldridge didn't throw many passes but went vertical enough to keep defenses guessing.

The Hawks finished as state runner-up.

"Teams didn't know what do until the play was over and it was usually touchdown," Jimmerson said. "Moose has got a nice arm."

That's Aldridge's high school nickname. After last week's 104-yard performance against Michigan State, it might make a comeback at Notre Dame.

He's not only the team's most accomplished back, but its most bruising too. Turns out that's exactly what the Irish needed to improve their woeful offense.

Before Aldridge grabbed the starting job from senior captain Travis Thomas, Notre Dame had totaled minus-14 yards rushing through three games. The Irish still rank last on the ground, but that won't last long if Aldridge continues to get carries.

Considering Weis wanted to give Aldridge more work than his 18 carries against the Spartans, odds are the sophomore's stature will increase Saturday at Purdue.

Aldridge's 171 yards this season surpass the remainder of Notre Dame's running backs combined. His 43-yard burst in his first start surpassed the career long of last year's feature back Darius Walker, who started 27 games for the Irish.

And there's no better candidate to carry out Weis' edict of physicality, a proclamation delivered by two weeks of full-contact practices.

The 6-foot, 222-pound Aldridge doesn't invite contact as much as he sends it an RSVP. As Michigan State found out, the sophomore is always available to lower a shoulder.

"I think it creates a nastiness," Aldridge said. "You're going to have a defense on its heels when they know you're going to come playing tough every down."