Happy Valley awaits Clausen

Despite the lack of information leaking out of Notre Dame camp since Jimmy Clausen's arrival in January, we do know this about the feted freshman.

He likes grand entrances and big stages.

Last April, the 6-3 rifle-armed Californian pulled up to the College Football Hall of Fame in a stretch Hummer limousine. With a large crowd assembled for the arrival of Notre Dame's Caesar, Clausen arrived fashionably late, climbed up to the podium and confirmed he would play football for the Fighting Irish.

It was bigger than a recruiting announcement. It was an event.

That tag applies to today's game at 14th-ranked Penn State as the 19-year-old Clausen makes his first start at quarterback for Notre Dame (5 p.m., ESPN). His audience won't be as welcoming - Penn State fans have been camping in "Paternoville" since Tuesday - but the spotlight remains bright on the messianic freshman.

While there's a risk to starting Clausen so early in a season - before any freshman quarterback in ND history - and in such a hostile environment, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is convinced Clausen can handle it.

"I would be more concerned if his first reps were in front of 107,000 in Happy Valley," Weis said, "but I think we got that out of the way in the fourth quarter last week."

It remains to be seen whether two offensive series in mop-up time against Georgia Tech prepared Clausen for tonight. He faces a Penn State defense that has shut out three of its last six opponents, boasts a star linebacker in Dan Connor, and one of the nation's top cover corners in Justin King.

A daunting task? No doubt. But the pressure isn't solely on Clausen's shoulders.

Notre Dame's offense couldn't perform much worse than it did last week, so the bar is low for Clausen. The bigger burden rests on the offensive line, the running backs and the playcaller.

Georgia Tech defenders zipped across the line of scrimmage like I-Pass holders in the open-road toll lane, collecting 9 sacks Saturday.

"You can't be afraid out there," center John Sullivan said. "You have to play fast with your body, you have to play fast with your mind and your eyes, see things that are going on around you and adjust accordingly."

Notre Dame senior running back Travis Thomas lost yards on 5 of his 7 carries against Georgia Tech. With sophomore James Aldridge closing in and speedy freshman Armando Allen lurking, Thomas needs a much stronger showing against his home-state school.

The focus also will be on Weis, who will have a more conventional offense tonight after his spread-option experiment imploded last week.

"I always put the quarterback in a position to do things they can do the best," Weis said.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno didn't hold back when assessing his team's play in a 24-point loss last year at Notre Dame, saying, "We stunk out the place." Quarterback Anthony Morelli had an interception and a lost fumble in that game, but he made strides the rest of the season.

Last Saturday the senior QB set a school record for first-half passing with 231 yards. He has capable targets in Jordan Norwood, Derrick Williams and Deon Butler, who will provide a significant test for ND's secondary.

"Morelli is a much better quarterback than he was a year ago," Paterno said. "The wide-outs, the people who you would hope would make some plays, are further along. So we're in a little better shape."

Notre Dame clearly isn't and enters the game as a 17-point underdog. But an encouraging performance from Clausen could revive hope.

"Us against the world," Sullivan said of the team's mentality. "We are going to be the only ones in our corner."

Notre Dame (0-1)

at Penn State (1-0)

When: 5 p.m. at Beaver Stadium

TV: ESPN

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Series: ND leads 9-8-1

Coaches: Charlie Weis (19-7, third year at Notre Dame and overall); Joe Paterno (364-121-3, 42nd year at Penn State and overall).

Players to watch: Some guy named Clausen for Notre Dame will need help from running back Travis Thomas, a Pennsylvania native who gained 43 yards on a fake punt last year against PSU.

Nittany Lions junior linebacker Sean Lee earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying 7 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble last week against Florida International.

The skinny: The Jimmy Clausen era begins in Happy Valley as the heralded Notre Dame freshman faces 108,000 haters in the stands and 11 salivating Nittany Lions defenders on the field. Clausen will run a more conventional offense, one that should produce a better effort from the Irish offensive line. Expect to see more of speedy Notre Dame freshman running back Armando Allen, who had 110 all-purpose yards in his collegiate debut last week. The Irish have not won at Beaver Stadium since 1989