Sure, it's not USC, but Notre Dame will take the win

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Jimmy Clausen picked up right where he left off last season.

After having the expectations raised even higher by his near-perfect Hawaii Bowl performance to end last season, it would not have been a surprise to see Clausen fall on his face in the season opener against Nevada. After all, it's when expectations have been at their highest that Clausen has choked in the past.

But such was not the case this week, as the Fighting Irish took it to Nevada on both sides of the ball in convincing fashion, 35-0.

Clausen posted an astounding 303.67 quarterback rating, completing 15 of 18 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Sure, it is Nevada, who has a less than stellar defense and he's not going to play WAC teams all season long, but Clausen did what you'd expect your quarterback to do against bad defenses.

Maybe the best sight offensively for Notre Dame was the return of Michael Floyd. After Floyd got hurt last year, Notre Dame's passing attack dropped nearly 100 yards per game and the tailspin began. Floyd made his presence known in his 2009 debut, catching four passes for 189 yards and three touches.

But the story of the game just might have been the defense. Nevada, which returned its two top scorers from a team that was 12th in scoring offense and fifth in total offense last season in Colin Kaepernick and Vai Taua, was held scoreless throughout and the Irish forced three turnovers, something they failed to do on a consistent basis a year ago.

While it's not at all time to start the Clausen for Heisman or Notre Dame for BCS championship talk, this was the start the Irish needed. Too fresh in people's minds was the way they opened the season with a near loss to San Diego State, which cast doubt over the entire season. This year Notre Dame came out and took care of business in its opener. One in the books and a tough test at the Big House next week.

Stay tuned.