Yesterday, The Big Lead posted pictures of Jimmy Clausen in the general vicinity of what looked to be alcohol. BL also noted that the Clausen and friends were allegedly participating in a thing called "Beer Olympics." Since then, Notre Dame news sources have lit up with stories, and Notre Dame has promised a full investigation. As the article notes, this isn't the first alcohol related trouble Clausen has faced. It could be the second alcohol-related run-in for Clausen, who was cited in June 2007 for transporting alcohol as a minor.All evidence to the contrary, Jimmy. If there's one thing you don't want to be, it's a resident of the wrong place at the wrong time. But that's exactly where you are. And you're starting to rival Brady Quinn as the most photogenic quarterback in Notre Dame history. It's not exactly an honor, and it's not an indication that you have learned from your bad judgment.
"I used bad judgment in being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I've learned from my mistake," Clausen said during his first media appearance after the citation in August 2007.
It will be a surprise if anything comes of this. Despite what those pictures seem to show, there's no evidence that alcohol passed his lips or any of the other Irish players with him. What it is, though, is a distraction to a team that went 3-9 last year. As much as Clausen and his teammates don't want to go through another season like that, you have to believe that Charlie Weis much prefers the "Genius" label to the unflattering labels that have followed him around since last year. Weis has to at least question Clausen's judgment if not his fashion sense. This won't be the one to put Clausen on the bench, or worse, off the team. But it probably will be the one people will look back on if Clausen has any serious off the field issues.
It's not fair that he lives in a world where he can't lead the life of a normal college kid. If it was you or me, those pictures would melt in with the millions of other faceless party pictures on the internet. But being the quarterback at Notre Dame makes you a target. When you show up to announce your choice of colleges in a limo and tux...well...that's on you.
HT: Wiz
