Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame’s Golden Boy freshman quarterback, had his media muzzle removed Friday.
After eight months in South Bend, Clausen finally spoke to the media.
Here are the facts (in the Notre Dame football program, “facts” are subject to laundering.)
-- Last March, Clausen’s father said his son’s throwing arm was injured.
-- The next day, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis made it clear that any injury information would come only from Charlie Weis. And, by the way, Jimmy Clausen was “good to go.’’
-- Clausen participated in spring practice. For whatever reason, he was not able to distinguish himself from fellow QB candidates Evan Sharpley and Demetrius Jones.
-- Some time after spring practice, Clausen was rumored to have undergone a surgical procedure on his right elbow.
-- Weis would not comment on Clausen’s “surgery.’’ Notre Dame policy is to only comment on surgeries or injuries that will sideline players from game action. Disclosing the truth about a ballyhooed freshman QB who showed up in South Bend in a Hummer limo with an ESPN film crew in tow to announce his verbal commitment to Weis’ program would be a violation of policy.
-- During his 30 minutes with the media Friday, Clausen said he had undergone arthroscopic surgery -- gasp! really? -- to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Clausen said he is practicing and said he was “day to day.’’ Which is an odd of way of a young athlete describing his status while battling for one of the most prestigious jobs in college football.
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