The NFL just wants a yes or no answer eventually, Charlie Weis says. And five more games can do a lot to impact the decision-making process either way. And repeated questions on the subject are bound to be irritating, if not outright distracting.
So the Notre Dame coach laid out the plan for discussing an NFL future with junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen: It won't be discussed until the regular season is over.
"We're not even going to address the subject until the first week in December," Weis said Thursday night. "We've already addressed the fact that we're not going to address it. So we're just worrying about the next five games, starting with Washington State. First of all, let's see how we play. But we'll revisit it then."
Clausen is currently the nation's No. 2-rated passer. After the jump, there are more Weis words on Thursday's pertinent topics, including who will punt for the Irish this weekend...
On the punting competition this week: "I think the incumbent will stay. (Ben Turk) kicked significantly better than (Eric Maust). He'll be the guy. When the head coach comes out and tells the media that it's going to be an open competition this week, and then (Turk) goes out as a freshman after having a bad day at the office and clearly out-kicks the other guy, I think he handled it pretty well."
On Golden Tate's future with baseball and the NFL: "Golden has another set of encyclopedias, because we're dealing with baseball, too. Golden and I had a long talk in the summer before the season. We went over football, baseball, this year, next year, we covered a lot of territory. And we also decided we would revisit it in the first week in December, after the season had played out."
On Armando Allen's status for Saturday: "He's one of those guys who could play in the game or not play in the game and I'll just wait and see how it goes. I'd like to think Armando could be full-speed for a significant amount of time. for me to pull the trigger and say yes on Saturday, we're going to have to continue to make progress."
On injuries in general: "As a matter of fact, I didn't know if Darrin Walls was going to make it, because he's been sick, but he practiced today. I was a little concerned with that. We got some guys with bumps and bruises that I'll go right until game time to decide whether I'm going to do something with them or not. I want to do everything I can to win this game. At the same time, if there are some players on the cusp of being able to go or not being able to go, and I think a week would do them good, then I'll give them a week."
On avoiding taking 1-6 Washington State for granted: "Sometimes players can fall into a trap when a team is 1-6. And if Washington State was rolling into (South Bend) after an emotional win against Boston College, psychologically, I would be a little more concerned. But because it's a change, and you're not going out to Pullman, it has everyone's attention."
On making freshman Manti Te'o available to the media Thursday: "Every once in a while, you get these isolated circumstances. First of all, so far, you guys haven't gotten him to say anything stupid yet. And I think that's one of the reasons I have a little more confidence. He's handled himself so well, not just on the field, but he's handled himself well off the field. When a kid starts to earn my confidence, surely enough one of you guys will get him to say something to get him cut off the rest of the year."
On his favorite Halloween costumes from his youth: "I can't touch Eric (Olsen's) pumpkin comment. I have a couple good ones, but I think they're better left unsaid. I'd be opening myself for more scrutiny, let's just leave it at that."
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Are you kidding? Jimmy Clausen in the NFL. Remember the NFL stands for Not For Losers. Get a degree Jimmy, you're going to need it.
He will be a great Raider