Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith cannot wait to play against Navy on Saturday.

And not just to test the No. 19 Irish’s run defense against the Midshipmen’s rushing attack.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior injured his right knee in the first quarter against Navy last season on what he called an illegal cut block.

“They got the flag for it, but the 15 yards is not a good trade-off,” Smith said of the injury that kept him out of the final two games of 2008.

Personal vendettas aside, Smith and the Irish (6-2) will be challenged in the run game by the Midshipmen (6-3) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.


Click here to read the full article – By Tony Krausz of The Journal Gazette

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So much for Jimmy Clausen resting that toe.


The Notre Dame quarterback, as expected, didn’t practice on Tuesday, and could have also skipped today’s practice — the last one of the week — to allow his turf toe injury to heal. But Clausen, the nation’s leader in passing efficiency, apparently doesn’t want to risk getting rusty heading into USC week.

“He wants to practice tomorrow, so he’s actually requested to practice because he doesn’t want to hold off until Monday without going,” Irish coach Charlie Weis said after Tuesday’s workout inside the Loftus Center. “This is the only week that I can give him as much rest as I can.”

Clausen was one of a number of banged-up players who skipped practice on Tuesday. The others included halfback Armando Allen, wide receivers Golden Tate and Duval Kamara, linebacker Darius Fleming and safety Kyle McCarthy.

Click here to read the full article – By Ben Ford of etruth.com

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