'He's just little Jimmy'
Dad's comment aside, Notre Dame awaits special QB
The Oaks Christian High School quarterback sliced his way through a crowd of football supporters, slapped hands with Tyler, then stretched out his golden right arm to get a grip on his buddy's new ride: a wheelchair.
As he glanced at Tyler's elevated broken left leg, Clausen shook his head, thankful it wasn't him but distraught that it had to happen to the person he considers ''like a brother.''
''When Marc went down, I was heartbroken,'' Clausen said. ''I mean, he's fortunate that it wasn't a knee or neck, something more career-threatening. This happening to him, it really changes my perspective on things.''
Clausen, Notre Dame's prize recruit and the top-ranked high school player in the country, has had every reason to believe he is untouchable. Major media outlets nationwide have flocked to Oaks Christian or at least inquired about the California schoolboy prodigy -- so many requests that his father, Jim, has turned bulldog about letting his son do one-on-one interviews.
''He's just little Jimmy,'' the elder Clausen said. ''He didn't ask for all this.''
Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell said a fan from New York was going to fly out simply to take a picture with Clausen. Although Oaks Christian has 10 players committed to Division I programs, Clausen is the main reason the Lions have played on national television twice.
Clausen is 39-0 as a starter and has Oaks Christian (12-0) ranked sixth in the USA Today Super 25.
''Jimmy has put our school on the map from the get-go,'' said Duke Lemmens, an Oaks Christian defensive lineman committed to Florida. ''When I went on my recruiting visits, I was always like, 'I go to Jimmy Clausen's school.' People know him like that.''
If the attention has consumed Clausen, he doesn't show it -- at least not in person. He comes across as a normal guy with exceptional talent, a player ready to accept the challenge of playing at the next level and a 19-year-old who never will forget the friendships he forged during his illustrious high school career.
And Clausen doesn't care what you think about him. Not one bit.
''That was what I wanted,'' he said, ''and that was what I did.
''People are going to say whatever they want to say. They either love you or hate you. I did what I did, and we moved on.''
Arrogant. Bold. Snobbish. Clausen has heard it all.
If Clausen is full of himself, he tucked that away during his team's Thanksgiving Day practice. His actions and body language revealed more of a humble leader than a pompous, spoiled teen.
Clausen wasn't too proud to dig his mouthpiece out of the dirt and shove it in his mouth. He wasn't too ''big-time'' to pat every one of his teammates on the back during a short break. And Clausen wasn't too scared to volunteer to field punts.
The coaches wouldn't let him, of course.
''Jimmy is just a normal kid,'' Lemmens said.
How normal?
''Well, I'll tell you this,'' Lemmens continued. ''He, Marshall Jones and I went trick-or-treating on Halloween. He was dressed in this creepy black costume. He had on a black ski mask with a University of Tennessee beanie hat in that outrageous orange color. Nobody knew it was Jimmy.''
That's a first.
No one knows Clausen better than Tyler, the son of former NFL player Wendell Tyler and the top-rated running back in the nation. Marc Tyler lived with the Clausens for three years and saw all of Clausen's habits -- good and bad.
Tyler, who is black, also saw in Clausen someone capable of fitting in with anyone.
''Jimmy's really into hip-hop music,'' Tyler said. ''He's always trying the latest dances: 'Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It,' the 'Chicken Noodle Soup.' It's like he's black on the inside.''
Come this time next year, Clausen might be feeling a little green.
Now comes Jimmy, arguably the best of them all. Most expect the 6-3, 200-pounder to make an immediate impact at Notre Dame, then progress into an NFL-caliber quarterback.
''I mentioned this to Charlie Weis one of the times we spoke: I don't know if Jimmy is good enough to play football at Notre Dame,'' said Jim Clausen, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience in high school and college. ''I mean, Notre Dame gets the best of the best.
''But what I do know is [Jimmy] is an outstanding young man who knows the difference between right and wrong. He'll be a great role model. He'll be a tremendous leader on the campus, in the dorm and in the community.''
No one wants Clausen to come in and be a figurehead. Irish faithful want him to be the second coming -- of Brady Quinn, not Ron Powlus.
''I've talked to Ron a lot,'' Jimmy Clausen said of the much-hyped former Irish quarterback, now an administrator in the Notre Dame program. ''He went through the same thing that I'm going through right now. He told me to just take it and go with it. I'm sure when I get there, we'll have a quite a few talks.''
Clausen received clearance to enroll early and begins classes Jan. 16. He'll participate in spring drills and compete for the starting job. Sophomore Evan Sharpley and freshmen Demetrius Jones and Zach Frazer also will be in contention for the spot vacated by Quinn.
Clausen is unsure where he stands and doesn't want to speculate.
''Right now, my team is in the middle of the playoffs, and I really haven't thought too much about going back to Notre Dame,'' he said. ''But I do think [high school] has prepared me well for Notre Dame.''
Jim Clausen jumped into the middle of the circle and talked about what Oaks Christian has meant to his family, how crucial the initial conversation was with coach Redell concerning Jimmy's arrival four years ago.
Redell intervened with his characteristic dry humor.
''For any reporters in attendance, do realize that Jim Clausen initiated the call,'' Redell said.
Laughter followed. But moments later, the place went silent when Tyler -- wheelchair and all -- tearfully asked for forgiveness for ''letting the team down'' with his injury. Tyler, who committed to USC, also talked about not playing on the same team with his buddy Clausen ever again.
Things could have been different. Tyler admitted he was close to committing to Notre Dame.
''When he did it, I probably thought I was going to go, too,'' said Tyler, who was with Clausen in South Bend that day. ''But my dad said I had to call my mom first, so I didn't commit.''
Clausen easily could have stayed at home and joined Tyler. To this day, Clausen still talks with USC quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian.
But don't worry, Irish fans. Clausen's not going anywhere.
''I made a decision, and Marc made his decision,'' Clausen said. ''That's the best decision for him, and I support him.''
Clausen was one of the last players to speak during the after-practice ritual. He tried to hold back but broke into tears as he glanced over at Tyler, sitting there helpless.
''Marc, I'm so sorry you have to go through this,'' Clausen said, his mouth quivering. ''I wish you could be on the field with me.''
Jimmy Clausen is human after all.