NOTRE SHAME: Weis and Irish Put Up Little Fight

Happy Valley is a football town, and when teams like Notre Dame come to town that place rocks.
110,078 fans, second largest in Penn State history, gathered for this classic, old school battle between historic programs.

Shirts read everything from "Rudy Sucks!" and "Rudy Was Offsides!" to " FU ND."

A few Lions fans came dressed in fat suits, complete with Charlie Weis' signature khaki pants, navy shirt, and headset, while the rowdy student section clapped and mockingly chanted, "CHAR-LIE'S FAAAAT!"

Ah, college football.

Having gotten the nod from Weis to start, Jimmy Clausen was in over his head. He and the Fighting Irish ran out of the visitor's tunnel and into a rocking—I mean, literally, rocking—Beaver Stadium. When Derrick Williams returned a punt for 78 yards and put the first points on the board for the Lions the place went absolutely nuts.

And for Notre Dame, despite taking the lead early on, it was all downhill from there.

Penn State's defense seemed energized by the raucous crowd, holding the Irish to but nine first downs and zero net rushing yards—that solid D has yet to allow a touchdown this season.

Linebacker U's Dan Connor stopped an Irish drive by sacking Clausen for an eleven yard loss, helping to force an eventual punt. Connor finished with a team-high 12 tackles.

Whistled for several offsides and delay-of-game penalties, the boisterous crowd had an effect on Clausen and the Irish offense, too. Clausen was, however, surprisingly poised under the pressure of the Lions' defense and the jumping Beaver Stadium; he was 17-of-32 for 144 yards and one interception.

Penn State's Anthony Morelli didn't break any records either; he finished 12-of-22 for 131 yards, a TD, and an interception. The key ingredient on offense for the Nittany Lions was Austin Scott who paced that offense, rushing for 118 yards and two TDs on 28 carries in the win. Jordan Norwood had three key receptions for the Lions, and Justin King had a key interception.

The Nittany Lions didn't start the game on fire, but they ended that way. With that, the Lions start the season on fire at 2-0, while Notre Dame still searches for a flicker. And unless the Irish get a spark going soon, particularly in the rushing game which has managed -8 yards two games into the season, it's going to be a very long season for Weiss.

Whether he can turn this season around remains to be seen, but I guess if he can get those pants on everyday, well, he can do anything. Sorry, Charlie.

—R. Cooper