Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate headed to NFL

SOUTH BEND | Notre Dame football is beginning to emerge from the storm of questions that surrounded the program following a disappointing 2009 season.

The most glaring, of course, was resolved with last week's decision not to retain coach Charlie Weis.

Monday afternoon, wide receiver Golden Tate and quarterback Jimmy Clausen answered another question by declaring their intentions to forgo their senior seasons and enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Weis sat between them at a joint news conference at the players' request, but did not take any questions.

Both players appeared to struggle to hold back emotions as they read prepared statements, fielded questions from the media and, finally, received best wishes from several teammates in attendance.

Both players also had several family members present, including Clausen's brothers Rick and Casey, both former Tennessee quarterbacks. 

"The Notre Dame experience has been something that I'll never forget," Clausen said. "It's been the highlight of my young career, and I wouldn't change anything for it."

Clausen came to Notre Dame as the country's top recruit in the 2007 class amid almost unmatched expectations. He leaves one of the program's most prolific signal callers, having amassed 8,148 yards and 60 touchdowns in 35 games, 34 of them starts.

In the eyes of the Notre Dame record book, Tate's career might be even more impressive.

His 201-yard performance against Stanford in this season's final game made Tate the program's all-time leading receiver with 2,707 yards.

In 2009, he amassed 1,496 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, both Notre Dame single-season records. Tate is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's best receiver.

"To be honest, I don't think I can do much better (statistically) next year or any year in college, so I think the time is right," Tate said of his draft decision.

Both players expressed confidence in their successors, Tate in what will be a talented corps of receivers and tight ends returning next year and Clausen in Dayne Crist, Notre Dame's primary backup quarterback until suffering a torn ACL against Washington State on Oct. 31.

Who will be coaching Crist and that talented pass-catching group is another question that might soon have an answer.

The New York Times reported Monday that Notre Dame would interview Cincinnati's Brian Kelly.

Kelly confirmed the news through his Twitter account Monday as well, saying "Just informed our team that Notre Dame has contacted me and I will listen to what they have to say."

Various reports in recent days have suggested Notre Dame's coaching search will come to an end this week.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Jimmy Clausen

Irish QB threw for 8,148 yards, 60 TDs

Started 34 of the 35 games in which he played

Golden Tate

ND's all-time leading receiver with 2,707 yards

Scored an Irish-record 15 touchdowns this season

More inside

Charlie Weis reportedly being interested in becoming the Bears' offensive coordinator. PAGE B2