SOUTH BEND | As a cocky, highly touted freshman quarterback a year ago, Jimmy Clausen certainly had his share of humbling moments.

There were the seven touchdown passes, six interceptions, 34 sacks and minus-187 yards rushing.

Notre Dame faced 10 bowl teams, went 3-9 and ranked last in total offense.

Constantly under pressure and running for his life, Clausen lost 10 pounds and much of his stamina in the 10 games he played.

All during training camp, the question was asked by media: Jimmy's psyche had quite a few dents that had to be pounded out. Can he recover in 2008?

"It all starts with the offensive line," Irish coach Charlie Weis said. "It's great to have all these imaginative ideas on how you're gonna expand the offense. But first thing you have to do is make sure the quarterback isn't getting killed.

"He's ready, mentally, to handle it a bunch more than what he was last year. A bunch more."

Quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus would bet his parents' season tickets Clausen is better prepared.

"I know where he is now, physically, there is no question," Powlus said. "How he's doing mentally is where we want to continue to grow."

Nearly half of Clausen's 1,254 passing yards came in the final three games (Air Force, Duke, Stanford), when he threw for six of his TDs.

"He's bigger, stronger and running really well," Powlus said.

Clausen hopes to put his freshman year far behind him, and that includes two off-campus incidents involving alcohol. He doesn't have to be told it's time to deliver and quiet a restless alumni encouraged by 17 returning starters -- nine on offense -- that include top three rushers James Aldridge (Merrillville), Armando Allen and Robert Hughes, plus five of the top six receivers in Duval Komara, Bobby Parris, David Grimes, Allen and George West.

And it can't come quick enough.

Notre Dame last won a national championship in 1988.

The Irish haven't been ranked No. 1 since their 41-39 regular-season loss to Boston College on Nov. 20, 1993.

It'll take a mature, well-focused QB to stir up the thunder once again and Clausen believes he's the man for the job.

"It's different for a regular student and a football player here but I view it as the same thing," Clausen said. "You go to class every day. You go to lunch. You eat in the dining hall just like every other student. And then you go play football.

"I came to Notre Dame because it's high profile. Being the quarterback is just as high profile as being the head coach here. I live every day to help turn this program around and be the best teammate I can."