Mike Ragone News

This time, there was nothing to second-guess, nothing to what-if about, nothing that Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis could spin as pseudo-progress. What has become a painfully tired refrain now reads like an epitaph.

When Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was determined to impress Heisman Trophy voters Saturday night, he was upstaged by Pitt tailback Dion Lewis and split end Jonathan Baldwin.

Redemption could come quickly for Charlie Weis and Notre Dame this weekend after a disappointing loss to Navy.

Numerous times on Tuesday during his weekly press conference, Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis was asked about his future, which has come into question after last week's loss to Navy.

Notre Dame's hopes for a BCS bid ended with its 2nd loss to Navy in three season as the Irish fell 23-21 at Notre Dame Stadium to the Midshipmen to drop to 6-3 on the season.

Notre Dame tight end Mike Ragone is upended by Washington State's Myron Beck in the first half of Saturday's game.

It didn't show up on the scoreboard. Really, it hardly had an impact on Notre Dame's 40-14 rout of Washington State on Saturday at the Alamodome.

The swaths of empty seats in the upper deck of the Alamodome Saturday night belied the giddiness the Notre Dame football team brought to this city in the schoola s first off-site a oehome gamea experiment.

How quickly things can change. When Kyle Rudolph first set foot on the Notre Dame campus as a freshman last fall, he was the third tight end on the depth chart.

Former Bishop Dwenger standout Tyler Eifert received playing time against Nevada in the season opener Saturday because of necessity as much as his skill.

The secret's out - Notre Dame 's receiving corps is pretty darn good. The wide receiver position undoubtedly boasts more depth than any other on the current Irish roster, and this year's stable of receivers is certainly among the nation's best.

Harrison Smith moved from linebacker to free safety this season for the Irish. Notre Dame junior free safety Harrison Smith answered the five questions this week.

Mike Ragone: The Irish tight end unit has been a strength under Charlie Weis, with players like Anthony Fasano and John Carlson having outstanding careers in the NFL.

Halfback-turned-fullback James Aldridge checks his ego at the door...Kyle Rudolph draws favorable comparisons...Jimmy Clausen expanding his weaponry with return of Mike Ragone, emergence of Shaquelle Evans... and more.

It stands to reason that competing for a placekicking job is perhaps the least subjective situation for any football player to be in.

Notre Dame has the combinations you want in a football program. The Irish have talented veterans and an influx of skilled freshmen this season.

Choosing to attend Notre Dame to play football means a number of things for a player.

Weis was worried three weeks ago about whether he'd be ready to stand along the sideline for a full game after having his right knee replaced in December.

Charlie Weis taking over the play-calling duties will give the Notre Dame offense a distinctly different look in 2009 than it showed last year, one that will likely feature the tight end more often.

Weis was worried three weeks ago about whether he'd be ready to stand along the sideline for a full game after having his right knee replaced in December.