Optimistic future in South Bend

So Notre Dame can finally enjoy a football off-season. The nine-bowl losing streak is over. The offense has been reborn. The defense has Steel-curtain possibilities. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen finally looks like a future Heisman Trophy contender.

And coach Charlie Weis? Well, he might be able to go to the grocery store in peace.

Still, does crushing a mediocre Hawaii team in a minor bowl to finish 7-6 mean anything for next season’s win-big-or-else prospects? Let’s take a look.

First, Weis will take care of the knee issues that forced him to coach the Hawaii Bowl from the press box. He’s set to have his right knee replaced on Monday. He’ll have major surgery on his left knee in February. He figures to coach spring practice from a golf cart.

He’ll have at least one assistant coach to replace with offensive coordinator Michael Haywood heading to Miami of Ohio as the head coach. Other changes could come because a two-year record of 10-15 isn’t nearly good enough and status quo isn’t a likely option.

Whatever the option, Weis and his staff must be at their best next season because talent and experience are everywhere you look. Notre Dame figures to be BCS bowl ready and if it’s not, Weis likely won’t be around after next year to spin his way out of it.

Freshmen and sophomores dominated this team. It starts with Clausen, who set school bowl records for passing yards (406), passing touchdowns (five) and completion percentage (22 for 26, 84.6 percent) in Wednesday’s 49-21 win over Hawaii. Yes, that’s a list that includes Joe Montana and Brady Quinn.

That completion percentage was the second best in college bowl history with at least 20 pass attempts. Georgia’s Mike Bobo was 26 for 28 against Wisconsin in the 1998 Outback Bowl.

Despite a late-season slump of two touchdowns and eight interceptions, Clausen threw for 3,177 yards, 25 touchdowns and 17 interceptions this season. To put that in perspective, Quinn threw for 2,586 yards and 17 TDs as a sophomore.

Clausen would instantly be even better if Notre Dame develops a strong, consistent running game to provide offensive balance.

Also back are receivers Golden Tate (six catches, 177 yards, 3 TDs against Hawaii) and Michael Floyd, tight end Kyle Rudolph, all the tailbacks and most of the offensive line, defensive tackle Ethan Johnson (he had three of Notre Dame’s eight sacks against Hawaii), linebackers Brian Smith and Darius Fleming, safety Sergio Brown and a whole lot more.

Tate, by the way, caught 58 passes for 1,080 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s just the sixth Irish receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. Floyd likely would have joined him if he hadn’t missed the last three regular season games with a knee injury. He finished with 48 catches, 719 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ten true freshmen played this season. The others in a top-10 class were redshirted (although Notre Dame refuses to use that term) and should have major impact next year.

Factor in another top-15 recruiting class (Notre Dame’s current 18-player group is rated No. 12 by Rivals.com and will move into the top 10 if heralded Hawaii linebacker Manti Te’o commits) and the future is bright. Included in this group is 5-star running back Cierre Wood of California.

Yes, there are graduation losses with linebacker Maurice Crum, receiver David Grimes, defensive back David Bruton, offensive lineman Michael Turkovich, defensive ends Justin Brown and Pat Kuntz, cornerback Terrail Lambert and safety Kyle McCarthy, but those will be overcome.

The schedule is rich in BCS potential. Notre Dame has seven home games next season, starting with Nevada (7-5) on Sept. 5. The remaining home games are against Washington (0-12), USC (11-1), Boston College (9-4), Navy (8-5), Connecticut (7-5) and Michigan State (9-3).

Road games come against Pitt (9-3), Michigan (3-9), Purdue (4-8) and Stanford (5-7). The Irish also play Washington State (2-11) in San Antonio, Texas. The four key games are USC, Boston College, Michigan State and Pitt. Notre Dame was 0-4 against them this past season and that’s not acceptable. If the Irish are to be among the nation’s elite, they need at least a split, preferably a sweep. They need to stop being patsies to USC and, to a lesser extent, Boston College.

Finally, don’t underestimate the benefits of ending the season with a bowl victory. That hasn’t happened since 1993 and while it doesn’t guarantee anything for next season, it does suggest that maybe, just maybe, this is the start of something big.

If not, grocery shopping will be the least of Weis’ worries.