Report: Clausen cited for transporting alcohol

Jimmy Clausen's first season at Notre Dame isn't going as planned.

The five-star recruit arrived in South Bend last January tailed by reports of a tired arm. Then came a late spring elbow procedure that stopped Clausen from keeping pace during summer workouts. Now comes a report in the South Bend Tribune that Clausen was cited by Indiana's excise police for transporting alcohol as a minor during a June 23 incident at Belmont Beverage, a liquor store near the Notre Dame campus.

The 19-year old Clausen won't turn 21 until Sept. 21, 2008.

Under state law in accordance with Indiana Code 7.1-5-7-7 it is illegal for a minor to knowingly transport alcohol on a public highway when not accompanied by his or her parent or guardian.

Reached Friday evening, a Notre Dame official told Irish Illustrated that both Charlie Weis and Clausen had no comment on the situation.

In addition, the Tribune reported that a 23-year old Notre Dame graduate was cited by the excise police for inducing a minor to possess alcohol.

The paper also reported that Clausen had already entered a pretrial diversion program that would let the quarterback avoid a misdemeanor charge if he does not face a similar charge in the next year. If Clausen is cited again, he could face two misdemeanor charges. The pretrial diversion program also included a $170 fine.

This latest news adds to a career that's become slightly star-crossed before Clausen takes his first live snap. Clausen's injuries made it unlikely he'd take the reins of the Irish offense against Georgia Tech on Sept. 1, a fact on display during Notre Dame's open practice one week ago when he showed little velocity in throwing the ball downfield.

How Weis handles this latest Clausen headline remains to be seen, but this incident certainly won't help the freshman quarterback earn his way onto the field.