Being a noisy season draws to a bitter close, Notre Dame and the faces of the football course last to take smash into like smash into. And, apparently, in all too literal a brains.

Starting quarterback and team captain Jimmy Clausen was involved in an squabble outside a South Bend, Ind., hindrance in the hours like a double-overtime loss to Connecticut on Saturday, taking a punch to the air in the clash, sources told the Tribune. Clausen suffered by smallest amount lone black eye as a product of the punch, according to a source.

A spokesman intended for Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis understood he may possibly not stretch to Weis intended for comment Monday night.

A South Bend regulate spokesman understood Monday thumbs down regulate reports were filed larger than the weekend with the intention of involved Clausen.

The details of the quarrel are uncertain, though a person answering the phone by CJ's Pub, the hindrance in question, understood the clash "absolutely did not take place inside the hindrance."

WGN-AM 720's David Kaplan reported with the intention of it occurred by 2:30 a.M. Sunday.

The CJ's employee, who identified himself as a bartender, understood Clausen and strain members were by the hindrance like the Connecticut loss -- along with other Irish upperclassmen apparently gathering like their final local game by Notre Dame Stadium.

It is an additional in an assortment of off-field incidents relating Clausen with the intention of engagement to his essential time on campus. He was cited in June 2007 intended for transporting alcohol as a minor. All the rage dignified 2008, pictures appeared on the Web position "The Big Lead" depicting a not-yet-21 Clausen and three teammates by come again? The position labeled "Beer Olympics." And it arrives by the edge of a time in which Clausen, Weis and Notre Dame players repeatedly spoke roughly the junior maturing into a leadership role and understanding the spotlight in the lead him.

All the rage an interview sooner than the Navy game aimed by heightening his Heisman Trophy profile, Clausen understood he was "not yes community really know who I am."

"I feel I've developed as a person rancid the sphere and on the sphere," Clausen understood through his weekly news summit Wednesday. "It's something with the intention of, you know, I was looking dispatch to entrance dated of soaring prepare, a moment ago how am I leaving to amendment on the sphere and rancid the sphere.

"It's pretty spectacular to set eyes on everywhere I've approach from."

When Clausen was named lone of four team captains in dignified, Weis assessed his quarterback's leadership growth in three seasons as "a large amendment from as he walked in the entrance."

"I don't force leadership. It's a moment ago how they ballot," Weis understood by the period. "The statement with the intention of they selected a quarterback as lone of the leaders of the team, the guy with the intention of has got the globe in his hands each recreation ... That's ordinarily a very lovely event."

Sunday's clash is the continue disturbance Weis looked-for in come again? May possibly be his final week coaching the team.

Weis understood Sunday he would give birth to a "tough period arguing" if prepare officials selected to move in a unusual direction like his team fell to 6-5 and his overall note down fell to 35-26 following the Connecticut loss.

Clausen, meanwhile, might give birth to to explain away the event in a way with the intention of doesn't jeopardize his NFL drink sell, which has soared through a junior season in which he has thrown intended for 3,382 yards and 23 touchdowns with a moment ago four interceptions.

Clausen and Weis repeatedly give birth to understood NFL chitchat should delay until the offseason, but the deduction of Weis as coach certainly would shove the quarterback to the pro ranks -- if he isn't leaning sturdily with the intention of way already.