Last year at this time, the dirty word around the Notre Dame football team was "rebuilding.''
Now it might be "reminiscing."
Coach Charlie Weis said Friday at the team's media day that no one associated with the Irish would be talking about last year's disastrous 3-9 season that included some of the low points in the school's proud football history.
"We're moving forward,"
Weis said. "We're excited about this season."
The players didn't quite stick to Weis' script -- some said the trials of 2007 would serve as motivation for 2008 -- but they seemed eager to put last season behind them.
"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure last year doesn't happen again,"
sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen said.
And apparently, there's no easing in to that process. Weis borrowed a slogan from one of his mentors, Bill Parcells, to emblazon on T-shirts the players have been wearing all summer: "Dive right in."
"I'm looking for players that aren't waiting to see how things go,"
Weis said. "They're going to be part of making things go."
Notre Dame's turnaround project began in the weight room earlier this summer and seems to have paid off.
For the first time in Weis' tenure, every offensive lineman on the two-deep weighs more than 300 pounds, and all three running backs upped their bench press mark by 100 pounds. The key players on the defensive line can all squat 600 pounds.
Weis also saw an increase in speed where it was needed.
"As far as speed goes, you'll see that we've got some wide receivers that can run. You'll see that we've got some DBs that can run and we've got some linebackers that can run,"
Weis said. "I think the running backs and tight ends are not too shabby, either."
That's a good thing, because besides forgetting about last season, Weis' other edict for the Irish is to get off to a fast start.
"I think this team is hungry to get out there and start winning football games,"
Weis said.
The sooner that happens, the sooner everyone will quit wanting to talk about 2007.
More moving forward: Weis and Clausen were both questioned about photos that appeared on the sports blog thebiglead.com that showed the quarterback and teammates Brian Smith, Armando Allen and James Aldridge participating in an event called the "Beer Olympics."
The players, who with the exception of Aldridge are underage, are not shown drinking.
Weis wouldn't say whether the players faced disciplinary action.
"First of all, I think the obvious thing, on a serious note, I think it's important that I don't condone underage drinking. I think that's important to say,"
Weis said. "But that being said, and no sarcastic moment really meant to be, but gimme a break. Let's move on."
Clausen, without being quite so blunt, said essentially the same thing.
"I know what comes with being the quarterback at Notre Dame,"
Clausen said. "I'm just focused on moving forward and I can't wait to get on the field."
Weis said he talked to the players about being careful in public and used himself as an example, saying he won't so much as have a drink at a Christmas party if there's someone he doesn't know there and cameras are present.
"What they have to understand is as technology changes, so do responsibilities,"
Weis said.
Checking the chart: The pre-training camp depth chart contained few surprises and minimal shuffling since spring.
The top battle in training camp may take place at left tackle, where Paul Duncan, who started the first two games at that position last season and the final 10 on the right side, is listed as even with classmate Mike Turkovich. Turkovich started all 12 games at left guard last season.
At halfback, Aldridge, a junior, and sophomores Allen and Robert Hughes are all listed on the top line, though the battle is really between Aldridge and Hughes because they're similar players and Allen is the change-of-pace back.
Smith, a sophomore, has moved over from the strong-side linebacker position and is now the starter at middle linebacker. Taking his place at the "Sam"
spot is sophomore Harrison Smith, who's also the backup free safety.
Also, junior Raeshon McNeil is the projected starter at left cornerback, a position that was opened up when Darrin Walls left school. Sophomore Gary Gray is listed as McNeil's backup.
