Quarterback debate....again?

Offense? The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish football team doesn't play offense. Not in 2007 anyway. Or do they?

In a 33-19 loss to in-state rival Purdue this past Saturday, the Irish put up 426 yards of total offense. This was an every week occurrence for the 2005 and 2006 Irish offense but things have changed in the A.B.Q (After Brady Quinn) era. Saturday was the first sign of life all season for a sputtering offense.

With an injury to starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen, junior backup Evan Sharpley completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns. The offense seemed much more organized with Sharpley calling the signals and the play of his teammates made it seem as if they were responding.

Here we go again. Another quarterback debate is underway in South Bend, similar to the one just before the start of the season. Some still think benching a highly recruited freshman quarterback in Clausen will hurt his confidence. Others believe that an 0-5 Notre Dame team needs a senior leader such as Sharley taking the snaps.

This is why Charlie Weis is paid the big bucks. Weis will choose between Sharpley and Clausen to lead the Notre Dame offense before next Saturday's game against UCLA in Pasadena, Calif. The game will be nationally televised at 8 o'clock eastern standard time on ABC.