Deep In The Heart O’...

There have been plenty of stupid questions this week about whether Notre Dame is treating Saturday’s “off-site home game” with Washington State like an actual home game – as if much of anything beyond the jerseys and the NBC broadcast will bear resemblance.

But the trip to San Antonio will bring a welcome unfamiliarity to a matchup that could have potentially lulled the Irish to sleep had it actually been played in South Bend.

“Sometimes players can fall into a trap when a team is 1-6,” Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis said on Thursday evening. “If Washington State was just rolling into Dodge after an emotional win against Boston College, psychologically I’d be a little bit more concerned. But because it’s a change, and you’re not going out to Pullman (Washington), you’re going to San Antonio, I think it has everyone’s attention.”

The warm weather (forecasts project that San Antonio will be about 25 degrees warmer and two inches of rain drier than South Bend this weekend) certainly plays a part, as does the fact that nearly half of the current Irish players have played in the Alamodome as part of the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

But mainly, it’s just the uncertainty of not knowing how the whole “off-site” thing will go – because nobody has any real idea until Saturday evening.

“Our players are pretty excited about going to San Antonio to play Washington State,” Weis said. “Some people might think that’s just coachspeak, but they really are genuinely excited about going down to San Antonio. The venue really is intriguing to the team. It’s something different. They’re waiting to see how it all plays out, as are everyone else.”

Other items of note from Thursday’s brief media session:

• Freshman Ben Turk held on to the No. 1 punting job this week, convincingly taking an open battle with senior Eric Maust.

“I think that 35 kicked significantly better than 43,” Weis stated, “so he’ll be the guy.”

• Weis commented on the team’s proficiency – or occasional lack thereof – in the red zone this season, noting that while college teams consider a field goal in that area a make, pro teams consider anything short of a touchdown a failure. Weis definitely subscribes to the latter school of thought in this case.

“Percentage-wise, we’re not bad,” he said, “but the last couple of games our production has been down. I’m counting on that to change for the better very quickly.”

• The coach was asked about NFL rumblings regarding both quarterback Jimmy Clausen and receiver Golden Tate. Weis has had discussions with both players, particularly Tate, and said that nothing will be decided until at least the end of the regular season.

“We’re not even going to address the subject until the first week in December,” he said.

• As injuries go, the Irish don’t have any players that are incapable of playing, but there are a handful of guys who are banged up enough that Weis will hold them out of action this weekend if at all possible depending on each player’s status at game time.

Receiver Robby Parris and running back Armando Allen are among those with the wait-and-see tag heading into Saturday.

Cornerback Darrin Walls, meanwhile, was in danger of not even making the trip due to illness, but after sitting out Wednesday’s practice, the senior was back on the field Thursday, and he’ll likely be ready to play this weekend.

• Before yielding to freshman linebacker Manti Te’o, who was also available to the press Thursday night, Weis was asked whether he had any favorite Halloween costumes as a youngster.

The coach made the smart call and punted that question away.

“I have a couple of good ones, but I think they’re better left unsaid,” he quipped with a laugh. “I’d be opening myself for even more scrutiny. Let’s just leave it at that.”