Word began to spread on sports websites last Friday morning, and by early Saturday, it was headline news across the country. Later in the weekend, the story was listed as the most sent news item on ESPN.com.

Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen had made his decision: the signal-caller is heading to Notre Dame following the conclusion of his senior season.

During his weekend press conference at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., Clausen made it clear that he chose the Fighting Irish because of head coach Charlie Weis, the acclaimed quarterback guru and four-time Super Bowl champion under Bill Parcells in New York and Bill Belichick in New England.

It took some time, but now we finally know Clausen is poised under pressure.

While he rarely faces heat in the pocket when playing outclassed teams such as Nordhoff and Fillmore, Clausen, who threw for 2,778 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the Lions to a third consecutive CIF-SS championship last year, made a brilliant decision in the face of mounting hype surrounding where he'd play.

Weis helped Tom Brady develop from a late-round draft pick into the poster boy of winners in professional sports.

After leaving Tom Terrific and the Patriots to return to his alma mater, Weis took a struggling Brady Quinn and helped transform him into the frontrunner to be the top quarterback selected in the 2007 NFLDraft.

Now Weis has landed the nation's most prized prep signalcaller and a player he's coveted for some time, a recruitment that included a trip by Weis to OCHS.

There will be bumps in the road, and challenging Michigan defensive backs won't be quite as easy as throwing over Santa Paula safeties, but I expect Clausen to flourish in Weis' pro-style offense.

With the quarterback now settled, the OCHS recruiting spotlight immediately turns to running

back Marc Tyler. All Tyler did last year was score 45 touchdowns and rush for 2,196 yards. Like his Lion backfield mate, Tyler's in high demand.

I don't know where Tyler's headed, but I did see him at the Oak Park-Oaks Christian boys' volleyball game a few weeks back wearing a sweatshirt with the letters USC plastered across his chest.

It all makes sense, really. Top quarterbacks go to Notre Dame. Top running backs go to USC (provided the university doesn't get slammed by NCAA sanctions regarding the Reggie Bush family housing situation).

Even though they've been roommates and are the best of friends, and even though Tyler was on hand during Clausen's Notre Dame announcement, I wouldn't be completely surprised to see the two on opposing sidelines in college.

More tasty tidbits

Speaking of football, is it possible that the Houston Texans won't make Bush the No. 1 overall selection when the NFLDraft kicks off Saturday morning? Could they actually pick N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams instead?

The ongoing housing scandal involving Bush's parents will create headaches for whoever drafts the Trojan horse, but passing on him would be a grave mistake by Houston, who also has running back Domanick Davis on its roster.

USC quarterback Matt Leinart will likely go to the Tennessee Titans with the third pick. I don't see Texas' Vince Young slipping to the Oakland Raiders at No. 7, but it wouldn't be a total shock.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus will appear at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sherwood Country Club Sunday afternoon. Nicklaus has designed a new 1,965-yard par-3 course at the club.

Former Olympian Frank Gorman is scheduled to attend the Marmonte League Dive Finals Mon., May 1 at Thousand Oaks. A Harvard graduate, Gorman won the silver medal in

the 3-meter springboard event at

the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

AGOURA AGOURAFitness