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 against 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.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn File Photo ONE MORE STOP-Before he heads off to the NFL, Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen will play for Notre Dame. 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 NFL Draft.

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 the coach to Oaks Christian.

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 Notre Dame's prostyle 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 do know that I saw 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 NFL Draft 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 Trojans' horse, but passing on him would be a grave mistake, even though Houston has another solid running back on its roster in Domanick Davis.

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. The San Diego Chargers need to go after a wide receiver, offensive tackle or defensive back with the No. 19 selection.

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 on the club's luxurious grounds.

Former Olympian Frank Gorman is scheduled to attend the Marmonte League Dive Finals Mon., May 1 at Thousand Oaks High School. A Harvard graduate, Gorman won the silver medal in the 3-meter springboard event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Newbury Park had a threegame lead in the Marmonte League baseball standing entering the week. Agoura, Westlake and Simi Valley have all positioned themselves for postseason berths. Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Moorpark and Royal remain on the outside looking in with two weeks to go in the regular season.

Even if it doesn't make the playoffs, Calabasas has improved dramatically since last year and should be a force to reckoned with in the future.

Royal and Thousand Oaks are the cream of the crop in Marmonte softball. Newbury Park is locked into the league's third seed at the moment. The fourth and final playoff spot is becoming a three-team battle between Moorpark, Calabasas and Westlake.

A big hand goes to Oaks Christian's Michelle Clark and Westlake's Lindsey Williams. Clark was named to the Division IV All State girls' basketball

team and has also been honored as a first-team All State junior. Williams made the All State second team for juniors.

And finally, with gas prices reaching European-like figures, everyone's looking for a way to save some cash. Here's a tip from Russ Kick's "50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know." Please remember, I don't endorse it, I just report it.

Kick writes: "Say you're sending a letter to dear old mom. Simply put mom's address on the return address. Then write your address in the center of the envelope, where you'd normally put hers. Forget about the stamp. The letter will be returned to her for insufficient postage."

See, you learn something new every day.

- Stephen Dorman can be reached at sdorman@theacorn.com.