3. Brandon Walker, sophomore kicker
Strategically, Brandon Walker's 41-yard field goal in the fourth-quarter did make a Purdue comeback Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium all the more unlikely. But it was bigger than that in the long view of the season.

Walker had already missed a 31-yarder in the first half before the Irish offense found its octane and put away the Boilermakers. That made Walker 0-for-4 on field goals for the season, 6-of-16 for his career and 1-for-11 from beyond 30 yards.

"I didn't talk to him after the miss," Weis said of the left-footed sophomore. "But after he made a couple extra points I just walked over to him and said, 'Look, you're going to have to make a kick here in this game. It's just like taking the extra point. We've seen you kick balls 50 yards in practice. Just believe you're kicking the extra point and let's go.' That was a big kick for him and a big kick for the team, obviously."

It was ironic that the one that went through was a 41-yarder. Last year, in an eventual triple-overtime loss to Navy, Weis decided against kicking a potential game-winner from 41 yards, because he didn't think Walker had the distance.

Walker said he appreciated the support of his teammates, many of whom came up to him before the game and expressed their confidence in him. He wasn't used to someone talking to him just before his made field goal, as Weis did Saturday.

"Obviously, it worked," he said, "So I should like it."

Weis would like it if that formula continues to work.

2. Jimmy Clausen, sophomore quarterback
It is no surprise that when Clausen had his best day as a college quarterback, the Irish running game clicked too, to the tune of 201 yards.

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A common thread among the nation’s 30 worst rushing teams, of which ND still decidedly is (103rd), is that 23 of those teams are also in the bottom half nationally in passing efficiency.

In other words, only seven don’t run much by choice. The majority of them don’t run because they can’t. Teams tilt their defenses to make them one-dimensional. An efficient -- not necessarily prolific -- passing attack is the key that unlocks that vicious cycle.

Clausen did move up from 71st to 59th in passing efficiency after the Purdue game. But his "wow" performance will have to become the routine and not the extraordinary if the Irish offense is going to stay balanced and consistent.

1. Charlie Weis, head coach
Yes, the most pivotal figure in ND’s final eight games is a guy with a torn ACL and MCL.

There are no visible tears, though, in his reinvention. Weis hasn’t backtracked on any of his offseason changes. And he’s adjusted on the fly when he has had to within this season.

He hasn’t overreacted to bad press, hasn’t crumbled with personnel crises, hasn’t stuck his finger in anyone’s face and said "I told you so" -- not that being the No. 35 team in the nation per the Sagarin ratings would naturally elicit that response.

He’s holding himself to the same standard he is holding his players. Winning isn’t an end unto itself, it’s an opportunity to build and to grow, to open his mind to better ways of doing things. In other words, even if it ain’t broke, he’s still going to tinker, still raise the bar, still keep the celebrations short and simple.

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