Halfway through the season already, and I was thinking who (so far) is the most valuable player for the Irish.  My answer:

Golden Tate.  Conventional wisdom would give this to Mr. Clausen, but I have never been a fan of being conventional.  Look, Jimmy is putting up numbers that are beyond any expectations.  He is rightly being compared to Brady Quinn-as a Senior.  He is making the offense hum, but not without the help of the electrifying Tate.  Golden is Notre Dame’s biggest threat, and the most explosive player they’ve had since I’ve been watching seriously (Rocket was before my time).  I think there’s been one game this season where he hasn’t had a gain of at least 30 yards.  He is a big play waiting to happen, and I expect it to–every game.  Beside that, his emergence has paved the way for Michael Floyd to be unleashed upon college football (be afraid, be very afraid), and for Kyle Rudolph to show why he will possibly become the next Jeremy Shockey (without that loveable Miami attitude).  Put another way, would Clausen be blossoming if his main guy was David Grimes, George West, Robby Parris, or even Duval Kamara?  No, he wouldn’t.  Golden Tate is fueling Clausen’s growth.  There is nobody else Jimmy would rather be throwing to.