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SOUTH BEND, Ind. The much-anticipated talk between coach Charlie Weis and athletics director Jack Swarbrick won't be the only conversation next week that will have a big impact on Notre Dame's future.
Weis also plans to sit down with Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate to talk with them about whether they should enter the NFL draft. Clausen is projected to be a first-round draft pick.
Tate started the season as the Irish's No.2 receiver, behind Michael Floyd. After setting school records for receptions and receiving yards this season, he is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
Still, there are questions about how Tate will do in the NFL because of his height (5-foot-11) and whether his relative inexperience as a receiver will hurt. Tate was a high school running back and struggled to learn how to run pass routes as a freshman.
Tate's speed, though, should make up for any other shortcomings, Weis said.
Weis called Tate a "clone" of Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who is 5-9.
Elsewhere
GEORGIA: Receiver A.J. Green is unlikely to play Saturday against No.7 Georgia Tech because of a separated left shoulder, and running back Richard Samuel is out after sustaining a concussion during practice.
MEMPHIS: Athletics director R.C. Johnson has not offered the coaching job to anyone and plans to wait until the season ends Friday before announcing the new coach, according to a university spokesman. Leading candidate Jerry Gray, the Washington Redskins secondary coach, won't say if he has been offered the job.
The other candidate is Louisiana State running backs coach Larry Porter, one of the top recruiters in the country and a former running back at Memphis.
NORTH CAROLINA: Kicker Casey Barth and punter Grant Schallock appeared in Orange County court, and each received a continuation until Nov.30 for charges stemming from an Aug.27 incident.
Barth was charged with one misdemeanor for attempting to purchase alcohol with someone else's driver's license and one for attempting to obtain alcohol as a 19-year-old. Schallock received one citation for attempting to obtain alcohol as a 20-year-old.
Both had been "internally" disciplined, school spokesman Kevin Best said, and will play Saturday against N.C. State. J.P. GIGLIO
UCLA: A school spokesman said the statue of the mascot at Bruin Square was splashed with Southern Cal's red and gold paint between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Campus police are investigating.
WESTERN CAROLINA: An autopsy found that Ja'Quayvin Smalls, a junior defensive back from Wando, S.C., who died during his first preseason workout, suffered complications from an enlarged heart. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported an autopsy by Dr. Lawrence Selby found that sickle cell trait and exertion contributed to cardiac arrest. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder made more dangerous during strenuous exercise.
Bowling buzz
PAC-10: Just about the only sure bet when it comes to the postseason prospects is that Oregon or Oregon State will go to the Rose Bowl. Oregon (9-2, 7-1) and Oregon State (8-3, 6-2) could tie, but Oregon State would win the trip to Pasadena, Calif., with a victory Dec.3.
The Pac-10 has agreements with the Rose, Holiday, Sun, Emerald, Las Vegas and Poinsettia bowls. With seven bowl-eligible teams, someone will be left out. And up to four teams could tie for second. OBSERVER NEWS SERVICES
