WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH THE HAWAII BOWL
Notre Dame vs. Hawaii, Honolulu, Dec. 24 -- If you've got nothing else cookin' on Christmas Eve, this is the game for you. It's the only bowl of the day, and sunny Honolulu might look awfully inviting. As for the game, just the presence of the Irish gives the game a big boost, because Hawaii is not a TV attraction this season. Even those who dislike Notre Dame have reason to watch -- just to see if the program extends its NCAA-record nine-game losing streak in bowls.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Jimmy Clausen -- A promising sophomore season came apart at the end, and he seems to be part of a dying breed -- a true drop-back quarterback. He has completed 246-of-414 passes for 2,771 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He'll be going against a Hawaii defense that allows 203.85 passing yards per game, 54th nationally.

DL Pat Kuntz -- The senior has had a good season along the front of Notre Dame's 3-4 scheme. He can play inside or outside in the scheme and was voted the team's Lineman of the Year. He has 41 tackles, including eight for loss and three and a half sacks.

LB Maurice Crum Jr. -- The senior is a veteran and solid presence who was chosen the team's MVP after the regular season. He has 63 tackles this season, as well as two forced fumbles. He enters the bowl game ranked eighth in school history with 303 career tackles.

WR Golden Tate -- The sophomore started to put it all together this season, leading the team with 52 catches for 903 yards and seven touchdowns. He's become a better route runner this season, but his signature play is still going deep.

ROSTER REPORT

--Standout freshman WR Michael Floyd, who suffered a sprained knee against Navy and missed the final two games of the regular season, is expected back for the bowl game. "We need him," sophomore receiver Golden Tate told the South Bend Tribune. "He's a deep threat. He's got great hands. He's strong and powerful." Floyd has been one of the top freshman receivers in the nation with 46 catches for 702 yards and seven touchdowns. All of those marks are freshman records at Notre Dame.

--Starting CB Terrail Lambert (ankle) missed the final three games of the regular season, but he should be fine for the bowl game.

--Starting LB Brian Smith (sprained knee) missed the final two regular-season games. He should be available for the bowl game. Smith has 53 tackles, including four for loss.

--FS David Bruton has been invited to play in the Senior Bowl.

--RB Robert Hughes was ejected for fighting late in the USC game, but his one-half suspension will be served in the 2009 opener against Nevada, not in the bowl game.

--Mike Anello, a special-teams ace, has a broken leg and will miss the Hawaii Bowl.

--Starting TE Will Yeatman, who was arrested early Sept. 21 at a party and charged with minor consumption of alcohol, resisting arrest and providing false information, was suspended for the rest of the season.

--Backup OL Paul Duncan had surgery Oct. 21 to repair cartilage in his hip. He is out for the rest of the season.

--Backup TE/FB Luke Schmidt (chronic headaches) is out indefinitely.

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