Clausen ends Irish bowl skid

HONOLULU - Jimmy Clausen ended Notre Dame's long bowl drought - and Hawaii's bid for a fourth straight Hawaii Bowl victory - with a recordbreaking passing night.

Clausen set Notre Dame bowl records with 401 yards passing and five touchdowns to lead the efficient Fighting Irish to their first postseason victory in 15 years, 49-21, over Hawaii on Wednesday.

"I told the team that's the only thing I wanted [for Christmas]. I just wanted to win a bowl game," Irish coach Charlie Weis said.

"I heard it a hundred times in the locker room after the game and they wanted to know what I was giving them for Christmas. I told them: 'A flight home.' "

Golden Tate had six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns, also Notre Dame bowl records, including a 69-yarder that sparked a 28-point outburst to help the Irish (7-6) end their NCAA-record bowl losing steak at nine.

Notre Dame's victory was its first in the postseason since it beat Texas A & M in the Cotton Bowl to end the 1993 season. *