SOUTH BEND — Ten days after his controversial penalty in the win over Louisville, Notre Dame football defensive back Jordan Clark described in detail the on-field incident that precipitated his head-butting of wide receiver Chris Bell.
The Sept. 28 provocation took place on a third-and-2 incompletion on the previous series, Clark said, shortly after he moved outside from the slot to replace injured cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
“(Bell) hit me in the face and spit on me,” Clark said after Tuesday’s practice. “Ultimately, I can’t cost my team 15 yards, regardless of what happens. I’m never going to let somebody spit on me. I’m never going to let anybody punch me. But 15 yards is unacceptable.”
Clark was flagged for unsportsmanlike contact on first down from the Louisville 8-yard-line after jumping into Bell and striking him in the side of the helmet with his own. Clark said Tuesday both he and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman alerted an official after Bell lashed out initially.
A three-and-out for the Notre Dame offense put Clark back on the field with just 50 seconds of game clock having elapsed early in the third quarter.
“After (Bell) spit in my face, I told the official,” Clark said. “Coach Free told the official. I guess he said he didn’t see it and he didn’t do anything about it. Ultimately, that’s out of my control.”
The recommended response is clean, physical play within the construct of the game.
“Football is a very physical game, and I have ample time between the whistles to figure things out and handle things that way,” Clark said. “That’s what I’ll do next time. … Obviously, you’re never going to let anybody disrespect you, but ultimately we want to win football games. Moving forward, I’ll definitely look at situations like that … with that mindset.”
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Freeman spoke in detail Monday about the teamwide teachable moment Clark’s infraction inspired. Tuesday evening, Clark made it clear the message was received, mentioning additional discussions with defensive coordinator Al Golden and defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens.
“Coach Free and I talked about it,” Clark said. “I’ve talked about it with Coach Golden and Coach Mick. I don’t want to hurt my team in any way, but I’ll never let anybody spit on me or punch me in the face.”
Asked if Bell or anyone else from Louisville had extended an apology since Notre Dame’s emotionally charged, 31-24 win, Clark answered no. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from Yazoo City, Miss., Bell finished with three catches (on six targets) for 21 yards and a dropped pass.
A sixth-year graduate transfer from Arizona State, the 5-10, 182-pound Clark brushed aside any notion the trash talk in the Louisville game was notable.
“I’ve played in a lot of really physical games, a lot of intense games,” Clark said. “Smack talk whenever somebody has like one catch doesn’t really do too much to me. You’re just talking at that point. It’s a lesson for me. I need to grow from it and be better for my team. I don’t want to hurt my teammates, but smack-talking and all that stuff doesn’t bother me too much.”
Previously unbeaten Louisville fell out of the Top 25 after suffering its second straight loss over the weekend, 34-27 at home against Southern Methodist. Bell had two catches for 7 yards.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football DB Jordan Clark after Louisville dustup: 'It's a lesson for me'
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