Olsen brothers leave Notre Dame's football team

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Freshman tight end Greg Olsen has followed the lead of brother Chris, a sophomore quarterback, and left the Notre Dame football team.

Greg Olsen left school a day before classes are scheduled to begin, Lisa Mushett, Notre Dame's associate sports information director, said Monday.

"I have no idea where he's going," she said.

Telephone messages seeking comment were left at the Olsen home in Wayne, N.J., by The Associated Press.

Mushett said coach Tyrone Willingham would not be available to talk about the Olsens' decision until after Monday's practice.

Chris Olsen planned to enroll at Virginia on Monday so that he would be eligible to play for the Cavaliers next year, his father, Chris Olsen Sr., told the South Bend Tribune.

"For my future as a quarterback, I think I'm better served being at Virginia," he told the Herald News of West Paterson for Monday's editions.

"I left because I felt like I was possibly not the guy they were looking for in the future, and I respect that," he said.

Chris Olsen missed Saturday's practice for what Willingham called personal reasons. The team did not practice Sunday. Chris Olsen was a top recruit when he signed with the Irish, but did not play last season.

Olsen's departure leaves Notre Dame with three quarterbacks: returning starter Carlyle Holiday; Pat Dillingham, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship last year; and freshman Brady Quinn.