Griffiths: Notre Dame will miss Golson more than it thinks
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Correspondent
Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish have been tabbed a preseason top-10 team by some heading into the 2013 campaign, but those lofty expectations may be way out of whack now that starting quarterback Everett Golson is in exile after being suspended from the university.
In the latter part of May, the bombshell that Golson was no longer enrolled at Notre Dame was confirmed. The sophomore-to-be (eligibility wise) was sent packing due to an academic violation.
Golson will have the option of returning to Notre Dame, according to Coach Brian Kelly. First, though, the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native will have to enroll at a college, take some classes and show the university he’s worthy of returning to Notre Dame.
Where Golson will eventually land is anyone’s guess. It was believed that he was headed for a junior college in California. However, he hasn’t landed anywhere for certain yet.
Not surprisingly some schools have apparently shown interest in trying to lure Golson to their program. Rumblings have been heard that at least one SEC school is interested in his services.
When the dust settles though expect Golson to attend a junior college for a semester with hopes of getting readmitted to Notre Dame for the 2014 spring semester.
Currently Kelly and his Irish are trying to regroup and move forward knowing they won’t have Golson’s services this fall.
The players are back on campus for summer school and have begun seven-on-seven drills as they prep for the start of fall camp in August.
Life without Golson has included Kelly last week naming veteran quarterback Tommy Rees his starter, at least heading into fall camp.
Whether Rees indeed is the starter when Notre Dame opens its season at home against Temple Aug. 31, remains to be seen.
One thing is a certainty, the Fighting Irish will dearly miss Golson.
Sure, Manti Te’o and his stellar defense got tons of credit (and deservedly so) for leading Notre Dame to a 12-0 2012 regular season and an appearance in the BCS National Championship game. But no way does Notre Dame play for a national title without Golson.
Golson’s athleticism and ability to make something out of nothing, especially when plays broke down, won’t be replaced, especially by Rees.
His underappreciated arm strength, particularly in delivering the deep ball on target, will be sorely missed in South Bend, too.
Some of Golson’s improv drove Kelly crazy at times, but had it not been his knack of escaping trouble would Notre Dame have won overtime games against Stanford and Pitt, not to mention the five games decided by a touchdown or less? No.
One look at Golson’s stats and you realize just how special a year he had, especially for a first-time starter. He completed just a tad under 59 percent of his passes for 2,405 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Golson, who ran for six scores as well, really seemed to be coming into his own as last year went on. He threw seven touchdown passes in the month of November alone.
As a result, an offense that was basically told not to lose games last fall was expected to win some this time around.
Expect an about face to that philosophy. If the Irish are to return to a BCS bowl this season, their defense might have to be better than it was a year ago. That’s asking for a lot.
Golson was and still might eventually be Notre Dame’s future. However, at least for the 2013 season, someone else will need to fill the gigantic void left by No. 5. That seems like an enormous task when you consider this is a Fighting Irish offense that loses its top two rushers in Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick and All-American tight end Tyler Eifert.
Last year all the stars seemed to align perfectly for the Irish on their magical run. This season things have gotten off to a rocky start and we’re still two months away from the season opener.
You have to wonder whether the Fighting Irish can handle losing Golson, considered a future star by many.
If they can’t, all the positive momentum this program generated last season might vanish in a hurry.
