So much for thinking I had an extended weekend to work on HLS.
Last night, WNDU confirmed circulating rumors that Everett Golson was no longer enrolled at Notre Dame. Due to privacy laws, the University is not allowed to state any specifics on the reason for this or how severally Golson will be punished.
However, at this time, we do know a little bit more than ND is allowed to release.
Keith Arnold at Inside the Irish was able to confirm another part of the Golson rumor: that the issues centered around some kind of academic violation. Even further, it appears Golson might now be the only one in hot water:
Hearing that even DaVaris Daniels is unsure of his own fate. That, plus Golson news reminds you no offseason is truly off in South Bend.
— Keith Arnold (@KeithArnold) May 26, 2013
So much for thinking the offseason craziness was behind us.
Thus far, I have yet to see a report confirming the extent of Everett’s punishment. What is clear is that there is no doubt that Golson will not be a part of the 2013 season. This leaves Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, and early enrolle Malik Zaire in a wide-open competition for the now vacant job.
Gunner Kiel might also be a long shot to return as he definitely has that option. At this time though, Gunner has said he remains committed to Cincinnati.
There is some chance that Golson could return to ND if he so chooses. There is definitely precedent for such a return (Julius Jones, Darren Walls, and Kyle McAlarney for instance), but there is no word at this time from either Golson or his family on those future plans (or even how severe this punishment is).
Edit: Of course, as soon as I published, this happened:
Everett Golson was suspended by Notre Dame due to “poor academic judgment,” the former starting quarterback said in a statement given to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
“I have been informed by the University of Notre Dame that due to my poor academic judgment that I have been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term,” Golson said. “I take full responsibility for my poor choices and will do all that is asked of me to regain the trust of my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the entire Notre Dame community.”
…
“My parents and the community I grew up in have instilled values in me that have and will continue to allow me to be successful in the future,” he said. “There have been many lessons learned as I worked to become the starting quarterback at Notre Dame and each was a result of Coach Kelly’s belief in me as an athlete and a person.
“At this point, I understand how my integrity could be in question but I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.
“Lastly, I want to thank the University of Notre Dame for the opportunity already granted and also the opportunity going forth to regain my eligibility in the winter of 2014.”
For now, we can chalk this up as yet another chapter of “Ow My Balls” which is becoming all too common among ND fans.
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.
First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
One of the unfortunate effects of this unfortunate situation, is that Brian Kelly, who is already a major flight risk to the NFL, will be even more inclined to jump ship. He can make more money and will not have to worry about player defections and academics.
When he has Zaire waiting in the wings? Riiiiiight.
Also, in regards to academics, look up my post when he was in Dallas. He’s sold on ND’s mission and academics.
He’s sold on ND’s mission? After we were destroyed by Alabama, we found out that Kelly wasn’t ” all in ” on his mission to beat Alabama. He was already negotiating secretly for his Eagles audition. He’ll dump us in a heartbeat!
Feel free to actually cite a legitimate article that has Kelly negotiating because of the Alabama beat down or that it was secret. Swarbrick knew the whole time.
If he wanted to leave, he would have already. Eagles weren’t the only team kicking the tires.
Gauging interest in the NFL isn’t a sell out. I’d be more concerned if he didn’t at least listen.
You should apply to be his agent. If he truly believed in ND’s mission, he would consider his job as a destination job, not a stepping-stone job that includes yearly flirtations with the NFL. Easy on the green Kool-Aid!
So you can’t cite anything. Got it.
Tex, no idea why you are so certain about BK. Notre Dame is a super high pressure job, the money is better in the pros, and the program produces a ton of heartache and melodrama that you’d never even think possible, if it weren’t for it being true. BK wasn’t offered the Eagles job, they got their guy in Chip. Otherwise, who knows? That said, BK is a professional, he’s committed to winning, and, sure, so long as he’s at ND he’ll carry out its mission. If he does leave prematurely some day, it’ll probably be for the money. But you don’t think this kind of crap might make that decision a little bit easier? I’m sure he loves Notre Dame but maybe not as much as you do, and you really shouldn’t be so sad about it.
By the way, Everett Golson just really screwed us. 7-5. Anything better than that is a minor miracle.
I don’t think BK to the NFL is an impossibility, I just completely disagree with irishize’s hyperbole.
Personally, I feel BK enjoys working the college game and working with college-aged kids over pros, but that’s just a gut feeling on my end. I honestly don’t think situations like Golson are going to push him out the door any faster. This kind of thing just happens in various other ways at other programs. The only “ND thing” is that academics are so closely tied to it. Comes with the territory of CFB.
I don’t think Golson completely screwed us either. We were winning last season with defense and our offense was really clicking when the running game was working as well. I still think ND is a BCS quality team.
But we don’t have a QB. We have the unathletic Turnover Tommy and his dead arm. Last year we had sort of a historically good defense. I don’t know that we can repeat that 11 points/game effort. Yeah, maybe if we are really proficient running the ball, we’ll muddle through. BCS, though – you are aiming high.
That defense is still there and this time there is drastic improvement in the secondary via both recruits (Refield for one) and experience. The entire D-line is returning. The majority of the LBs are back with the addition of Jaylon Smith to boost the ranks.
Why should I not expect the defense to be elite?
Also, if Rees can’t cut it, we still have Hendrix and Zaire. The backfield has GA3, Carlisle, McDaniels, Folston, and Bryant.
Losing Golson hurts, but remember we went 12-0 with a RS freshman. All is not lost.
I think we’ll miss the leadership of Te’o and Kap, but I do expect the D to be good for years to come. I don’t think last year was a fluke, but I do think that unit was special.
I’m with you on the running game. It’s going to be our bread and butter, and we got a stable of good backs. BK did a great job slowing the game down for Golson last year, but Golson also could use his legs to get himself out of trouble and has a cannon for an arm.