1:56 PM: The following was released to the public:
Man… Only at ND! Smh
— Everett Golson (@Everett_Golson5) January 28, 2015
Obviously, Everett Golson was trying to tell us something, but what? It had to be important. One does not take to Twitter for just any old thought or impulse. When a 22-year old college student “smh”‘s, we must all take note. Sadly, no answer from the source would come quickly leaving a public desperate for answers to search deep down in their souls for the truth.
I tried a thought exercise. I reverted in time approximately a decade to when I was 22 and thought about what would have been so important that I would need to take to the Internet to express it. While Twitter wasn’t around, we did have this thing known as A-I-M that permitted us to cryptically reveal our thoughts to the world. Like when I’d post Jimmy Buffett song lyrics with a reference to drinking on a Friday night. “You sly dog, you,” I thought to myself then…and now.
Sometimes, being the wussy southerner I was, I would AIM “Away Message” my thoughts about South Bend’s terrible winters. But that was then, this was now. People in this modern era of social media don’t just tweet out things about the weather. That’s an old man’s game. I knew if I wanted the answer, I would have to search. Perhaps looking at some other current player tweets would help me unlock the mystery.
It took a little while. After hours of scrolling through Northeastern blizzard updates, deflated balls jokes, people who’d apparently taken to Twitter to avoid fines, and roster releases for the Puppy Bowl, I finally found a contemporary player of Everett Golson who might help lift the shroud of secrecy:
We need this W against Duke tonight bring the sauce out
— Greg Bryant J.r #⃣1⃣ (@The1twoWatch) January 29, 2015
That’s right! There was a basketball game this evening. I mean…of course I remembered there was a basketball game of some national import because I’d read Tex’s piece this morning telling me to watch Duke versus Notre Dame. While I still wasn’t quite sure what Golson meant, I was sure I was onto something. I needed to bring the sauce. The team needed to bring the sauce. The whole University needed to bring the sauce…..And they did.
#4 Duke – 73, #8 Notre Dame – 77
At a school that is practically a synonym for college football, it is often times difficult for any other sport to garner that same feel or excitement. However, what everyone in attendance and who watched from afar witnessed on Wednesday evening was the crowning moment (to date) for a men’s basketball season that’s becoming increasingly special. While the epic, clawing, come-from-behind road win at N.C. State on Sunday the 25th was exhilarating, taking out one of the true blue bloods of college basketball (for a second straight year no less) in Purcell Pavillion rose to a completely different level. Man…..only at ND!
The statistical profile of this Notre Dame team is impressive. By any measure, it’s one of the very best offensive teams in the country on the season. In Duke, Notre Dame was forced to play a team nearly as good, and the game lived up to the billing. Essentially from the get go, the teams exchanged baskets, turnovers, and highlight reel moments at an equal rate. Duke held a narrow three point lead at halftime as several uncharacteristic turnovers by Notre Dame led to several late scores for Duke to close the half.
Early in the second half, Duke went on a scoring run to open up a ten point lead at 63-53. Rather than being another example of a moment too big for one of Mike Brey’s teams, the team ignited to go on its own 8-0 run and quickly tighten the game back up. The uncharacteristic aspect of all of this was that nothing felt desperate. Nothing felt flukey. Nothing, quite frankly, felt like Notre Dame. There’s a different level of confidence and trust this team has in itself compared to any other team in the Mike Brey era.
The unquestioned leader of the team is Jerian Grant. Grant’s game had several more highlight reel moments in what’s become one long highlight reel of a season. Seriously, I could talk about his shot from Chicago or from his back as the shot clock expired and only be scratching the surface of all that he’s accomplished. You might have heard that Grant’s the son, nephew, and brother of NBA players. You’ve probably heard this because all mentions of Jerian Grant are required to include that information. As you can see, I’ve dutifully followed suit. It’s probably best that we all stopped doing this though. It’s a disservice to the 22-year old who came back from academic issues to forge his own identity and legend. While his father, brother, and uncle may have made the NBA, Grant’s senior year at ND has elevated his status to that of a stand alone star. He’s done it through hard work, perseverance, and redemption. He’s done it the right way. Man……only at ND!
Grant’s the ring leader to a well-orchestrated, high flying circus. A circus the nation got to meet up close and personal last night. 4 of the 5 starters ended up in double digits scoring-wise. Nothing new there. The lone member not to reach double digits, Steve Vasturia, hit one of the biggest shots of the night…a three-pointer with seconds left on the shot clock and only twenty seconds left in the game. Who passed him the ball? Jerian Grant of course.
Then there’s the pair of 6’5″ players who play far larger than their physical frames. One’s senior tough guy Pat Connaughton who led the team in rebounds with 12 and shot 50% from three point range on his way to a double-double. The scariest moment of the night occurred when Connaughton leapt onto and over the back of M_____ Plumlee (because seriously, Duke has a never ending supply of M_____ Plumlees) falling hard onto his back and head. Dazed for a only a few minutes, he was back in the game barely missing any action. Connaughton returning quickly seemed like a forgone conclusion, when it shouldn’t have been, but that’s just who he is. He’s the latest in a Brey legacy of gritty, hard-working seniors who never give in. Man……only at ND!
The other 6’5″ player is but a freshman. Bonzie Colson didn’t play big minutes, but the minutes he played were important. Going up against one of the best players in all the land, Colson held his own versus the human colossus that is Jahlil Okafor when Zach Auguste got himself into foul trouble early. Colson’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious. He brings the sauce.
So I lost my train of thought waxing poetic about the basketball team. Then again, I don’t apologize for doing so. Every word written about these guys is well-deserved and hopefully continues into late March. However, seeing that result tonight led me to conclude that Everett Golson is but a basketball prophet. He knew the result, tweeted it early, and the rest of us didn’t know yet how to react. Man……only at ND! Oh, and that “smh” so many were concerned about, it’s not done out of contempt but out of disbelief. Disbelief for how good this ND basketball team is.
Don’t believe me that Golson’s a basketball prophet? That’s fine. After all, I guess he could just be talking about the weather…
- Who the _______ am I Watching? ND’s Depth Chart (Literally) by the Numbers (Part II) - August 29, 2019
- Who the _______ am I Watching? ND’s Depth Chart (Literally) by the Numbers - August 27, 2019
- The People’s Free Guide to ND Football 2019 - August 26, 2019
Ryan Ritter
Clearly, Golson read the first angry Viewpoint letter about either the Vagina Monologues or a meatless dining hall.
It’s that time of the year!
Moons
Meatless dining hall Friday is a STRONG contender. S-M-H.