The Prodi(Gol) Son

Credit: Joe Raymond/Associated Press

If you haven’t been dozing off during mass this Lenten season, you may have heard the familiar parable of the lost son recently. It’s a favorite of mine and like a good Catholic, I reflected on the connections between Jesus’ parables and my obsession over Notre Dame football. Let us pray.

It was reported last week that our very own prodigal son, Everett Golson was contemplating a return to South Bend for Notre Dame’s Pro Day on March 31st (and later confirmed). There isn’t much out there outside of these general reports but that won’t stop us (me) from speculating – so if you will humor me for a bit:

The fact that Everett Golson even considered returning for ND’s Pro Day has to mean that Brian Kelly and the gang are on board.
You have to wonder, how icy did things get at FSU between EG and the coaching staff towards the end of last season? If anything, the season proves that when you’re the new guy (grad transfer) and you don’t outright win the job – the team won’t follow (and the coaching staff will be quick to pull the hook). All things remaining equal, it would appear that EG’s stint at Florida State made his final days in South Bend seem less dramatic.
I immediately asked, “What’s in it for Brian Kelly?” I don’t think ND owes anything to Everett, and vice versa. My hunch? BK is a believer in CFB karma, and he wouldn’t put one of his players (current or former) out in the cold. Eric Hansen reports that transfers returning for Pro Day isn’t unprecedented (e.g., Hendrix came back for Pro Day after his season at Miami of Ohio) so maybe the door isn’t really closed on our former players who want to come back to work out.
So BK, like the father in the parable, is asking everyone to gather around Everett Golson – who was once lost, but has now been found. Instead of a fattened calf, EG will have Will Fuller and others (Breezy!) to throw to during Pro Day, which isn’t too shabby. Maybe it will be like riding a bike, and EG will pick up on his chemistry with the Irish receivers as it was when he left us the “Dear John” letter in May 2015 (no, I’m not bitter).

That leaves us with one final question in this analogy between Everett Golson returning to South Bend and the parable of the lost son – who is the other son? Well, it’s probably the collective Notre Dame fan base scratching its head at Brian Kelly even contemplating EG’s participation in Pro Day at Notre Dame – but like the parable states, it doesn’t matter what we think, BK is still going to cook up some fattened calf.