Resurrection: [rez-uh-rek-shuh n]. There are a number of meanings to this noun, depending on which dictionary you pick up. Most have to do with that seminal moment in the history of Christianity; the others make resurrection the perfect word to describe what we saw in Notre Dame’s starting quarterback, Everett Golson, against Rice on Saturday.
Six hundred: that’s the number of days that had passed between the time Golson and the rest of the Irish submitted to the pressure of the behemoth Crimson Tide in the January 2013 BCS National Championship game, and when Notre Dame opened their 2014 season at home this past weekend. Incidentally, it would also be the exact number of days that it would take for Golson to lead the Irish charge again.
Everett Golson: A Resurrection in the Making
Shockwaves filtered out of South Bend in May 2013 when it was discovered that Golson, heading into his sophomore year, had been expelled from school for the autumn semester for various reasons including an academic violation, forcing Brian Kelly and the rest of the squad to rely on the immobile but competent senior Tommy Rees, who led the team to a respectful 9-4 season capped off by a bowl win over Rutgers and top-20 rankings in both the final AP and Coaches’ polls.
In the opener versus Rice, there remained a handful of unanswered questions as Notre Dame Stadium filled to capacity. Would the removal of a fifth player as the result of the ongoing investigation into campus-wide academic improprieties rattle the normally solid-at-home Irish? What affect would the MCL injury to team co-captain and senior safety Austin Collinsworth have on the Irish defense? What impact would a fresh slate of coordinators have, if any? How would Golson fare after sitting out an entire season?
Along with snazzy new Under Armour uniforms and a brand new turf field, Notre Dame fans got their answers late in the first quarter. After a sluggish start from both the Fighting Irish and their Owl opponents (neither side managed a first down until Golson finally connected with senior tight end Ben Koyack to put Notre Dame in the red zone with six minutes left in the opening quarter), a bulked-up Golson’s mobility would soon be on display as he charged 11 yards to the end zone for an Irish touchdown.
Although Rice would answer with a touchdown of their own before the end of the first quarter, Golson was just beginning to show what the rest of us had missed while he was away. After training over the summer in San Diego with ‘quarterback whisperer’ George Whitfield, Golson was able to amass five total touchdowns, while going 14-22, logging 295 passing yards, and running 41 yards on 12 carries. Golson’s kinetic performance made him only the third quarterback in Notre Dame history to run for three touchdowns, helping the Fighting Irish to tally their largest margin of victory of the Brian Kelly era and the most points scored in a home game since 1991. With Golson’s new flair and assists by notable Irish standouts Cody Riggs, Greg Bryant and Amir Carlisle, Notre Dame’s 48-17 win over Rice caused a sensation while also painting a silver lining for Notre Dame faithful.
The sudden revival of the young man from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, whom many believed had fallen to depths too low to be relevant against teams as mighty as Michigan and Florida State, has resuscitated a buoyant fan base and has shown that second comings, even in football, are something to be believed.
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Main Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
