Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the fifth quarter lou somogyi A Culture Of Instant Gratification T wo days prior to the Arizona State game Oct. 5, about a dozen beat writers and several television reporters let out a sigh of relief. That's because they would probably no longer have to ask head coach Brian Kelly about freshman running back Greg Bryant's status, at least not this season. When asked again about Bryant's status again on that aforementioned day, Kelly revealed that the rookie col- Even Jerome Bettis, who donned an "All-World" jacket legian will likely be sidelined the upon arriving in South Bend, had only 18 rushing attempts remainder of the season because as a freshman in 1990. file photo of severe patella tendinitis that will necessitate a plasma replacerunner entering the season, Bryant was ment procedure. perceived as the quick-fix elixir, the The inference was that he would be- T.J. Yeldon (Alabama) or Todd Gurley come a medical redshirt in 2013 and (Georgia) of 2013, backs who eclipsed proceed thereafter with his college foot- 1,000 yards rushing as true freshmen ball career. last season at top programs. Throughout the month of September, Generally, there is nothing I'm more Bryant, through no fault of his own, averse to in writing than projecting a was one of the premier topics on the freshman's impact, but even I gave in BlueandGold.com message boards, and during the preseason and predicted from what we understand numerous that Bryant would become the sixth other Notre Dame sites. It was based freshman ever for the Irish to reach the not on what he was doing, but why the 500-yard rushing mark. coaching staff wasn't letting him do it. When he barely played through the Along with fellow Floridian class- first four games (three carries for 14 mate and running back Tarean Folston, yards), speculation was rampant in Bryant arrived as an "SEC-type back," cyberspace on why, from conspiracy which is the translation for a poten- theories about favoritism to the lack tial game-changer. With Notre Dame of developmental skills within the inhaving graduated its top two rushers frastructure (despite a BCS National from last season (Theo Riddick and Championship Game bid nine months Cierre Wood combined for 1,659 rush- earlier). ing yards in 2012) and no clear-cut lead Above all, the feeling was Kelly and