Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/204831
Under the Dome but Whitfield quickly changed that style. Another excerpt in the article revealed that during film study with Whitfield, he recognized that he was too predictable in 2012 "throwing to the same routes out of the same formations" while not truly recognizing coverages. Golson threw for 2,405 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2012 while leading Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game. If reinstated, he would be eligible for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In an Oct. 31 meeting with the media, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly indicated that Golson is scheduled to return to the South Bend campus in the coming weeks and could be practicing with his old team during the bowl preparations in December. "A lot of this is theoretical," said Kelly, who was guarded in his comments about Golson's future. "Let's say he's admitted back into school on Dec. 15 [final exams for the fall semester are Dec. 16-20]. He would be eligible to practice. If that's the case, then we would practice him, but he would not, of course, be eligible to compete [in the bowl game]. Provided, of course, he gets readmitted." Kelly also indicated there were no academic requirements mandated by the school for Golson to get readmitted. "He would be eligible in terms of academics when he gets back here and would be on track," Kelly said. For the 2014 spring semester, Golson would be required to take at least the normal 12 credit hours required of a fulltime student and maintain a minumum 2.0 grade-point average to be eligible. ✦ The "Fighting Irish" Quarterback No matter what the situation, senior quarterback Tommy Rees usually has been in the shadows at Notre Dame throughout his four years. He wasn't a five-star prospect like Dayne Crist, and was rated even lower than classmate Andrew Hendrix. He didn't even have the pedigree of former preferred walk-on Nate Montana. He also lost his job to more dynamic, playmaking sophomore Everett Golson in 2012. Yet Rees salvaged the 2010 season by leading four straight victories in his first four starts, made possible the run to the 2012 BCS National Championship Game with four clutch performances in relief of Golson, and his value this year has been appreciated with each passing week. He has been head coach Brian Kelly's lifeboat at quarterback four straight years. When asked about Rees' legacy, Kelly responded that he doesn't have time to think big picture, but Rees does epitomize the school's nickname. "He just keeps coming," Kelly said. " He just shows up every day and keeps working and sometimes it doesn't look the greatest. But he keeps playing, and keeps persevering. And when it's all said and done, he represents all the things that we like. He's a great teammate. "You really like your relationship with him, you love his competitiveness, cares about the right things. So I guess that's how without having a chance to really formulate anything, he's just Fighting Irish." — Lou Somogyi