Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS hopes intact after scoring 21 consecu- tive points to finish the game. Notre Dame's potential is evident — look no further than the Florida State game or the first 25 minutes of the sec- ond half at Arizona State. But it cannot seriously contend among the nation's elite until its quarterback prioritizes protecting the ball. "We've been working with him. Sooner or later, he's got to take it on himself to take care of the football," a clearly — and understandably — frus- trated Brian Kelly said after the game. "I don't know what else to do. We're at that point now where it hurt us in the game, obviously. He knows it. … He doesn't want to turn the football over. He was extending, he put the ball out — he's got to take care of the football better." Due to the emphasis and buildup for the inaugural playoff, the other "New Year 's Six" bowls now seem like consolation prizes, even if that's all two-loss Notre Dame is playing for now. Including the bowl game, Notre Dame's final four contests are also a sort of trial run for 2015, when the Irish bring virtually their entire team back. Each of the 11 defensive starters against the Sun Devils is expected to return next fall, not to mention the potential additions of cornerback Kei- Varae Russell and defensive end Ishaq Williams. Offensively, the three sig- nificant losses will be offensive line- man Christian Lombard, tight end Ben Koyack and running back Cam McDaniel. Regardless of how many 2014 con- tributors suit up again in 2015, Notre Dame's fate will again rest with Gol- son. Playmaking ability that rivals for- mer Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will get a team only so far — it's the less flashy yet vitally important ball security that needs to develop. Golson said it's his competitive na- ture to try to gain an extra yard here or to fit a pass in a tight window there that's to blame for his turnover-prone ways. The coaching staff has been pleading for ball security since be- fore the problem manifested itself in games, yet ultimately the responsibil- ity is on Golson. "We've just got to clean it up," Gol- son said repeatedly in his postgame press conference. At 7-2, Notre Dame will have to wait until its bowl game (at the earliest) to produce a significant victory and one that will turn heads nationally. On pa- per, the 2015 schedule is weaker, so the program's credibility could very well be an issue 12 months from now if the Irish are not contending for one of the four playoff berths. Credibility must be earned, with Golson and Notre Dame. The stakes are too high, and so is the talent level, for the signal-caller to cough up the football this often. With the oppor- tunities against top-10 opponents so rare, the sting of what could have been will stay with the Irish for quite some time. ✦ Andrew Owens has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since August 2013. He can be reached at aowens@blueandgold.com