Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/499410
THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI and from the most recent Irish opponent (LSU) to the next one (Texas on Sept. 5). That prompted a five‑word tweet from Golson on Jan. 5: Don't believe everything you hear. That has been the extent of communi‑ cation from Golson since mid‑Decem‑ ber. It would seem unfathomable that a Notre Dame quarterback who has basically two‑dozen starts and led the game‑winning march in his most recent outing is not available to the media. Yet it is the reality by his choice. Notre Dame director of football media relations Michael Bertsch received in‑ terview requests throughout the spring for Golson, and he has conversed with the quarterback about what to expect in the line of questioning. For that reason, Golson believes it is better to lay low and not to be a distraction. However, the silence from Golson also is interpreted that he is keeping the door open to move elsewhere and not have to deal with such inquiries. To put an end to all the idle speculation, all Golson would need to do is state affirmatively, "I will not transfer and will stay at Notre Dame in 2015 for my fifth season of eli‑ gibility." The first goal is to graduate in May. Golson wouldn't be able to play at an‑ other school in 2015, if he so desired, without first attaining his degree at Notre Dame. When head coach Brian Kelly was asked after the April 11 practice whether he believes Golson will be back for the fall rather than compete with Zaire for the starting role or have a "time share" with him, he paused to select his words carefully. "I couldn't tell you for certain, but he's had his best spring since he's been here; he's fully engaged in everything that he's doing," Kelly replied. "It's the best that I've seen him do the things we've asked him to do since he's been here." Kelly added that he's been in coaching long enough to see the red flags, and he hasn't from Golson. "I'm not surprised by anything that 18‑ and 21‑year‑olds do … but there's no indication that there's anything that he's done that would mean he's just doing this as a way to go somewhere else," Kelly said. "If I sensed it at all, I would've pulled the plug on it myself because we're wasting our time. "I think I've got a pretty good sense of people and situations. I'm not going to jeopardize our program, our staff, our livelihood, what we do, if somebody's not bought in and 100 percent commit‑ ted. That's the most honest answer I can give you from that standpoint." For Golson, the silence emanates from a desire to step away, at least temporar‑ ily, from the spotlight. "He's had his share of living in the bright lights," Kelly said. "In the fall, he's going to have to do what every‑ body else does. When it's media time, he's going to have to sit in front of you guys and answer questions, but we'll give him his space. I expect him to be here and help us win games in the fall." Until then, silence remains Golson. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com