Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
BY LOU SOMOGYI A mericans are hailed as a forgiv- ing people. If you own up to a misdeed, show genuine contri- tion, take your medicine and return to your previous stage, you will be often embraced. If you are cloaked in a shroud of denial, spin or secrecy, chances are you will be less accepted (i.e. baseball's Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Roger Clem- ens, Alex Rodriguez …). Notre Dame has had its share of ex- ceptional football and basketball stu- dent-athletes who could have walked away forever after incurring a suspen- sion — be it academic or disciplinary — but instead returned to glory at the University. Senior cornerback KeiVarae Russell plans to be the next following a two- semester academic suspension in 2014- 15. The 26-game starter was projected as a future high-round NFL pick last summer. Senior defensive end Ishaq Williams might have a similar oppor- tunity in 2015. Here's a top 15 of Notre Dame come- backs over the last 60 years: 15. EVERETT GOLSON — Following a sophomore campaign in which he helped the Fighting Irish reach the BCS Championship, the quarterback was out of school in the summer and fall of 2013 because of "poor academic judgment" before returning in 2014. While the campaign produced only an 8-5 ledger, Golson did earn his Men- doza College of Business degree before opting to use his fifth season of eligi- bility at Florida State. 14. RON REED — He averaged 18.9 points and 14.3 rebounds in the 61 ca- reer games he played at Notre Dame from 1962-65, but the factory worker's son from La Porte, Ind., was dismissed from school after his sophomore year because of academics. "I thought my dad was going to kick my behind all over La Porte," he said years later. "Working at a factory in In- diana was probably the best education I've ever had in my life." Reed was an NBA forward in 1965- 67 but went on to pitch 18 seasons in the major leagues, compiling a 146-140 record. 13. BILL LAIMBEER — A freshman at Notre Dame in 1975-76, the 6-foot-11 Return To GLORY Notre Dame has had many premier athletes rebound from suspension or exile