Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME WHICH "HEART ATTACK" PLAYER WILL BE A BIGGER FACTOR FOR THE IRISH IN 2012? Point ✦ Counterpoint: sophomore George Atkinson III, according to his perfor- mance on the track this spring. Atkinson ran a 10.36 in the 100-meter dash. He'll be the fastest player on the field every time he touches it next season. He's go- ing to make his mark one way or another. Atkinson showed his breakaway speed I'm On The Atkinson Diet By Dan Murphy There are four players in college football faster than Irish last season on kick returns (two touch- downs, 26.1 yards per return). That will be back this year. At 6-1, 210 pounds, he's also at least 20 pounds heavier than the four players that are faster than him. That size makes him a threat on offense. He showed glimpses of what that could Give Me Golson In Game One By Wes Morgan There are times in this forum that Dan Murphy and I happen to agree with each other, though one of us must play Devil's advocate so as to have opposing opinions. This is one of those times. As exciting as Everett Golson is, and with look like during this year's spring game when he paced the team with 124 rush- ing yards. Sure, he'll have to compete with two top seniors for touches, but in a tweaked Irish offense there should be plenty to go around for him and his backfield mates. If he gets the ball in his hands 10 times a game, he's good for at least 100 all-purpose yards. Atkinson's biggest problem used to be solved with an $8 Sophomore running back/slot George Atkinson III has the explosiveness and game expe- rience to be a huge factor in 2012. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND the amount of potential the quarterback brings to the table, I'm still not convinced that head coach Brian Kelly is going to pull the trigger with Golson in 2012 — at least not as the undisputed starter playing the majority of minutes. Of course, a lot de- pends on the how the legal process plays out for junior-to-be Tommy Rees, who is facing four misdemeanor charges after an alcohol-related arrest on May 3. Then it will be up to the university and can of Stickum (now illegal). Everett Golson, on the other hand, needs a time machine to increase his experience and a Matrix-style download of the Irish playbook. Atkinson should be easier to cure. After two fumbles in the spring game, he said ball security would be his chief concern this summer. That means sleeping with a football lodged in the crook of his arm, if that's what it takes. As a quarterback, Golson will always have a higher ceiling if he wins the starting job. But if we're betting, the smart money is on Atkinson. it's still hard to fathom Kelly would hand the reins to a rookie heading into a pivotal third season instead of sticking with Rees or even considering classmate Andrew Hendrix for the job. With a daunting schedule ahead, and knowing that Rees appears to have hit his ceiling, which is too low for most Irish fans, there is an outcry for change in 2012 in order to set up 2013. I'd like to see Golson get his chance sooner than later; I just don't think it will happen. If Golson does get the call, though, there would be plenty Kelly to decide how to handle the outcome. Even after Rees' poor judgment off the field, of excitement to go with a lot of growing pains. The kid can make plays and, just as important in a spread offense, extend them. We saw this in the Blue-Gold Game in April when he finished 11-of-15 passing for 120 yards with two touchdowns — by far the best effort at quarterback in the live spring scrimmage. JUNE/JULY 2012 27