Brian Kelly On Everett Golson: “I Expect Him To Be Back”
Speculation started quickly after Notre Dame defeated LSU in the Music City Bowl. What would Everett Golson do now that he lost his job? The truth is, he hasn’t lost it. He still has every opportunity to keep it. He was still a critical part of the bowl game, helping lead the game-winning drive. And he didn’t start because coach Brian Kelly believed a running option at quarterback gave better odds. So what does Kelly think? While anything could happen between now and spring, Kelly has hope he’ll be back in South Bend.
"“But I expect him to be back and competing for the starting position. Both of them [Golson and Zaire] will have an opportunity. I’d love to see both of them on the field for us; I think we can play them both. Everett’s got a chance to win that starting position. I know he expects to be the starter in the fall, and he’ll have that opportunity to do that.” h/t Tom Fornelli, CFB Writer – CBSSports.com"
Golson has no one to blame but himself for his “benching”. 22 turnovers in a season is too many, no matter how talented you may be. But he hasn’t gotten weaker, slower or less talented. Golson simply found himself in a slump, and Kelly had too tempting an option in Malik Zaire to pass up.
And the possibility of Golson returning to split time isn’t a terrible one. Kelly has a history of great success running two quarterback systems. even at Notre Dame, we saw it with Golson and Tommy Rees. And while there are other options out there, he’s in the spotlight in South Bend. Even a transfer to LSU won’t be the same opportunity that he has at Notre Dame.
In most cases, a graduate transfer will head to a school that he’s a “lock” for the starting job. But he’ll likely have to compete for the job at LSU. So with that, why not just compete for the job where you’re 19-6 as a starter? Golson didn’t transfer after his academic mishap because it was “too easy” do go that route. If that wasn’t lip service, this is the time to prove it. Stay in South Bend and fight for the starting job.
"“But I expect him to be back and competing for the starting position. Both of them [Golson and Zaire] will have an opportunity. I’d love to see both of them on the field for us; I think we can play them both. Everett’s got a chance to win that starting position. I know he expects to be the starter in the fall, and he’ll have that opportunity to do that.”"