QB Golson ready to lead Notre Dame after missing 2013

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The first day of spring practice was a bit surreal for Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson.

It had nothing to do with the 4 below zero temperature outside when the Fighting Irish took the field inside at 7:30 a.m. Monday. It had everything to do with that fact he was putting on his gold Notre Dame helmet and red practice jersey for the first time since being suspended from school last May for academic impropriety.

“I felt accomplished for a split moment, that I went through what I went through, and now I’m back,” he said. “I’m moving forward now and still continuing that process of trying to grind and be better.”

The Irish are expecting the 6-foot, 200-pound quarterback to be better than he was in 2012, when he helped Notre Dame get to the national championship game by finishing the regular season undefeated for the first time since winning its last national title in 1988. Golson was 187 of 318 passing, a 58.8 completion rate, with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions as the Irish went 12-1, losing 42-14 to Alabama in the championship game.

He also ran for 298 yards on 94 carries.

Coach Brian Kelly, who has repeatedly said he expects Ma- lik Zaire to challenge Golson for the starter’s job, on Monday sounded as though Golson would start.

“I think we all know college football and where it is, the quarterback is really going to be the centerpiece of this offense in the way we run. It’s going to fall on him. Today was a very good today for him in a first day,” Kelly said.

“We’re going to heap a lot on this kid’s shoulders, and he knows that.

“That’s why he came back to Notre Dame, because he wants that opportunity. Clearly, he’s going to be the guy that drives this for us.”

Golson admitted to being a bit too eager Monday, blaming that for some inaccurate passes early. But he said he believes he returns to school as a better quarterback because he’s more mature and polished after spending two months training with quarterbacks coach George Whitfield in San Diego.