Everett Golson Releases Statement Apologizing To Notre Dame Community

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly talks with quarterback Everett Golson (5) during the second half of the 2013 BCS Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Late Saturday night the Notre Dame Fighting Irish turned the college football world on its head when spokesman Dennis Brown announced that starting quarterback Everett Golson was no longer enrolled at the university. The Chicago Tribune would go on to report that Golson was indeed suspended for an academic violation and would not be eligible to play anywhere in 2013.

Today, Everett Golson himself confirmed that he had been suspended for what he called “poor academic judgment” and, through the university, he released a statement apologizing to the Notre Dame community. The following, is that statement in full as published by the Tribune:

"Dear Notre Dame Community,I have been informed by the University of Notre Dame that due to my poor academic judgment that I have been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term.I take full responsibility for my poor choices and will do all that is asked of me to regain the trust of my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the entire Notre Dame community.I chose to attend Notre Dame because of its mission to develop me both on and off the football field.My parents and the community I grew up in have instilled values in me that have and will continue to allow me to be successful in the future.  There have been many lessons learned as I worked to become the starting quarterback at Notre Dame and each was a result of Coach Kelly’s belief in me as an athlete and a person.At this point, I understand how my integrity could be in question but I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.Lastly, I want to thank the University of Notre Dame for the opportunity already granted and also the opportunity going forth to regain my eligibility in the winter of 2014.Thanks,Everett Golson"

Golson’s statement validates what had already been reported about this being a suspension related to an academic violation of some sort, although it makes no effort to clarify what exactly Everett Golson did. It also clarifies Golson’s intentions moving forward.

NCAA rules would prohibit Everett Golson from being on scholarship anywhere following suspension for an academic violation, so, with that in mind, Golson’s intentions are to regain good academic standing and return to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2014. What that means in the immediate future for Notre Dame is that former starter Tommy Rees emerges as the odds-on favorite to start again next season, though redshirt junior Andrew Hendrix and true freshman Malik Zaire both figure to compete in fall camp.

However, before Golson’s statement declaring his intent to return to Notre Dame, the future looked uncertain at quarterback for the Fighting Irish and Brian Kelly. Golson’s suspension comes on the heels of former five star Gunner Kiel transferring to Cincinnati, and the initial incertitude surrounding Golson’s status past 2013 left the program with a glaring hole in its long-term plans at quarterback.

The pending return of Everett Golson offers at least some reassurances to Notre Dame’s offensive future. Granted, Golson’s reinstatement is far from guaranteed.

Everett Golson will likely be put through the ringer before he is readmitted to Notre Dame–as he should–and making a public statement apologizing to the community and reaffirming your commitment to the program is probably a good first step towards retribution. In the coming days and weeks, as we begin to unearth the gravity of Golson’s transgressions, I suspect we’ll see a clearer picture emerge of what Everett Golson must to do get back into Brian Kelly’s good graces.

Kelly made it rather clear in 2012 that Golson would be a major piece of the offense moving forward, and the mere possibility of Everett Golson returning to Notre Dame shows you exactly how valuable they think he is. And, while it will be interesting to see how this all continues to unfold, all signs point towards Everett Golson donning a Golden Dome in 2014.