USA Today

Updates for Thursday, Dec. 19

Rich Cirminiello of CampusInsiders.com has more information on Everett Golson's return to Notre Dame:

Updates for Friday, Dec. 13

Notre Dame has announced that Golson was readmitted:

Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 3

ESPN.com's Matt Fortuna has new info, including another statement from Kelly discussing Golson's return to the team:

"I've been assured that based upon all of the information that has been provided that he's going to be readmitted on Dec. 13, and that information has been provided to admissions," Kelly, on a media tour to promote VIZIO's BCS Fan Throwdown contest, told ESPN.com. "It's just a matter of them sending out the admittance letter and then being back on campus sometime around the 15th of December." Golson will not be able to practice with the Fighting Irish (8-4) during their bowl-game preparations. Golson cannot travel with the team to its to-be-determined bowl site, either.

---End of update---

News broke in May that Golson, who led the Irish to a BCS National Championship Game berth in 2012, was no longer enrolled at Notre Dame due to an academic violation of the school's honor code. Though privacy issues kept the details shrouded in mystery for months, Golson admitted to cheating on a final exam in an October interview with Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples.

Golson was replaced under center by Tommy Rees, who has served as the Irish's quarterback throughout 2013. Since leaving school, Golson has stayed close, avoiding re-enrolling elsewhere and staying committed to a return to Notre Dame.

“My heart was set on going back to Notre Dame,” Golson told Sports Illustrated. “Not necessary to prove to anybody, just doing it for me. That’s something that I started and I didn’t want to run away from it.”

Although the decision is in the academic board's hands now, all odds point toward Golson getting back in. He told Staples that he expects the school to allow his readmission, which will enable him to begin taking classes again in January.

Just a redshirt freshman in 2012, Golson will have two years of eligibility remaining should he return to South Bend. Playing mostly a checkdown-heavy, conservative style, he threw for 2,405 yards and 12 touchdowns against six interceptions as Notre Dame finished the regular season 12-0 before losing the title game to Alabama.

Golson should come back to a slightly altered game scheme. Kelly has opened up his playbook a bit this season with Rees, who has thrown for 2,504 yards and 24 touchdowns coming into this Saturday's game against the Cougars.

Nevertheless, it is clear Golson will have competition. Notre Dame made a major splash landing 4-star quarterback DeShone Kizer for its 2014 recruiting class, and the highly touted Malik Zaire will also come off his redshirt.



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