Why Notre Dame Football Automatically Improves If Everett Golson Is Reinstated

When Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune reported that quarterback Everett Golson was expected to return to the field, for practice, during the bowl season, good vibes got pumped into South Bend. For the Irish, that's an instant upgrade that truly improves this ball club.

The quarterback, dismissed from school for cheating, must first be readmitted, something expected to happen in mid-December. Once that condition is met, as expected, head coach Brian Kelly is looking to get the former Irish starter back on the practice fields during the weeks leading up to the bowl game.

To be clear, Golson is not going to play in the bowl game, rather he'll be working out with the team as a practice body, much in the same way that transfers and some early enrollees do when possible. However, unlike the transfer or the rare high school enrollee who are trying to find their way on a roster that's been together for a year, Golson is returning to a team where he was a critical element.

Notre Dame is not getting a game-time infusion of talent with Golson, at least not for the bowl season, rather, this team is getting a piece of itself back. For Golson, it means no more working out alone and standing on the outside, looking in. For the Irish, it means no more empty locker, no more missing guy in the meeting room and no more texting because Golson can't be around them.

It's not exactly The Return of the King—Golson is not Louis Nix III—but it's at least a return of a duke or lord, of sorts. By all accounts, Golson was a guy who was well-liked by the team, staff and players alike. It's the return of a guy who understands not only the playbook, but how to handle Kelly, and who knows how the Irish head coach wants to play football.

Golson returns to help. Note, he does not come to save the day, just to help. To help Tommy Rees get ready for the upcoming opponent. To help Andrew Hendrix understand what to actually look for should the zone read be a part of the game plan. To help work run offense while Rees throws one-on-ones, or to throw one-on-ones while Rees handles 9-on-7 period.

And, regardless of opponent, Golson will be there to help the defense get ready for the ballgame.

Golson's not going to be playing in the bowl game for the Irish, but his return will certainly help make the team better. Getting back into that locker room, Golson with his teammates in the Guglielmino Complex, the Haggar Fitness Center or the LaBar Practice Fields is a plus for all sides. He's a talented kid that will help improve the practice looks.

Golson's a kid that is going to look to prove his worth to his teammates all over again. Getting a chance to start that process in December, instead of during winter conditioning, is a positive, not just for Golson, but for the Irish as a whole.