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The fact that Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson hasn't spoken with the media in almost three weeks certainly hasn't muffled the speculation regarding his status as ND's No. 1 quarterback.
Kelly shot down a Internet rumor Thursday night that junior Tommy Rees would supposedly start against Miami Saturday night instead of Golson.
"I thought I made that pretty clear," Kelly said. "Everett will start in week five, and we expect him to start in week 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10, 11 and 12 and 13. He is getting better."
Golson has the chance to become the first Irish quarterback to win his first five starts since 2000, when true freshman Matt LoVecchio won his first seven.
The only other two ND QBs to go 5-0 out of the gate in the past 30 years were Kevin McDougal in 1993 and Steve Beuerlein in 1983.
"There's so much development that's taking place that's not on Saturday," Kelly said of Golson. "He's coming. We're not a finished product yet, and I've got a guy in Tommy Rees who is a guy who can come in and help us while we go through this process of learning. I'm comfortable with it."
And Kelly insists the team is as well.
Rumor No. 2 speculated that the Irish players wanted Kelly to start Rees over Golson.
"For Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert, who came back this year for another season," Kelly said, "I know that I have their support in particular, that whomever we put out there at the quarterback position, I'm doing it in their best interests to win right now.
"Tommy's a very popular guy in our locker room, and that's great, but I'm going to do what's in the best interests of our football program for the immediate right now and for the future.
"I know that our players trust that I'll make those decisions and they'll support me."
Trick or treat?
The mass hysteria over Notre Dame's unconventional Shamrock Series helmets and uniforms, introduced in August, seems to have been mitigated over the past few weeks by the team's 4-0 start.
Not that the Irish players ever bought into the negative buzz.
"(You hear) Rockne is rolling over in his grave, and all that type of stuff," Irish nose guard Louis Nix said. "I don't care too much about people's opinions, 'cause I have to play in them and I enjoy them."
Added wide receiver Robby Toma, "I love them. Me and coach (Kelly) were talking about them earlier. He said, 'October's the month where kids get to dress up, so this is our one time to dress up and we're going to enjoy it.' "
Weis makes cyberwaves
Former Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis' relatively calm existence as the first-year head coach at the University of Kansas came to a clanging halt on Thursday.
Weis took to Twitter after the Kansas student newspaper put together an unflattering preview of the 1-3 Jayhawks' upcoming road game at rival Kansas State with the headline: "Road Kill Ahead."
Tweeted Weis: "Team slammed by our own school newspaper. Amazing! No problem with opponents paper or local media. You deserve what you get! But, not home!"
And ...
"I personally could care less. You are what are. On the other hand, if I don't support the players good or bad, who will??"
Staff writer Eric Hansen:
ehansen@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6112
Kelly shot down a Internet rumor Thursday night that junior Tommy Rees would supposedly start against Miami Saturday night instead of Golson.
"I thought I made that pretty clear," Kelly said. "Everett will start in week five, and we expect him to start in week 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 and 10, 11 and 12 and 13. He is getting better."
Golson has the chance to become the first Irish quarterback to win his first five starts since 2000, when true freshman Matt LoVecchio won his first seven.
The only other two ND QBs to go 5-0 out of the gate in the past 30 years were Kevin McDougal in 1993 and Steve Beuerlein in 1983.
"There's so much development that's taking place that's not on Saturday," Kelly said of Golson. "He's coming. We're not a finished product yet, and I've got a guy in Tommy Rees who is a guy who can come in and help us while we go through this process of learning. I'm comfortable with it."
And Kelly insists the team is as well.
Rumor No. 2 speculated that the Irish players wanted Kelly to start Rees over Golson.
"For Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert, who came back this year for another season," Kelly said, "I know that I have their support in particular, that whomever we put out there at the quarterback position, I'm doing it in their best interests to win right now.
"Tommy's a very popular guy in our locker room, and that's great, but I'm going to do what's in the best interests of our football program for the immediate right now and for the future.
"I know that our players trust that I'll make those decisions and they'll support me."
Trick or treat?
The mass hysteria over Notre Dame's unconventional Shamrock Series helmets and uniforms, introduced in August, seems to have been mitigated over the past few weeks by the team's 4-0 start.
Not that the Irish players ever bought into the negative buzz.
"(You hear) Rockne is rolling over in his grave, and all that type of stuff," Irish nose guard Louis Nix said. "I don't care too much about people's opinions, 'cause I have to play in them and I enjoy them."
Added wide receiver Robby Toma, "I love them. Me and coach (Kelly) were talking about them earlier. He said, 'October's the month where kids get to dress up, so this is our one time to dress up and we're going to enjoy it.' "
Weis makes cyberwaves
Former Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis' relatively calm existence as the first-year head coach at the University of Kansas came to a clanging halt on Thursday.
Weis took to Twitter after the Kansas student newspaper put together an unflattering preview of the 1-3 Jayhawks' upcoming road game at rival Kansas State with the headline: "Road Kill Ahead."
Tweeted Weis: "Team slammed by our own school newspaper. Amazing! No problem with opponents paper or local media. You deserve what you get! But, not home!"
And ...
"I personally could care less. You are what are. On the other hand, if I don't support the players good or bad, who will??"
Staff writer Eric Hansen:
ehansen@sbtinfo.com
574-235-6112
