Irish coach Brian Kelly needs to replace starting quarterback Golson - Tommy Rees a far better choice despite Kelly’s desire to stick with Golson

Everett Golson

It is hard to believe that Brian Kelly still seems determined to start Everett Golson at quarterback and leave Tommy Rees on the bench after the Michigan victory.

Kelly told NBC right after the 14 to 7 victory that Golson was his starter despite now having pulled him twice in four games because he was ineffective.

In comparison Rees has done nothing wrong whatsoever, setting up the winning field goal against Purdue and reviving a moribund Irish offense, which had looked out of synch with Golson running it.

Golson has yet to show that explosive Denard Robinson running ability we were told he had. He has yet to show he can master a spread offense, and he has yet to show that he can be calm and cool under pressure.

Kelly has ended up in a strange place. He is considered an offensive genius yet it is his defense, which is winning games while his offense sputters.

Holding Michigan to just six points, winning six turnovers and preventing Denard Robinson from running amok were all stellar achievements.

Manti T’eo has played himself into Heisman consideration in my opinion with his performance yet again. If there is a better linebacker in college football, or all round athlete I have yet to see him.

Kelly needs to move to Rees and give him back the job. He deserves it pure and simple and the team obviously responds to him.

Golson just does not seem to have it at present and may never have. Kelly is risking a great season by keeping him under center.

Michigan State victory by Fighting Irish marks the dawn of a new era -- A new Notre Dame team that has eliminated mental mistakes, turnovers

Everett Golson of Notre Dame runs from Michigan State's Marcus Rush

There is something different about Notre Dame this year.

It is not just the 3-0 start, the first time in a decade, or the pep in the step in this young team that almost no one gave a chance to against Michigan State, who they defeated 20-3.

No, it is not the fire in their eyes, the determination in their hearts or the will to win that is so extraordinary. Lots of teams have that.

It is that they play the game differently.

It is the absence of mistakes; those heart breaking, mind-crushing errors that bedeviled this team the past two years.

Remember the turnover fiascos? Remember the quarterback interceptions; remember the wrong decisions when the game was on the line?

The last minute losses were especially troubling, especially the one at Michigan State two years ago with the fake field goal and then the last second loss to Michigan last year that no one could believe.

Those mental mistakes and lapses in concentration are now gone.
And you can see this Irish team getting even better game-by-game.

Young Golson has a rifle arm and an unpredictable quality that makes him a hugely exciting prospect.

The young receiver corps have stepped up and won the big possessions when it counts.

Cierre Wood came through in the clutch yesterday in brilliant fashion.
And don’t even mention the defense and Manti Te’o. We are watching a legend grow before our eyes.

Brian Kelly has transformed a team of bumblers into a team of rare promise.
And the best is yet to come.

Bring on the Wolverines!

Golfer Rory McIlroy says he has always felt more British than Irish -- Says “I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland”

Rory McIlroy at the British Open

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy says he feels more British than Irish and it now seems definite he will play under the British flag rather than the Irish tricolor in the next Olympics.

Ever since it was announced that golf will be an official sport in the next Olympics, the discussion about which country McIlroy would represent has been a hot topic. Now he seems to have answered the question.

McIlroy, born Catholic in Northern Ireland, told the Daily Mail at the weekend, “I’ve always felt more British than Irish.

“Maybe it was the way I was brought up, I don’t know, but I have always felt more of a connection with the UK than with Ireland.”

Catholic athletes in Northern Ireland usually declare for the Republic but McIlroy seems likely to declare for the UK.

McIlroy says he definitely feels more British, ”And so I have to weigh that up against the fact that I’ve always played for Ireland and so it is tough. Whatever I do, I know my decision is going to upset some people but I just hope the vast majority will understand.

"What makes it such an awful position to be in is I have grown up my whole life playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland umbrella," he said. "But the fact is, I’ve always felt more British than Irish.”

McIlroy solidified his number one world standing with a weekend victory at the BMW championship, his third victory in four weeks.

McIlroy had accepted a MBE from Queen Elizabeth at the end of last year, giving further credence to the belief that he would declare for Britain.

As a Catholic reared in Northern Ireland, McIlroy has come under intense scrutiny for his political views.

His grand-uncle was murdered in The Troubles by Loyalist paramilitaries but McIlroy has never discussed it. The murder was re-opened for investigation last year by the Northern Ireland cold case police authorities.

McIlroy has avoided all political discussion. The only incident of note came when some nationalists claimed he brushed off an Irish tricolor that was thrown at him after his 2011 win at the US Open but the video is inconclusive to say the least.

His compatriot and fellow golf major winner Graeme McDowell, who is a Protestant, gets no such scrutiny as it is widely accepted he will play with Britain.

McIlroy also told the Daily Mail that staying No 1 was his priority and that his girlfriend tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki had shown him how hard it was to stay on top as her career has foundered. He also stated they had no immediate plans to marry.

‘I’ve seen it myself, it’s a very hard thing to stay at No 1 and Caroline was No 1 for two years, with all the expectations that raises,’ said McIlroy. ‘But she has got a lot of good people working around her and she’s the hardest working person I know, so I don’t think there’s any question that she will be back.’