After some duress, Notre Dame and Cincinatti have starting quarterbacks. While the two universities — and their quarterbacks — are rarely in the same sentence, they are linked. Both their starting quarterbacks left the Notre Dame program prior to the 2013 season yet both are starting college quarterbacks. Golson left Notre Dame for a year due to “poor academic judgement” only to return and be named starter. Quarterback Gunner Kiel transferred from Notre Dame and is the starting quarterback of Cincinnati.
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That doesn’t mean everything is gravy in Cincinnati.
“The first few days were a little shaky,” Kiel said, via the AP. “I think I came out anxious and excited. I think that got me to play a little uncomfortable.
“So at times I have to calm down and relax and play the game I love, not do too much. I know I’m going to make mistakes, but learn from the mistakes.”
The quarterback sounds eerily similar to his head coach, who wants Kiel to shake the early nerves and reach his full potential.
“It’s time to learn from your mistakes and your successes,” coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He’ll probably have a little of both. We need him to just lead the offense. Hopefully we can see that same leadership that we saw from him last spring at the end.”
The former five-star recruit has yet to throw an NCAA pass. When he does, he’ll be leading the Bearcats into a wide open AAC that could be there’s to lose. Following a 9-6 season, Kiel and the Bearcats are facing high expectations.