The secret, such as it was, didn't last the few remaining hours before it would be unveiled to the world: Everett Golson is expected to be named Notre Dame's starting quarterback Thursday.

Irish coach Brian Kelly planned to announce Golson as the starter after Thursday afternoon practice, but the news slipped through a crack in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex and into common knowledge earlier in the day.

Not that the choice of Golson is much of a surprise. Alhough the kinetic, 6-foot sophomore has zero game experience, his big arm and nimble feet make him the ideal candidate to run and maximize Kelly's spread offense.