Section B

Notre Dame, hyped up as Phil Steele’s 6th best team in the nation, has reinstated its super star wide receiver, Michael Floyd, after he had been suspended since March 21.

Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly kept Floyd on a short leash after his arrest in March for a DUI, his third related offense since 2009. After the arrest, there was a lot of talk about Floyd being kicked off the team.

This would have been poor timing for Floyd to be kicked off the team, after the deadline to declare for the NFL Draft had passed not long before his arrest. Surely, Floyd could’ve been a first or second round pick in this year’s draft, but he decided to come back.

By losing Floyd, Notre Dame would’ve lost their biggest offensive weapon, biggest wide receiver threat, but by reinstating him Wednesday they get him back.

Kelly said Floyd has impressed both him and other professional advisers with his personal growth since March. Kelly said the most important thing he told Floyd to do was make his personal growth more important than his football.

If he really has shown personal growth, great because that means we don’t have to worry about any other extracurriculars.

But with his reinstatement, some have to wonder if Kelly is doing this as a necessary thing no matter his “personal growth.” Floyd’s stats tell the whole story of how important he is to the Irish offense. He caught 79 passes for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is the leader in the clubhouse in Notre Dame history for touchdown catches, and second in catches.

Floyd released a statement to the press, which said the last four months have been “humbling” and that he embarrassed himself, his family, friends, football team and others. While he sounds great in the quote, I know university athletic departments and I know they like to “dress up” athletes quotes a lot to make them look good.

Notre Dame fans will be pumped up by hearing this news, no doubt. With Floyd, their chances of living up to Phil Steele’s hype increase.