What Notre Dame DC Al Golden said about link to Syracuse head coach job
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has eyes on him. You don’t lead a top-five defense in yards allowed per play without generating national interest. That’s just what Golden has done.
Syracuse recently let go of head coach Dino Babers. Well-respected national college football reporter Pete Thamel put out a social media post including Golden as a potential replacement for Babers in central New York. Thamel also included Jason Candle, Bronco Mendenhall, Doug Marrone, Tony White, Curt Cignetti, Jim Knowles, Sean Lewis, Bob Chesney, Liam Coen and Teryl Austin on his hot board.
Blue & Gold asked Golden Monday night about his inclusion. He did not entertain the idea in too much detail. He deflected to what No. 17 Notre Dame (8-3) has ahead of itself — a regular season finale at Stanford (3-8) on Saturday and a subsequent bowl game
“I think the biggest thing right now is we got our hands full,” Golden said. “I mean, that’s it. It is all day, every day, trying to win as many games as we can win. Obviously, we have a goal of winning 10. And to do that, we have to win this one. We have to find a way to win this one. So if names are being mentioned, it’s because of the success of the staff and the players. And that part of is humbling.”
Golden is in his second season as the Notre Dame defensive coordinator. The Irish ranked 21st in the country in yards allowed per game last year. This year, Golden has his group up to No. 6. The only teams allowing fewer yards per game than Notre Dame are Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Air Force and Ohio.
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The Irish are especially stingy against the pass. Notre Dame only gives up 148.5 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 3 in the FBS. Only Ohio State and Michigan are better against the pass than Golden’s unit.
Head coach Marcus Freeman hit a home run with the hiring of Golden from the Cincinnati Bengals two offseasons ago. Golden was Cincy’s linebackers coach the year the Bengals went to the Super Bowl and narrowly lost to the Los Angeles Rams. Golden also spent time with the Detroit Lions.
Golden previously had not coached in the college ranks since he was let go as Miami’s head coach in the middle of the 2015 season. Golden was 32-25 in four and a half years with the Hurricanes. He posted a record of 27-34 in five seasons at Temple from 2006-2010. He went 11-1 in his first season there and 9-4 in his fourth. He took the Miami job after going 8-4 in the fifth.
