February 20. 2007 6:59AM
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ND gets another Golic
Mike Golic Jr. becomes the first commitment for the Irish football team's next recruit class.
BOB WIENEKE
Tribune Staff Writer
On Monday, former Notre Dame standout and current ESPN personality Mike Golic called his son, Mike Jr., who was in Italy on a class trip and had just finished visiting The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The younger Golic was supposed to call Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, and Mike Sr. wanted no distractions.
"I said, 'Go find a quiet rock and call Charlie,'" the elder Golic told his son.
The younger Golic found that quiet rock, dialed up Weis and moments later became the foundation of Notre Dame's recruiting class of 2008. The 6-foot-4 1/2, 260-pound offensive lineman became the first player to commit to a group that won't become official until about 50 weeks from now.
Golic, who plays at Northwest Catholic High in West Hartford, Conn., will become the fourth Golic to play under the Golden Dome, joining his father, and uncles Bob and Greg.
"I can't even begin to express how proud I am," Mike Sr. said.
The younger Golic ended his recruitment before it ever hit high gear. His only other offer came from Connecticut, but there was heavy interest from Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland, Virginia and Clemson.
"He had said if Notre Dame ever offered, that's the one he'd take," Mike Sr. said. "That's the one he took."
Golic is projected as an offensive lineman, although his father said he also could play defense. Mike Golic said his son, a center, plays with a defensive mentality and a bit of a mean streak.
"And I kind of like that," he said.
"He's a kid that was born and raised Notre Dame," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "A good overall catch for Notre Dame."
The Golic family also understands Weis' new hard-line approach to recruiting. Notre Dame lost two committed players on signing day earlier this month, and Weis said then that a commitment to Notre Dame means no other visits.
"He's done," Golic Sr. said. "I told him, if you're going to commit somewhere, you make sure you're ready. Your word has to be your word.
"He said, 'This is it for me.'"
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