NOTRE DAME — Everett Golson wanted to finish the game.

Notre Dame was clinging to a 10-6 lead against Oklahoma at halftime, but despite battling the flu all day, Golson wanted to finish this one like he didn’t get to against Purdue or Michigan.

That’s when the other No. 5 — worn by Manti Te’o — approached Golson in the locker room.

“We’re going to get through this together,” the All-American linebacker told the young quarterback.

That was all the motivation Golson needed, leading Notre Dame on a 20-point fourth quarter to beat the then-No. 8 Sooners 30-13.

On the same crisp October night that legitimized Notre Dame’s re-emergence into national relevancy, Golson cemented head coach Brian Kelly’s confidence in him.

That confidence tells Kelly that the stage in Miami won’t be too big for the redshirt freshman. After all, the Irish are no strangers to the national spotlight.

“Heck, the kid started I think three or four games that were on national television, and in pretty hostile environments,” Kelly said Tuesday. “At USC, at Oklahoma, at Michigan State. He’s got enough seasoning. I would be very, very surprised if he can’t handle the moment.”

Golson had been itching all year to show he could handle the moment. After being yanked for veteran back-up Tommy Rees late in the game against Purdue and Michigan, Golson was all the more eager to prove himself.

“I definitely used that as motivation instead of letting it bring me down,” he said. “To be taken out like that initially, it hurt to be honest. The competitor in me wanted to be in there and show that I can come back from adversity.”

Kelly fully expects his quarterback to show some nerves when facing No. 2 Alabama (11-1) on Jan. 7 in the national championship game, but Kelly says to look for the smile. Once Golson smiles, Kelly said, “that’s when he plays his best.”

“I think once he knew after the Oklahoma game that he was the guy, the confidence level and the trust builds and builds and builds,” Kelly said. “I think that’s why I’m confident that the moment won’t be too big for him, because he knows that we’ve got 100 percent confidence and trust in him that he can go in and win us a National Championship.”

DANIELS PRACTICING

Kelly announced that receiver DaVaris Daniels, who had missed the last two games of the season with a broken clavicle, was involved in non-contact practice last week but will return to full contact practice this week.

“So he looks really good,” Kelly said. “He’s going to be able to be a key contributor for us.”

KELLY FOR GOVERNOR?

One reporter at Tuesday’s media day asked Kelly if his political background has helped prepare for the title game and if Kelly would ever consider running for office.

“Yeah, governor of South Bend. Is there a governor of South Bend?” Kelly said. “I was driving up to a location just north and at a muffler place there was a sign that said ‘Long live Brian Kelly.’ So I think I got one vote from the guy from the muffler place. Pretty good there.”