HOUSTON -- Mike Kelley and Mike Golic, roommates and best friends for four years at Notre Dame, figured to go their separate ways in the NFL. Instead, they found themselves teammates in Texas.
The Houston Oilers drafted Kelley in the third round, then tabbed Golic as their 10th round pick to keep the pair together.
'I couldn't believe it,' Golic said Thursday. 'I knew about Mike, so when the phone rang and they told me it was Coach (Hugh) Campbell, my jaw dropped.'
Kelley, who plays on the offensive line, said he was happy when he found out.
'It was good to know my best friend would be down here,' he said.
Golic, an outside linebacker at Notre Dame who will be moved to defensive end in Houston, said if things work out and both rookies make the team, they would play against his brother Bob, who is a nose tackle for the Cleveland Browns. All three were roommates at Notre Dame for three years.
'My mom would just close her eyes for the whole game,' Golic said of a possible game between the two bothers. 'I guess she'd hope for a split (of two meetings).'
But for now, the two are concentrating on the Oilers' mini-camp, which started Monday and ends Friday.
Kelley, who can play guard, center or tackle, had an outstanding career at Notre Dame. He was second on the team in minutes played durin his senior year, and as a junior was voted the team's oustanding offensive player by his teammates.
'I think I have to prove my strengths here,' said the 6-foot-5, 266-pound Kelley. 'At Notre Dame, there was more pressure to keep up with academics. Here, you can see the difference. It's a job.'
Kelley, who will graduate next week with a sociology degree, said he doesn't see himself moving into a starter's job this season because of the number of experienced players with the Oilers.
'I'm looking down the line,' he said. 'I want to work my way into a job. I want to be ready if someone gets hurt or just go in and help in certain situations.'
For Golic, the biggest adjustment is going from outside linebacker to a down lineman.
'Trying to get used to a new system is always interesting,' said Golic, a 6-5, 265-pounder. 'I have to concentrate on different things now. The scouts had told me I played out of position in college, but that's what Notre Dame needed (for him to play linebacker).
'They told me the defensive line is where I belonged and I like it there, too. I've always wanted to play defensive end.'
He said he will have to put on a few pounds and work out on weights before training camp in July.
'It's going to be a whole different atmosphere from college,' said Golic, who also graduates next week, with a degree in management. 'Before the draft, things were not in my hands. Now, things are in my hands and I think they'll work out for me.'
