Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Pregame Quote, 12/18/2020

Let’s go! Let’s go play! Enough statements ‚Ķ I don’t know what else to say. We made it through testing, We’ve had to test six times to get to this game, so enough talk. Let’s go play. I’ll let you guys ask the questions.

Are the players feeling the same way, that ‘the game plan is in, we’ve practiced, we’ve taken test. Let’s just go kick it off now if can. Can we go today?’

Yeah, the guys would want to play Friday if they could. There’s a similar feeling to when you’re in camp, and you’re practicing against each other, and you get to that point where you’re like, ‘Can we get this on now?’ We know Clemson, they know us. You’ve got two really good football teams, there’s a lot of excitement. And, you know, the guys are ready to play so it’s going to be exciting. Our guys have certainly committed, just like Clemson has made an incredible commitment to get to this point. As I mentioned, we have to pass the six tests just to get to this game. They want to play, so that’s exciting. As coaches, you love watching your guys just count it down to get to kick off.

Brian you mentioned, Sunday night, that you changed your approach after 2016 and spent less time on the X’s and O’s and more time with player relationships and instilling confidence. Does anything embody that confidence more than that 91-yard drive at the end of regulation against Clemson to force overtime (in the regular-season meeting)?

It started before that. I mean, if you don’t, you don’t gain that confidence on that drive. It had been in building, the mental edge necessary, certainly to go and do that, and that takes some time, I think. It’s a combination of things, through the previous few years, to get the mental edge necessary to say, ‘We’re going to find a way to get this football down the field whatever it looks like, we’re going to find a way to get it in the end zone ‚Ķ So a combination of staying consistent with a process and building a mental edge with our football team over the past few years, so we could win when presented with that opportunity, have the right mindset that we were going to get it done, and that’s what we saw with that drive.

Hopefully the easiest question you’re going to get all day – What does the next 24 hours look like for you and the team in preparation for the Clemson game?

We go to Mass here in about 45 minutes. Father Wills will take us through our Catholic football Mass which is approximately 18 minutes and 45 seconds. We call it the ‚ÄúCatholic Carwash ‚Äì no disrespect out there, please. And then we’ll go into meetings, and then we’ll have a walkthrough in our indoor faciltiy, and we’ll go over situational stuff ‚Äì two point plays, overtime, we’ll go over some red zone situations offensively and defensively, onside kicks, things of that nature. We’ve got a number of different things that we go over relative to our Friday walkthrough. And then from there we’ll have a special teams meetings, substitution drills, and then call it a day, shower and head downtown. We’ll eat at the City Plaza downtown in a large, large ballroom, and then get on the plane, and head to Charlotte. Then we’ll

A couple of things on this one ‚Äì Is Clark (Lea) going to be with you after this Saturday’s game or is this his last game? And then, with everything that’s going to be going on with you, do you try to find his successor shortly thereafter? 

I guess you guys haven’t been paying attention. Clark is with us throughout the entire run here. He’s not going anywhere. He’s going to go down and do a press conference on Sunday, and that’s it. As I’ve said, when we have assistant coaches that go for head coaching positions and we’re in postseason play, they are going to be committed to Notre Dame and finishing off at Notre Dame, or they’re not part of that process. So, he will be here throughout the entire run that we have, leading into a national championship. So, he will be here. I don’t know if I can make that any clearer.

(Clemson wide receiver) Cornell Powell is kind of a similar to Javon McKinley with his late blooming career How did he impress you, in the in the game you played and on tape you’ve watched this year of him as a senior?

Yeah, we didn’t get them on the ground (the first game). That was the biggest thing. He did a great job catching the football. but we didn’t tackle him. We gave up over 150 yards after the catch, and if that continues, that trend continues we’re going to give up too many points. Outstanding receivers are going to catch balls, against anybody, and it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against. In the NFL, the best corners are going to give up catches. But you’ve got to get them on the ground. So we’ve got a tackle better against both receivers, and that’s really been the focus this week ‚Äì they’re going to get their catches, he’s gonna get his, but we’ve got to get them on the ground.

You talked about your team wanting to play today and I know it’s exciting for you and the Notre Dame program. How do you keep your guys all week from just being ready too early, because as you know you want to maybe keep that energy level for game day on Saturday?

Yeah, no doubt, right? I mean, we’re not playing today, we’re playing tomorrow. We remind them. You know, and they’ve got a pretty good sense. We’ve played a lot of big games at Notre Dame, so these guys have been in big games before. This is another big game for them and but they, they’re on national TV all the time. And so they understand how they need to emotionally stay centered, leading up to the big games, and so they’re not they’re not playing the game on Tuesday or Wednesday. They do a really good job, and we do a really good job of making sure that we channel that today is focused Friday, so they’ll stay focused on what’s important now.

Brian, I’m wondering if you could tell us how you come through these all the testing that you’ve had to take leading up to this, in regard to the fact that I noticed that the Sun Belt Conference Championship is off and other games have been postponed this week.

We’re playing. We tested yesterday and we got our test (results) this morning at 8:45. We had no positives. Same thing with Clemson. The game is on folks, it’s not being canceled. Both teams will be there in Charlotte, playing the game, no cancellations. You can mark that down. We’ tested six times since our last game, so, we’re tired of testing. We know there’s more testing ahead of us. But we’re excited to be playing a game and being done with the testing for the opportunity to play in this game.

Regardless of what happens in this game, do you feel like both teams, after what you’ve all both accomplished this season deserve spots in the playoffs?

You know, whatever I say really has no merit on what those people are going to do in that room. I respect the question, I really do. But whatever I say is going to be a sound bite, and it’s going to come out 18 different ways. Here’s the only thing I’m going to say: They got to figure out how to make sure that whatever sites they play at, the parents are going to be watching their sons play. That’s what they got to figure out, so maybe they need to spend a little less time on who the top four teams are and figure out how to get parents into these games, because it is an absolute shame, and a sham if parents can’t be watching their kids play. My kids have been on campus here since June. They haven’t seen their families very much at all. They’ve had to fight through COVID, and some of them had COVID. They can’t be around their families for Christmas. I’m going to have them here for Christmas. I’m going to bring in families that are theirs during Christmas. But you’re going to tell me, we’re going to have a playoff, and maybe one side can have families and the other can’t. Please ‚Ķ Somebody’s got to wake up in that room and figure this out. We just might as well just call this the professional league, because nothing speaks to this, (that it) is just about, you know, having a playoff, and we don’t care about the student-athletes. I know I went off on a tangent, but I am so sick and tired of this playoff committee, talking about having sites where you can have parents and their families. It’s ridiculous. Sorry.

Brian up some depth chart stuff …. Your number two quarterback: Is Brendon Clark available, and would it be him or (Drew) Pyne? How does that sort of shake out?

Pyne will be the ‘two.’ Clark could play if necessary, but his knee is such that, you know. he’d be an emergency situation for us.

Sort of piggybacking off of what you were talking about a few minutes ago, we’ve seen programs like Boston College opt out of the bowl game. So if the stakes weren’t this large and the testing ‚Äì I don’t know if it’s detrimental to the value of the kids, but just the wear and tear of COVID-19, would you guys opt out if this wasn’t what it is moving forward, you know – if this wasn’t about a high stakes bowl game and the College Football Playoff?

I’m not sure we’ll play in the playoffs, if parents can’t be there, to be honest with you. Why would we play, if you can’t have the families at the game? So, a bowl game ‚Ķ yeah, we would opt out if you can’t have families at bowl games. I mean, why would you go to a game where your families can’t be part of it? What’s the sense of playing a game in an area of the country where you know they nobody can be part of it? So it doesn’t surprise me at all (that some teams opted not to play in bowls).

Look, there’s so many sacrifices these kids have had to make. To go to a bowl game where there’s no real opportunities for them to do anything ‚Äì they’re going to stay on campus and may show up at the bowl game 24 or 48 hours prior to. So there’s no real reward. Go home and see your families. Go home for Christmas, that’s the reward, really, more than anything else. You know, it’s not the bowl games’ fault. I get it, we’re in a pandemic and there’s restrictions and things like that. But, you know, we’ve got to think about the student-athletes in this situation, and not having a chance to share this with their families. After being away and sacrificing so much. You can see why they wouldn’t want to play.

How have you spent previous conference championship Saturdays? Have you been a fan and taking the games and on TV? Have you checked out and gotten away from college football? What’s been your routine?

Good question. I was kind of thinking about that the other day. Generally, we’re practicing and like the next day the guys have off or a couple of days off because we’re kind of getting close to the holidays. So, generally this is like a practice day, and then we release the guys. Like, today is Friday. This would be our last practice day, and then we’ve released the players, and we’ll see him at the bowl site. So that’s generally kind of been the deal. So I’ve gotten a chance to see some of those games, the conference championship games on Saturday, because it’s been a day off for the coaching staff.

After the 2016 season, one of the moves you made was bringing Amber Selking on board. I know that she’s been valuable in other seasons, but what about this season where you’re just talking about all the sacrifices players have to make in the mental health balance and all?

She’s been great. I mean, her ability to, obviously, touch base with our players in a very difficult time. You look the at mental health of your football team. If somebody obviously is not in a great state, she’s able to touch base with these players and she’s able to stay in contact with them and help them if they’re feeling like they’re not at the optimal level. So it’s been really good and extremely, extremely helpful.

A quick follow up to what you were saying about families, needing to be there. What would go into the determination about whether you make a playoff, or whether you accept a playoff spot if you are in the top four? How are you going to determine whether you’re going to accept that if there is no answer on whether families will be allowed to attend?

You know, we’ll talk it over, you know, with our team. The players drive this (decision), I don’t drive it. I’m echoing their concerns, right? I’m not the guy out there making this up, because it’s not about my family, uou know what I mean? It’s about their family, so I’m a voice for our team, and their concerns. They’re focused on the ACC Championship, so that that’s where their focus is, so they’re not going to be speaking about these things. But if in fact were selected to be part of (the CFP), this will then be number one on their radar. So then I’ll have to address it with our leader first, as to how they feel about this. And, and, certainly, that will be the next topic that we’ll address after the ACC Championship game.

Does this mean, you would like to see the Rose Bowl removed as a possible playoff sight because there is no clarity right now about attendance?

Absolutely. And look, why can’t it be the Rose Bowl in Las Vegas, or can it be the Rose Bowl in another town? I mean, I get it. It’s just, where’s the flexibility for the student athletes is all I’m saying, you know? The one thing these kids have been is incredibly flexible. And then on the other side we can’t be flexible? We’ll deal with it. If we’re fortunate enough to be one of the four teams, it’s going to be a topic, and that’s all I’m saying. And our guys may come out and say, ‘You know you know, this is what we’re gonna do: We’re not gonna wear a rose bowl patch,’ I don’t know, All I know is that it is a number one topic for our guys if in fact we are selected.

Brian, I’m just curious to double, double back on that, what do you think the reason is that this is even taking so long if this is important to you and the players, as it certainly should be. Why wouldn’t this have just been a thing that was already wrapped up by now?

We’re worshiping the ashes of tradition, I mean, that can be the only reason. Look, nobody’s going to trade out this year for next year. Next year is going be a revenue producing year, so nobody wants to come and say, ‘We’ll take it (this year).’ I’m not in that meeting. I can’t imagine, what the push has been, what’s been applied, but they’re not thinking about the student-athlete, and that’s the issue. Maybe there’s deals that have already been cut behind the lines that I’m not aware of, that they’re going to get the parents in there and this Coach Kelly should get off his soapbox and shut up. And hopefully that’s the case, but I’m just making it clear that if our team is selected, if we’re fortunate enough, the next issue will be, let’s make sure that the student athletes get their families in to watch them play.

What does it mean for you guys to play ACC title for this only maybe? How special is this year?

Well, look, you’re playing for championships. Our mission is to graduate and win championships. So, this is part of what we build for. It’s part of the long season, and we’re not there yet. We have not fulfilled the goal that that we all set when we were afforded this very unique opportunity, and we’re extremely grateful for it, that the ACC has given us this opportunity. And so it’s like anything else. You want to finish the deal. You know, we’ve gotten this close to our goal, and we want to finish it off with a championship.

Brian it seems to me there is somebody close to you, you could talk to about these Rose Bowl concerns. Have you and jack Swarbrick had a conversation or two about this item?

Oh, sure. Jack’s on board, but Jack’s only one person. Jack has echoed his concerns about this as well. and I think he has been on the forefront of it, but i again, nothing has happened since he echoed his concerns as well.

Kyren Williams, if you just look at his numbers they’re excellent but I feel like there’s just a million things he does over the course of a game that don’t necessarily show up in a box score that make you guys better. Can you summarize sort of the impact that he has ‚Ķ What’s the bigger picture impact that he has besides what you see?

Well, you’re absolutely right on all counts. But the one thing that he brings that is different is an edge. He brings an edginess to our offense of confidence. He breeds that that edge that that goes throughout our entire offense, a confidence, a swagger. You can sense that when he’s out there. And with his size, he plays big. It just rallies the group, in that sense, so it’s kind of one of those. You know, I know we all kind of use this, but he makes others around him play at a higher level because they see this smaller guy playing aggressive playing with a swag or playing with an edge and, and it really feeds on the other guys on the offense.

Coach, by taking a stance, are you concerned at all that the selection committee would look at that and say, ‘You know, well, maybe they weren’t in place so, you know, there’s several other teams that would want to play for a championship whether there’s fans or not?’

Here’s what I said I’ll make it clear: All I’ve talked about is what the concerns are of my team. And we will address it if we’re fortunate enough to be one of the teams. If we’re one of the teams, (our team) will come out with a statement. It won’t be Brian Kelly statement, it will be our players, and they’ll make a statement regarding it. I don’t know what they’re gonna say. They may say, ‘Oh, we’re glad to be in and, this is much ado about nothing.’ Or they might say, ‘We don’t want to play if we can’t get the parents in the games.’ So I really can’t answer your question until we find out what’s going to happen in the selection and whether we’re in or not. It’s a bit hypothetical. If they decide to keep us out because coach is running his big trap about what he thinks, I probably should get in line with all the other coaches who run their mouth when they shouldn’t be

Mike Elston hasn’t been your D line coach the whole run there, but he’s been with you the whole run. And my question is, what has he done with with your defensive line and the evolution of that position from when you walked in the door? Can you give us his impact on your program?

Yeah. you know Mike’s been with me 17 years. He’s been with me at Central Michigan, where he coached the linebackers, at Cincinnati where he coached special teams and tight ends. He’s coached a number of different positions as my assistant coach, so he’s been a number of different roles. With the defensive line we’ve seen you know development of these players to the level now where they’ve dominated games, andso he’s a great teacher. He’s got great relationships with the players. He’s got a great knowledge base being. Obviously being here 11 years, I think we’ve see a great evolution of our defensive line in the time that that he’s been here with me and Notre Dame.