Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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of Notre Dame. program back to elite he'd like to have met in "I had obviously al- status, but get another the coming years, which ways been in the college national championship." might include increased game," he added. "ReWhatever the level of salaries for assistant ally did not have a good temptation, that Kelly coaches, facility upgrasp of the NFL setup. even listened to what grades or perhaps more So for me, my head said, Lurie had to say infu- leniency when it comes 'Let's be more informed riated less-reasonable to admissions standards. as it relates to the NFL,' Notre Dame fans. It Kelly and Swarbrick but my heart is in college came as no surprise to started talking about a football and with Notre others and was par for future deal Dec. 6, Kelly Dame. the course in coaching said, three weeks before "… Really was happy profession in general. the Eagles showed inand impressed that the Some were ready to terest in him. Kelly said Eagles would give discussions about "I love Notre Dame. I love me the opportunity the future of the to sit down and the college game, but I think program (and his the intrigue was more just place in it) are ontalk with them. I finding out about it so it's going, and that he very much apprenow easy for me to say no." and Swarbrick are ciate Jeff Lurie for the opportunity. speaking the same Kelly on why he met with the Eagles But as I said, it was language when more intrigue than it was pack Kelly's bags for it comes to their vian interest on my part." him, while others hoped sion about where Notre Revisiting Kelly's con- the university would do Dame football is headed. tract was already a pri- whatever was necessary "We both want the ority for Irish athletics to retain his services. As same thing," Kelly said. director Jack Swarbrick, it turned out, at least this "That is the long-term who didn't appear to be time around, all that was consistency of the prothe least bit worried that required was for Kelly gram. I think the best a coaching search would to get a better idea of the way I could say is that soon be on tap instead. differences between the Jack and I are in lock"I think Brian has the responsibilities at the step in how we want to same feeling in his stom- college and professional continue to build this ach that I have in mine," levels. program. So I feel really Swarbrick said while Even if the episode good about that." the confetti was being wasn't a bargaining What Kelly managed cleaned up at Sun Life ploy, it will help Kelly, to accomplish in three Stadium in Miami. "We whose contract was ex- years is staggering. A want to finish this thing. tended last January for No. 1 ranking, an undeThat's the biggest moti- two years through the feated regular season for vation. You want to be 2016 season, when stat- the first time in nearly a here and not just get this ing whatever demands quarter-century and an