Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/393046
UNDER THE DOME violations or vacating of wins as practical possi- bilities. Now, those risks don't worry Kelly even if they become reality. "I really haven't given it much thought, to be quite honest with you," he said. "If they took the games away, that doesn't do much for me. I'm not concerned about that. As Kelly left the po- dium, he joked, "I'm not going to give my ball back that says 200 wins." That ball and those 200 wins took Kelly more than 20 years to earn. With a few swipes of his thumb, Russell and Instagram showed how quickly that record could dissipate from the Notre Dame game programs. Yet, despite the real or imagined missteps that led to this lengthy ordeal, Kelly said quite clearly he'd welcome Russell back to his charge. "We're hoping that we get him back soon," the coach said. "I think for all those guys it's pretty close for them to be able to say, 'Hey, this is go- ing to be behind us real soon.'" ✦ Updated Timeline Of Investigation • July 29: Evidence turned into compliance office. Investigation launched. • Aug. 15: Notre Dame announces investigation of four student-athletes at press conference. University president John Jenkins and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick speak. Swarbrick identifies the four players. • Aug. 28: Notre Dame releases statement that a fifth player — senior safety Eilar Hardy — has been implicated enough in the investigation to be with- held from team activities. • Sept. 4: Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said he was told three days earlier, hearings would take place "very quickly," but had not yet taken place three days later. "The process has not actually begun for them. My under- standing is it hasn't happened yet but is about to occur very soon." • Sept. 7: When asked if he has received an update on the investigation, Kelly simply replied, "No, no. Nothing." • Sept. 14: Kelly said as of two days earlier, no players had taken part in any hearings. • Sept. 23: Kelly said he has been informed the necessary committee has officially formed and should hold the hearings by the end of next week. • Sept. 25: Kelly clarifies "next week" to mean sometime between Sept. 30 and Oct. 2. • Sept. 26: Senior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels speaks with ESPN; feels "like a villain." • Oct. 1: Junior cornerback KeiVarae Russell posts on Instagram that he has had his hearing and feels confident coming out of it. • Oct. 2: Kelly indicates the hearings will be concluded by the weekend, and he expects a resolution the week of Oct. 6. — Douglas Farmer