Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/396685
BY DOUGLAS FARMER W hen Brian Kelly first used the word "imminent" during the week following Notre Dame's win over Stanford, he clari- fied it with "today, tomorrow." The Irish head coach was predicting when he expected to hear the decisions relating to the academic dishonesty investigation of fifth-year senior line- backer Kendall Moore, senior safety Ei- lar Hardy, senior defensive end Ishaq Williams, senior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels and junior cornerback KeiVarae Russell, all of whom have not played in a game this season. "The only thing I got yesterday was that there was a decision imminent and the players would be notified," Kelly said on Oct. 7. "Imminent meant to me that today, tomorrow, something was imminent." On Oct. 9, no word had reached the public. "The best way for me to say it to you to be clear — I don't have any concrete finality on any of the five," Kelly said following practice that day. "As it stands right now, I do not have any of those players back at practice." According to Kelly, it remains pos- sible different players receive different sentences. In fact, Kelly believes that will occur. The possible punishments if any of the players are found guilty could in- clude an immediate separation from the university — one imposed upon the end of the semester. One player could re- ceive a suspension from football applied retroactively, while another receives a suspension moving forward. Kelly has been in contact with all five — they are all allowed in the football fa- cility, but cannot practice with the team. With the hearings having taken place the week of Sept. 29 and completed by Oct. 3 (the week leading up to the Stan- ford tilt) according to a university state- ment, proactive advice from Kelly is no longer a proper course. Now, the coach and the players have shifted to a reac- tionary approach. "We're past the point of advice as much as we're really preparing them 'Imminent' Or Not Notre Dame has been silent about the academic hearings, but junior KeiVarae Russell said he will return in 2015