Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE I rish head coach Brian Kelly joked last week that freshman Nyles Morgan showed his rookie stripes when his linebacker trounced all over etiquette, welcoming back assistant coach Kyle McCarthy with an uninten- tional back-handed compliment. "Morgan had probably one of the most insightful comments," Kelly said sarcastically, in recognition of McCar- thy's triumphant return to work after beating cancer. "When [Morgan] said, 'Jeez, I really like your new haircut coach.' … We now know why you're a freshman." Kelly first ribbing Morgan and then taking a moment to recognize the in- spiring return of his graduate assistant coach was a fitting celebration of one of the high points of this season. Chemo complete, hair gone, surger- ies survived, cancer free and ready for work, McCarthy was remarkably back on the practice field with his defensive backs just days after winning his dif- ficult four-month battle with Stage 3 testicular cancer. "Awesome news," Kelly went on to say about McCarthy's reunion with his team. "A former captain and a Notre Dame kid that had an unbeliev- able year. When you think about what he has gone through, it's absolutely amazing." McCarthy, 28, shared via Twitter the news of his difficult journey, a mes- sage that touched the hearts of any- one who has met this uplifting young man, a terrific player who defied odds through much of his football career. "With the help of amazing doctors and nurses and incredible support from my family and friends, I was given a clean bill of health," McCarthy said in a statement explaining his full recovery. "I am officially cancer free." Be it McCarthy's rise from bit player to team captain during his five seasons at Notre Dame, or when he surprised everyone after college and spent two seasons with the NFL's Denver Bron- cos, or more recently winning the fight of his life, McCarthy never ceases to amaze or inspire. Something To Be Thankful For Graduate assistant coach Kyle McCarthy did not let his difficult four-month battle with Stage 3 testicu- lar cancer keep him away from the team this fall, missing only 10 days at the beginning of November after having "major surgery." PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND