Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/762987
18 JANUARY 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY MATT JONES O ne of the most disappointing seasons in Notre Dame foot- ball history meant there was plenty of drama surrounding the program over the final weeks. After being ranked No. 10 in the preseason Associated Press poll, the Irish finished 4-8, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2007. With that poor record came criti- cism of seventh-year head coach Brian Kelly. From there, the specula- tion about his job status went wild. Several hours after losing to USC in the season finale, Yahoo Sports columnist Pat Forde reported that Kelly's representatives had reached out to other schools to explore other job opportunities. ESPN's Brett McMurphy then later put out on Twitter: "Brian Kel- ly's reps exploring option w/other schools about possibility of leaving Notre Dame, source told @ESPN. 1st reported by @YahooForde." In his postgame press conference, Kelly said he fully intended to return to Notre Dame in 2017. But due to the media reports, Kelly released a statement through the university at 3:37 a.m. that night. "I felt that I was clear with the me- dia following yesterday's game at USC when I was asked about my desire to be back as the head football coach at Notre Dame, but in light of media reports that surfaced after- ward, let me restate my position," he said. "I have not been, am not, and will not be interested in options out- side of Notre Dame. I'm fully com- mitted to leading this program in the future." Kelly has not spoken to the media since that statement. On his weekly radio show, Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick spoke with in-house personality Jack Nolan for about 25 minutes Nov. 30. The Notre Dame-produced video was released to the public Dec. 2. Unlike previous years, Swarbrick has not been made available to the media since the conclusion of the season. His statements to Nolan are the only comments he's made publicly about the football program since October. Swarbrick said there is no truth to the rumors that there was any sort of conversations with the Board of Trustees about removing Kelly as the head coach. "No. But we're happy to do our part to provide entertainment to ev- eryone who's been engaged in all of that," Swarbrick said. "I certainly understand the engagement and the discussion of the program, but it's been very much business at usual. "It doesn't work that way here. I know people like to write about it that way. Every coaching issue around the country, somebody will write a group of boosters or trustees have gotten together and are going to pay for the buyout and all that, that's just not how Notre Dame operates." Swarbrick released a statement through ESPN Oct. 21 expressing his "great confidence" in Kelly leading the Irish in 2017. However, Swarbrick said he'll be less inclined to make similar statements in the future, as his vote of confidence this year "came back and bit me in the butt." Nolan asked Swarbrick if retaining Kelly and much of the current staff is better than the alternative. "I expressed that view two months ago," Swarbrick said. "You don't ex- press that view unless you've made an evaluation and made a decision. I wasn't saying it cavalierly. When you make that [statement], you have to say what if the rest of the sea- son doesn't get better, am I still pre- pared to have this be my answer? And I know there was some media frustration that I wouldn't address this topic again. I'm not doing that. 'Business As Usual' The 4-8 season prompts rumors, statements and Jack Swarbrick coming to Brian Kelly's defense Swarbrick and Kelly met shortly after the 2016 season ended, and Swarbrick said everything is normal around the program. PHOTO BY MIKE BENNETT/LIGHTHOUSE IMAGING