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Brian Kelly got in front of the media to take questions about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team on Saturday, and even though some of the bigger questions weren’t able to be answered — there is a much clearer course of action.
Brian Kelly opening statement: “I made a change on the staff on the offensive side of the ball which I felt was in the best interest of the program."
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 14, 2019
Kelly repeated it quite a bit during his 17 minutes on stage... he was doing things for the best interest of the program. This, of course, was in response to Kelly’s removal of Chip Long as the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame.
There will be a collaboration on offense right now with Lance Taylor organizing the run game while Tommy Rees will organize the passing game. Kelly still hasn’t decided who will get the playcalling duties against the Iowa St. Cyclones in the Camping World Bowl — but he made it crystal clear that it won’t be him.
"I will not call plays." - Brian Kelly on his involvement after the new OC is hired as well as in the Camping World Bowl. "Somebody will be the primary play caller. I just haven't made that decision yet."
— Sean Stires (@SeanWSBT) December 14, 2019
Kelly says "I will not call plays. That is not my role. I've moved past that."
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) December 14, 2019
Regardless of any report about a decision being made about who will fill the offensive coordinator position in 2020, Kelly said that there will be a thorough search for the next coach that he hires.
Brian Kelly says there will be a "thorough” search for the next offensive coordinator.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 14, 2019
Brian Kelly says there will be a "thorough” search for the next offensive coordinator.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 14, 2019
Brian Kelly also answered questions about next year’s roster. He knows exactly who is and who isn’t coming back next year, but said he will let the players make those announcements public on their own accord. He did specifically answer a question about long snapper John Shannon’s future, and said Shannon will not be back in 2020.
John Shannon won't return for a 5th year. He's going to be a cop.
— One Foot Down (@OneFootDown) December 14, 2019
Go figure.
I got the sense that Kelly was getting a little emotional up at the podium. I think he really wanted to lay it all out — but obviously couldn’t for a myriad of reasons. I think he wants people to know how toxic the Chip Long experience had become, and I think he’s pissed that people assume that he still operates like 2012 Brian Kelly. Maybe I’m reaching on those assessments, but that’s what it felt like.
Kelly: "I've already made a tough decision. I've had to make other tough decisions. I've let go guys that stood up in my wedding."
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) December 14, 2019
Notre Dame is currently preparing for that bowl game in Orlando on December 28th, and despite all the fun we’ve had about the possible ascension of Tommy Rees (#REESUS) as the next OC, the bottom line is that Kelly isn’t rushing any decision. There’s no news there, but it certainly makes the path to the news a lot clearer.
You can watch the full press conference below: