ND’s Kelly knows critics everywhere

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Brian Kelly knows there are critics everywhere unhappy with him for various reasons. Notre Dame’s dismal season for one. And also his role in the death of a student videographer.

In the nearly two weeks since the death of 20-year-old Declan Sullivan, who was filming practice from a tower when it fell over on a windy day, some have called for Kelly to be fired. He was the one who gave the go-ahead for practice that day when wind gusts hit 51 mph.

Kelly, who earlier called Sullivan’s death the most difficult time of his life, got a vote of support last week from Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins.

Now he’s trying to move ahead, if possible.

“When I decided to be the head football coach at Notre Dame, I knew that there would be a great deal of scrutiny placed upon the leadership position. So we are under that scrutiny,” Kelly said Tuesday.

“I recognized that that comes with the job here at Notre Dame. But it doesn’t deter me from doing the job that I came here to do, and that is to develop our football team; to win football games, and to get Notre Dame back to the upper echelon of college football. So, yes, I’m very cognizant of that, and it comes with the job. But it doesn’t affect how I go to work every day.”

Sullivan’s death has overshadowed everything during Kelly’s first season, including the Irish’s 4-5 record. After a week off, they play No. 15 Utah on Saturday.

Lou Holtz was 5-6 in his first season coaching the Irish back in 1986. Two years later they were 12-0 — the last time Notre Dame captured a national title.

The Utes (8-1) are coming off a crushing 47-7 loss to TCU on their home field.

And now the question is which Utah team will show up: the one with such a potent offense, angry about the loss? Or an emotionally depleted one after its promising season was so damaged by the talented Horned Frogs?

Kelly figures it will be more of the former.

“This is a team that’s won a lot of football games. ... Generally my experience has been a team that has a lot of confidence coming in, is not all of the sudden going to lose all of their confidence,” Kelly said.