Newsstand: Brian Kelly rooting for Notre Dame in national championship
Many Notre Dame fans have asked the question as their team gears up for the national championship: Who is Brian Kelly rooting for?
The former Irish head coach has drawn criticism as his successor, Marcus Freeman, leads Notre Dame on its most successful postseason run since 1988. He left for LSU in December 2021, and part of his reasoning for taking that job was being in “an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship.”
On Tuesday afternoon, CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello got the answer.
“I’m happy for all those guys,” Kelly told Marcello after an American Football Coaches Association meeting in Charlotte. “I pull for them. A lot of the guys that are there on both sides of the ball, I recruited.”
Out of 55 offensive and defensive players on the Irish’s two-deep depth chart, nine (by Blue & Gold‘s count) played for Kelly. Eight more committed to him in the 2022 class. Stars such as linebacker Jack Kiser, defensive tackle Howard Cross III, tight end Mitchell Evans and safety Xavier Watts began their careers in South Bend with Kelly at the helm.
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“Obviously, I want to see those guys win it all and I think they’re in a great position,” Kelly said. “Totally excited for those guys.”
Notre Dame takes on Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
For Marcello’s full story, click here.
Notre Dame tweets of the day
The power of Marcus Freeman:
Should the Irish be crowned co-Big Ten champions?
Leonard Moore is a superstar.
Quote of the day
“Traditionally, Notre Dame has been universally hated. The reasons for that could vary, but it’s a tale as old as the sport has existed. The Gold helmets? The small size of the university? The Irish Catholic connection? The television deal with NBC? The steadfast commitment to remaining independent? The Touchdown Jesus mural? The famous movie ‘Rudy?’ The fact a large portion of their fans never went to Notre Dame or even stepped foot in Indiana? The self-importance of the tradition and history? Something else? Why do you hate Notre Dame?
“No, a new question. Why are you rooting for Notre Dame?”
— On3 national college football writer Ari Wasserman on why Freeman has made the Irish likable
Headlines of the day
- Marcus Freeman, on the doorstep of a Notre Dame title, did something even harder than winning: The Irish are likable now
- Notre Dame football injury report: Official update on WR Beaux Collins vs. Ohio State in championship
- Irish release depth chart for national championship vs. Ohio State
- Opponent scout: Ohio State writer breaks down Buckeyes (Part 2)
- Next man up: Every time Notre Dame had to replace an injured starter in 2024
- Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore notches FWAA Freshman All-America accolades
- Analyzing seven key recruiting battles between Irish and Ohio State
