By Brian Hamilton
NEW YORK -- Brian Kelly was in town Tuesday for a 48-hour glad-handing spree for the greater good of Notre Dame football, but that didn't mean he was oblivious to the revival potentially continuing just down 34th Street.
In fact, the unexpected resuscitation of the Irish men's basketball team was an object lesson for Kelly's football crew just a few days earlier, when the Irish football players had their first outdoor workout last Friday.
"I said, listen, what's happening on campus here, with the basketball team, is that 'indispensable man' that we all hear about growing up and how they have come together -- and we're going to have to do that as a football team at some point," Kelly said, referring to forward Luke Harangody's injury absence.
NEW YORK -- Brian Kelly was in town Tuesday for a 48-hour glad-handing spree for the greater good of Notre Dame football, but that didn't mean he was oblivious to the revival potentially continuing just down 34th Street.
In fact, the unexpected resuscitation of the Irish men's basketball team was an object lesson for Kelly's football crew just a few days earlier, when the Irish football players had their first outdoor workout last Friday.
"I said, listen, what's happening on campus here, with the basketball team, is that 'indispensable man' that we all hear about growing up and how they have come together -- and we're going to have to do that as a football team at some point," Kelly said, referring to forward Luke Harangody's injury absence.
"We can't worry about whether Dayne Crist is ready or not or whether
Brian Smith can't play. That's the mentality is something that I've
always been able to create in my football teams, but I see it happening
with our basketball team. It was a great opportunity for me to mirror
what's happening on campus."
Other leftover nuggets from the Irish football coach's audience with the Tribune and a small group of other reporters at a Manhattan restaurant:
On how well he knows his team now: "I think we've got a better sense of where we are. We are in Stage 2, really, of that. Stage 1 was, we couldn't even get near them. We had to hit the ground running on physically changing our football team around. Our coaches were champing at the bit to get with them in the weight room. We just said, listen, you can't get near them. They have to be so focused on just changing their body types and body fat and strength and work volume."
On his team's conditioning: "Right now, we couldn't go four quarters at the pace I want to go at. We probably would be a real good first-half team. Problem is,you get credit for it at the end of the fourth quarter. It's work volume, the ability to hold that consistent play for four quarters. We're in Stage 2 of that development."
On players adjusting to workout tempo: "It's how we run a practice. Two hours or less. During that two hours or less, the pace is pretty fast. Your ability to process, move on, is so crucial. That's where we're struggling right now. Our attention to those things is a little bit different than what they were used to. They'll get there. But they're not used to that type of environment where it's, boom, next, next, next. It's been all right, let's go over this, let's go over it again. That's a change for our guys."
On not naming season-long captains: "I don't know if you know this: I don't have captains. We have game-day captains. A lot of that is because we're trying to teach our younger players, these are the qualities we want from our seniors. See how he does it? Instead of saying you're the captain, you're the captain, I want them all to be involved in that leadership."
On the type of player Notre Dame will recruit: "I'm still going to have to recruit that kid that responds to my style of coaching and the coaching staff I have. Having said that, I believe Notre Dame allows you the opportunity to get in the game on those high-profile players that I didn't have a chance to get involved in. I think you'll see some of those guys and you'll go, wow, taking that kid? I think you'll see a balance between the two."
On where he expects Notre Dame to be: "We have to be in a position that Notre Dame football is a part of the championship landscape. We've got to be competing for championships. And there's no other way to put it. I didn't come to Notre Dame because we're trying for the 8-4 record. We want to win and we want to win right now. Notre Dame football needs to be part of the discussion when it comes to the elite programs. And we can't wait three, four, five years for it. We've waited long enough. We've got to get there right away."
On where his team's biggest holes are: "Pleasantly surprised with our defensive level of talent. We've got some players there that can compete at a high level. I think the questions are more on offense than on defense. We've got a quarterback that's unproven. We lost the best receiver in the country (Golden Tate), a quarterback (Jimmy Clausen) that's going to be drafted in the first round. Those are pretty big weapons."
On the upheaval at USC: "We don't talk about it much with our players. They all watch TV. It's a rivalry. But I really think our focus is, we know this is more about what we need to do. We're not at that time where we're sitting at the top of the peak saying, 'Told you so.' We're not at that point. We're focused solely on what we're doing and how we need to get better. It really doesn't register on the radar for any conversations we have."
On Notre Dame's independence: "It is great when you look at a schedule and you're playing teams from all over. We're going to Yankee Stadium. We're going to USC. We're playing all over. That is, for a football coach who is more of 'Schedule 'em, I'll play 'em' -- that's pretty exciting."
Other leftover nuggets from the Irish football coach's audience with the Tribune and a small group of other reporters at a Manhattan restaurant:
On how well he knows his team now: "I think we've got a better sense of where we are. We are in Stage 2, really, of that. Stage 1 was, we couldn't even get near them. We had to hit the ground running on physically changing our football team around. Our coaches were champing at the bit to get with them in the weight room. We just said, listen, you can't get near them. They have to be so focused on just changing their body types and body fat and strength and work volume."
On his team's conditioning: "Right now, we couldn't go four quarters at the pace I want to go at. We probably would be a real good first-half team. Problem is,you get credit for it at the end of the fourth quarter. It's work volume, the ability to hold that consistent play for four quarters. We're in Stage 2 of that development."
On players adjusting to workout tempo: "It's how we run a practice. Two hours or less. During that two hours or less, the pace is pretty fast. Your ability to process, move on, is so crucial. That's where we're struggling right now. Our attention to those things is a little bit different than what they were used to. They'll get there. But they're not used to that type of environment where it's, boom, next, next, next. It's been all right, let's go over this, let's go over it again. That's a change for our guys."
On not naming season-long captains: "I don't know if you know this: I don't have captains. We have game-day captains. A lot of that is because we're trying to teach our younger players, these are the qualities we want from our seniors. See how he does it? Instead of saying you're the captain, you're the captain, I want them all to be involved in that leadership."
On the type of player Notre Dame will recruit: "I'm still going to have to recruit that kid that responds to my style of coaching and the coaching staff I have. Having said that, I believe Notre Dame allows you the opportunity to get in the game on those high-profile players that I didn't have a chance to get involved in. I think you'll see some of those guys and you'll go, wow, taking that kid? I think you'll see a balance between the two."
On where he expects Notre Dame to be: "We have to be in a position that Notre Dame football is a part of the championship landscape. We've got to be competing for championships. And there's no other way to put it. I didn't come to Notre Dame because we're trying for the 8-4 record. We want to win and we want to win right now. Notre Dame football needs to be part of the discussion when it comes to the elite programs. And we can't wait three, four, five years for it. We've waited long enough. We've got to get there right away."
On where his team's biggest holes are: "Pleasantly surprised with our defensive level of talent. We've got some players there that can compete at a high level. I think the questions are more on offense than on defense. We've got a quarterback that's unproven. We lost the best receiver in the country (Golden Tate), a quarterback (Jimmy Clausen) that's going to be drafted in the first round. Those are pretty big weapons."
On the upheaval at USC: "We don't talk about it much with our players. They all watch TV. It's a rivalry. But I really think our focus is, we know this is more about what we need to do. We're not at that time where we're sitting at the top of the peak saying, 'Told you so.' We're not at that point. We're focused solely on what we're doing and how we need to get better. It really doesn't register on the radar for any conversations we have."
On Notre Dame's independence: "It is great when you look at a schedule and you're playing teams from all over. We're going to Yankee Stadium. We're going to USC. We're playing all over. That is, for a football coach who is more of 'Schedule 'em, I'll play 'em' -- that's pretty exciting."
Alan Shuback...Jimmy Clausen was going pro 100% this year. The NFL is going to change their rules for rookie salaries in the new CBA. He would make more money as a 2nd rounder this year as a top 10 pick next year. Mel Kiper still thinks he's the best QB in the draft...seems like good enough reasons for me. Golden may have returned but I think he would flourish in Brian Kelly's spread offense so I doubt coaching was his main factor.
Regardless of your feelings about Brian Kelly, Notre Dame, and Charlie Weis...Weis had to be fired, there's no argument about it. Jimmy Clausen should have been the heisman trophy winner this year if Weis could have put together a defense...his numbers were amazing for the number of crap positions the defense put him in.
Yes, Notre Dame has lost Clausen and Tate, but would have had them both back for another year if Weis hadn't been fired. Kelly is right about one thing: Notre Dame won't be 8-4 this year. They'll be 5-7.
Schedule Tulsa and Western Michigan, not to mention Army, and Coach Kelly'll play 'em!