via @WatchND

Ever the politician, a plaid-suited Brian Kelly sidestepped a question ripe for opposing locker room material. Sure, the end of the Michigan series has opened the door for some very exciting future games for Notre Dame football, but he wasn’t about to proclaim it a “good thing” and provide Michigan with additional motivation.

Instead, Kelly called future games with Texas and Georgia the “silver lining” of no longer having Michigan on the schedule. Afterward, he looked to the eager press asking how he did in delivering the political response and even jokingly praised the reporter for doing a good job in phrasing his question for the potential trap. As the press conference ended, he stated with relief that he got through the thing without getting into any trouble.

And there was plenty potential for such trouble. Earlier in the conference, he refuted the idea that he would use the final Notre Dame/Michigan matchup as additional motivation for his team. Instead, he stated that he would frame the unique situation as an opportunity for his squad, doing his best to downplay the finality of the series.

But as calm and political as Kelly appeared on the outside, I couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on inside his head. Previously, he practically admitted that he was tired of losing to Brady Hoke. He’s been on the wrong end of the scoreboard and chicken comments. Somewhere deep inside, you just know this game matters more than he’ll publicly state.

Part of me wishes this presser went scorched earth on Ann Arbor, but, for now, Kelly’s cooler head prevails. Hopefully, drunk on victory come Saturday night, we get some of what Kelly is holding inside.

Presser Highlights

On Rice: Highlighted good predictors for victory, specifically +11 in field position, +2 in turnovers, and 9.0 yards/play. Mentioned that a “great effort” on special teams helped to deliver the great field position that the Irish enjoyed all game long.

On Michigan: Called Devin Funchess a problem matchup now that he’s moved from TE to WR. Noted that Gardner has “played great” against the Irish in the past and that ND will face a veteran defense. Later in the presser, Kelly noted that Michigan will heavily press his WR and that Michigan will deploy a very aggressive defense much like Brian VanGorder does.

On the academic investigation: There is still no update, but that could all change quickly. This is definitely Al Lesar’s favorite topic.

Injuries: Torii Hunter is out for Michigan, but could be back in time for Purdue. Kelly is “hopeful” in regards to Jarrett Grace’s progress, but notes he is still a few weeks out. Once healthy, Kelly is confidence that Grace can be thrown back into the mix immediately at LB and contribute for the team. Corey Robinson’s hand was a bit sore after the Rice game, but is fine and he is still a full go for Michigan.

On secondary communication failures: Kelly very delicately stated that VanGorder more or less chewed the safeties out for their failures against Rice. He stated that he “could hear our safeties communicating” while he sat in his QB meeting. While I personally love that kind of fire, it only works if the players respond to it and, by Kelly’s account, it looks like they are.

On James Onwualu: The converted LB got tons of praise during this presser. Kelly noted that Onwualu’s toughness and demeanor lead him and his staff to believe that he should get a shot at playing defense. After spring ball, VanGorder was sold. Later in the presser, Kelly also noted that Onwualu is someone that can be on the field for practically every snap, including special teams in which Kelly the day for that unit, largely in part for sniffing out the fake punt.

Where is Ben Councell? Kelly noted that the SAM LB position was largely unused against Rice because of how they spread the field. He noted that Council would see much more playing time against more physical offenses that like to deploy 2-TE sets. Based on what I saw from Michigan this past week, don’t be surprised if Councell sees more of this playing time that Kelly refers to.

Brian Kelly, trolling hard: The first thing he credited for the improved special teams play was the Irish’s ability to “stick [their] foot in the ground” thanks to the new FieldTurf. He admitted that he knew it sounded ridiculous, but I don’t care. Kelly praising the new turf, no matter how truly genuine, will always make me laugh.

On rotating punt returners: Cody Riggs is definitely the #1 PR, but will see split time with Greg Bryant based on how long Riggs has been on the field. Kelly stated that, especially with his secondary depth hurting, he needs Riggs out on the field on defense. If he thinks he needs a blow, he’ll run Bryant out there instead.

The post Brian Kelly Presser: Michigan, Opportunities, and Silver Linings appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

How did you first become a Notre Dame fan?

Jerry Barca: I was born Irish-Italian and Catholic in New Jersey. I don’t think there was much choice about it. It was just life, sort of like a grass-is-green, sky-is-blue thing. You said Hail Marys at night, fidgeted through Mass on Sunday, and followed Notre Dame.

What was your best childhood Notre Dame memory?

JB: I’m the youngest of five kids and one of my older brothers went to Notre Dame, so that provided the opportunity for some pretty good childhood memories of the school. Going to the 31-30, Catholics vs. Convicts game in ’88 stands out, as does meeting and hanging out with Roger Valdiserri and Laphonso Ellis that weekend.

My first visit to the campus was pretty cool. It was 1985. I was 8 years old, and Allen Pinkett and Co. were taking on Army. Dressed from head to toe in freshly purchased ND gear and armed with a little yellow Notre Dame megaphone, I stood on a table helping Fisher Hall sell concessions on game day. We were set up right outside the old Bookstore location. I was shouting for people to get their “Gipper brauts, Rockne burgers, and Four Horseman soda.” Fisher Hall ended up being able to get a microwave for the dorm based on the sales that day, which in 1985 meant there were a lot of sales. Then 10 years later, when I was applying to Notre Dame I watched the admissions video. There — in the midst of some awkward dorm dance footage — was a clip of me doing this huckster shouting. And of course I mentioned this in the application process. I used everything I could. I needed to. I was wait-listed and I’m pretty sure that I was the last one accepted to the incoming class.

Did you play sports as a kid?

JB: Yes. Didn’t everybody? I’m thinking I should say more here. I played quarterback for the West Orange Mustangs Pee-Wee football team. I was sacked 46 times in a nine-game season. We weren’t very good as a team, but we did have a member of Providence College’s 1996 Elite Eight basketball team, a movie and TV actor, and a Broadway lead.

What made you decide to attend Notre Dame?

JB: It was always my dream since I was 8 years old and first visited the campus to see my older brother. I loved sports and I loved the friendships I saw my brother developing with his classmates. I mean even the grownups seemed like good, approachable people – Fr. (Richard) Warner and coach (Brian) Boulac come to mind. For me, I saw it as a special place since I was kid and I wanted to be part of that.

What was your best Notre Dame memory?

JB: There are a bunch. I don’t think I can single out just one. I really think it is the friends you make. I graduated 15 years ago. I can rattle off some great classes and experiences – Bookstore Basketball; doing the ring announcing for Bengal Bouts; getting up too early on Saturday mornings to stuff football programs in the press box; writing a 25-page paper on how Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In the U.S.A.” album changed material culture in America. But the core of all that is the friendships, the people who I was alongside to share these experiences.

How did you decide to write the book Unbeatable?

JB: I was surprised no one had gone back and revisited that era of Notre Dame football. Each year I’d see new Notre Dame football books come out, but nothing taking a deeper look at the Holtz-era, which was a formative football watching period for a lot of Notre Dame fans. I thought it was an important story to tell on the timeline of Notre Dame football history. And, as long I could get access to the players and the coaches, I thought it would be a great story to tell.

What was the biggest challenge in writing the book?

JB: The timeline. I wrote a sample chapter and put together the book proposal in late 2011/early 2012. I signed a contract with St. Martin’s Press in April 2012 and turned in the 84,000-word manuscript on October 1, six months later. I’ve said this before in other places – I gained 17 pounds, drank about 30-ounces of coffee during the day, chugged a Red Bull in the afternoon, got a large Dunkin Donuts coffee at 11 p.m. to stay up to do the rewrites until about 4 a.m. All this, plus devouring a box of Little Debbie nutty bars in less than 24 hours each time said box entered the house.

What surprised you the most in writing the book?

JB: A lot of things come to mind. Even though I thought I knew a lot about the Miami-Notre Dame game, there was so much more behind the scenes between the fans of both schools, and in the Fighting Irish’s preparation to face the ‘Canes. The multiple storylines leading up to the No. 1 versus No. 2 regular season finale at USC are some of my favorite passages in the book — the details of Ricky Watters and Tony Brooks being suspended; how a measles side effect impacted the game; and the strategy behind Notre Dame’s big plays.

Will you write another Notre Dame book?

Lisa Kelly and Jerry Barca signing books at Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore 2013

JB: Maybe. Someday. But at the moment I have no plans to write another Notre Dame book. But since you asked, now I’m wondering if Mike Brey might let me embed with the program for a year. Hmm?

So … what are your thoughts on the new FieldTurf?

JB: I wrote about this last week (http://jerrybarca.com/unbeatable/on-fieldturf-grass-and-tradition). Look, I love the grass at Notre Dame Stadium and like any super-duper bizarro fan I have a long, strangely personal, relationship with that grass. But I’m good with the FieldTurf. Times change, and so do playing surfaces.

What are your 2014 Notre Dame Football predictions?

JB: They will play home games on FieldTurf, and they will definitely play 12 games between the end of August and the end of November.

Sorry for the smartassery, but I believe the people who know best how the team will do are Brian Kelly, his staff, and the players. Those guys and Notre Dame’s opponents. They all have a far better position to make predictions than me.

Any new projects we should know about?

JB: I have begun work on another football book. I am grateful St. Martin’s Press will once again be the publisher, and I’ll have more specific details on that in the future.

Thanks so much for having me. This has been great.

Want to read more from Jerry? His Notre Dame football book “Unbeatable” can be purchased at fine booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

Cheers & Go Irish!

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