by Leprechaun Express & Steve Welsh
“Notre Dame defensive lineman Jerry Tillery has tweeted an apology for kicking USC running back Aca’Cedric Ware in the helmet while Ware was on the ground with an apparent head injury and stomping on the foot of USC offensive tackle Zach Banner while he was on the ground.”
“Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick has maintained all season long that coach Brian Kelly would return to South Bend in 2017, but Swarbrick can only guarantee that he has no plans to fire Kelly. He doesn’t know what might be in Kelly’s plans, and according to one report, Kelly’s plans just might involve leaving on his own. Yahoo’s Pat Forde is reporting that Kelly ‘has reached out through representatives to explore coaching options outside Notre Dame.'”
“In a hotel room in California late Saturday night, doubling down on recruiting and auditing the existing spring practice structure, Brian Kelly was eventually nudged out of his cocoon. … ”
“In three words, Brian Kelly expressed his desire to return as Notre Dame’s football coach …. ‘I’ll be back,’ he said with … Jack Swarbrick, nodding and smiling in the audience at the … Coliseum after a 45-27 loss against USC. But when all was said and done with the Irish’s forgettable 4-8 season … more was said than done. Then, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, even more was said about how Kelly does not intend to be done as head coach of the Irish. In a tweet sent after 2 a.m., the school released a statement in wake of a Yahoo report … suggesting Kelly had been putting out feelers for other jobs. …”
“Notre Dame defensive lineman Jerry Tillery apologized Monday for his actions in Saturday’s loss at USC, in which the sophomore appeared to nudge one injured Trojans player in the head and step on the foot of another during a fourth-quarter drive. ….”
“Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says he is ”fully committed” to staying at the school after the Fighting Irish finished with their second-worst record in five decades. An embarrassing 45-27 loss to USC left Notre Dame with a 4-8 mark. Kelly stated his intentions in a statement released by the school early Sunday ….”
“Notre Dame has a young team, and a talented team. We found out this year that both sides of the ball simply just don’t quite know how to win, but this team can be turned around. New faces will be plentiful next season, and I believe that to be a good thing. Despite Deshone Kizer, the quarterback and arguably team MVP most likely heading to the NFL Draft, I believe that this team can absolutely find its footing. …
“Inside Notre Dame Football” with Brian Kelly, Jack Nolan and Notre Dame players, after the conclusion of Notre Dame’s 2016 campaign.
“‘I want to take full responsibility for my actions on Saturday. I am truly sorry. I acted in a way that was out of character for me. What I displayed in those two instances were completely unbecoming and not indicative of the kind of player or person I am. My actions in those two instances do not represent what my family or Notre Dame has molded me to be. I want to especially apologize to Aca’Cedric, Zach, their families and anyone else affected by what I did. I assure you I will learn and grow from this moment and become a better man because of it.'”
“Notre Dame finished this season with a 4-8 record, its worst mark since 2007, leaving head coach Brian Kelly’s future with the program up in the air. ….”