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Jack Swarbrick reacts to Brian Kelly’s departure, explains Notre Dame’s next moves
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Notre Dame lost its coach, but its season isn’t technically over just yet. And not only that, but the goal for the season is still somewhat on the table.
The Fighting Irish still have an outside chance at sneaking into the College Football Playoff. They’d need some help as they sit idle during conference championship weekend, but FiveThirtyEight gives them a 14% chance to still make the CFP. If Cincinnati loses to Houston during the AAC title game, that percentage chance jumps to 36%. ESPN’s Playoff Predictor gives Notre Dame about a 40% chance to get in if the higher-ranked teams all win during conference championship weekend. If Cincy loses, ESPN’s formula shoots the Irish up to 74%, the third-best odds.
If the Irish get in, Brian Kelly will not coach in the game.
“I have every confidence we will be fully prepared for what I hope is a CFP game,” Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick told members of the media Tuesday morning. “Brian will not be part of that for us.”
Swarbrick went on to say that Kelly did not approach him to give Notre Dame an opportunity to keep him in South Bend.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says Brian Kelly did not approach him for an opportunity to convince him to stay in South Bend.
Says the coach told him he was leaving for LSU, that he appreciated their friendship and the opportunity he had had at ND… But was gone. https://t.co/ctS7adRiLg
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 30, 2021
Swarbrick added that Kelly didn’t speak to him until Monday night after news broke he was leaving for another job. According to reports, Kelly “ghosted” members of his coaching staff in South Bend, and Swarbrick said Tuesday that “there is a sense you get when you work with somebody for 12 years that there is a restlessness. There were Freudian slips along the way that grabbed my attention. It felt like someone open to a new opportunity.”
And a new opportunity is exactly what Kelly cited when he told Swarbrick the news.
“(Kelly) told the team today (his decision) was just about another opportunity,” Swarbrick said. “It was the right time for his family to have another opportunity, another experience. It was similar to comments made by Lincoln (Riley).”
Notre Dame won’t immediately name an interim coach in Kelly’s stead. Swarbrick said he “wants to see how (Notre Dame) operates” without one before elevating someone to that role. There is reportedly momentum for defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to not just get an interim shot at the gig, but a chance to become the new coach full-time.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
