Brian Kelly hasn’t spoken publicly about the pandemic of Covid-19 and its effect on the Notre Dame football team but that changed late Wednesday night as he joined Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter.
“30 years of being a head coach I thought I had the handbook memorized but I’ve seen nothing like this,” Kelly said. “Our staff had to take off the coaching head sets and put the academic hats on.”
The big question out there now for college football fans is when do things have to get started in order for the regular season to go on like normal. Like any good journalist would, Scott Van Pelt asked that exact question to which Kelly answered:
“If you can’t start physically conditioning your team by July 1 and giving your strength and conditioning coaches that time then you’re in jeopardy” Kelly said.
“You’re going to need at least four weeks, strength and conditioning coaches are going to want six. You’re looking at a minimum of four weeks conditioning before you put them in camp and college football will be effected if we’re not playing in 90 days in terms of the conditioning element and getting these young men ready.”
Kelly also spoke about how different recruiting is in this strange time where things have a bit of a wild-west feel from afar. He also mentioned how he and his staff aren’t risking anything, instead opting for video calls and using social media for significantly more than in years past. When available, we’ll post the full interview.
I’m curious if July 1 is realistic as we sit on the late evening of March 25. Some states you’re not supposed to leave home unless it’s for a vital job or to get medicine and groceries while others have no stay home rules in place. When you look at what’s happening in New York City does July 1 seem likely?
I hate to come across as pessimistic but I have my doubts in our ability to follow direction and slow the number of cases significantly enough to allow for that date to work.
Now I hope like hell each and everyone of you go prove me wrong and that college football is fired up and getting started nationwide on that July 1 date Brian Kelly says would be required.
Now go be smart, stay safe and stay healthy.