Kelly on the defensive – again
ND coach continues airing grievances after another big-game loss in Rose Bowl
Listening to coach Brian Kelly after Notre Dame’s 31-14 loss to Alabama in the Rose
Bowl on Friday reminded me of Frank Costanza, the perpetually aggrieved character on “Seinfeld.”
Costanza, played by the late, great Jerry Stiller, invented the holiday “Festivus” as a time to air grievances over perceived slights.
“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people,” Costanza shouted, “and now you’re going to hear about it.”
Throughout the last fewweeks, fromthe lead-up to the ACC title game to Friday’s semifinal loss to Alabama, Kelly has had a lot of problems with a lot of people, including California government officials who wouldn’t allow players’ families into the scheduled semifinal in Pasadena because of COVID-19 restrictions, College Football Playoff officials who wouldn’t move the game from its historic venue and media members who suggested the Fighting Irish could not compete against the stronger and faster Crimson Tide.
Kelly’s threat to turn down a playoff invitation if families weren’t allowed into the stadium led to the late switch of the Rose Bowl to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the only reminder of the traditional New Year’s Day gamewas a rose spraypainted at midfield.
It might aswell have been the Boll We evil Bowl presented by
Capital One, “TheGrandweevil of Them All.”
But at least the gamewas played, and the families ofNotre Dame players got an opportunity towatch Alabama run around, past and over Irish players in a rather convincing win. The Crimson Tide scored the first three times they touched the ball on drives of 79, 97 and 84 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per play, and tailback NajeeHarris created an incredible moment that will be replayed forever, hurdlingNickMcCloud on a 53-yard run that set the tone for Bama’s “30 yards and a cloud of dust” attack.
Itwas nothing forNotreDame to be ashamed of. They lost to a top-ranked team that clearlywas superior and covered the 19½ point spread, the biggest in the brief history of College Football Playoff games. Only die-hard Irish fans believed they had a realistic chance.
But afterward, Costanza, er, Kelly, spent much of his postgame news conference airing his grievances about reporters’ questions.
“The margin is not the issue, losing is losing,” he said, adding the Crimson Tide made “a few more plays on the perimeter” than the Irish.
“Youwatched the game. Iwatched the game,” he said.
Yes, and itwasn’t much of a game to watch after Alabama scored on those first three possessions to take a 21-7 lead.
“I guess everybody needs to continue to carry this narrative thatNotreDame is not good enough,” Kelly said. “Look at the scores of the games Alabama has played all year. We need to change the narrative a little bit. This teamwas out there competing and having a chance to win.”
IfNotreDamewere Vanderbilt, Kelly might have had a point.
ButNotreDame isNotreDame, and when the CFP committeewas trying to decide whether to hand theNo. 4 seed to the Irish or Texas A&M, the Irish’s bigname brand surely factored in. Next year if they’re in the same predicament, perhaps the CFP committee will flash back to this game and give the other team the nod.
ButKellywas just getting started. Asked whatwould be the next step in getting the Irish to be more competitive in big games, he let out a heavy sigh.
“I really don’twant to continue to go down this path,” Kelly said.“We’re going to keep getting here, OK? Andwe’re going to keep banging at it. You guyswatched the game, didn’t you?
“They made plays on the perimeter. They made some dynamic plays. They have the (Associated Press) College Football Player of the Year (in wideout DeVonta Smith), who made some dynamic plays. We battled. Wewere right there. Sowe’re going to keep getting back here. I’m sorry if you don’t like it or if the national media doesn’t like it.”
Kelly rambled on before saying he didn’t take it “personal” butwonderedwhy “these questions keep coming up likewe need to reinvent ourselves.”
The next question began with an alleged reporter froman Alabama radio station saying: “Coach, congratulations on a successful season. …”
“Ha,” Kelly interrupted.“Well, that would be nice if our local people felt that way. But they don’t use any of those kinds of terms. This is always about where our programneeds to go. But I really appreciate that. Thank you.”
ApparentlyKelly believes the role of the news media is to publish his rants when stomps his feet for a change of venue in a bowl game and tell him what a great job he did after his team gets trounced in the bowl game he helped get moved.
Is it anywonder so many dislikeNotre Dame?
Kelly continued defending the performance, but to paraphrase broadcaster LindseyNelson fromthe old Sundaymorning TV shownarratingNotreDame highlights, “We nowpick up the action later in the Zoom.”
Kelly calmed down a bit and even provided a humorous moment when an oblivious questioner asked if Smithwould be his Heisman Trophy pick. Kelly had just been asked whom hewould pick for theHeisman and said quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence andMac Jones andHarris and Smith allwere deserving.
“Were you not paying attention to the last answer?” he said.
“Yeah, but (Smith is) so good, dynamic,” the questioner said.
“OK, then I’ll give it to him,” Kelly said. Everyone chuckled, but soon itwas back toKelly playing defense against his least favorite “narrative”— not being able to beat the top programs.
“You guys are killing me,” he said, calling Alabama and Clemson “elite, talented teams.”
“I don’t have a unique problem atNotre Dame,” he said. “You need to look at the scores of everybody that played against Alabama and Clemson. Everybody has got the same issues. We’re going to keep recruiting. We’re going to keep getting back here.
“Everybody can keep saying ‘Notre Dame is not good enough.’ Well, you know what? You’re going to have a problem becausewe’re going to keep winning games, we’re going to keep getting back here andwe’re going to break through.
“And then I’m going to be terrible to be at a press conference with. Terrible!”
We probably don’t have toworry about that next year.
UntilNotreDame recruits some better players at the skill positions, competing for a national championship will be a Festivus miracle.