Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly met with the media on Thursday after practice. As The Observer‘s Mike Monaco points out, it’s the 23rd different time he’s met with the media since Rev. John Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick announced their academic investigation on August 15th.
With Kelly acting as basically the lone spokesman for the university in that time, other than a heavily lawyered statement released on Sunday, the Irish head coach once again had no official updates on the fate of DaVaris Daniels, Kendall Moore, Eilar Hardy, KeiVarae Russell and Ishaq Williams.
“Here’s what I know: None of our five guys practiced, so they will obviously not be able to play this weekend,” Kelly said, answering the first question he was asked after Thursday’s practice. “I do not have any specific information to share with you. If I did, I would probably let them share it with you.”
From there, the Irish head coach showed his political acumen, respectfully answering questions while deftly tiptoeing around the very large elephant in the room. When asked in various ways why he’s the de facto spokesman for a university filled with administrators that are actually involved and running the processbrian , Kelly stated the obvious.
“It’s awkward. I’m trying to do the best job I can,” Kelly said. “I think we all know that we’re at that point where decisions are being made or have been made.”
The Chicago Tribune cited a source close to the situation when saying the five suspended players “are unlikely to play the rest of the season.” That comes on the heels of a similar report on the Irish Illustrated premium message board, though that report was edited to acknowledge the uncertainty of an appeals process.
The university doesn’t plan on making any statement, citing privacy laws and school policy. So with no word from the five student-athletes, all that’s left is speculation.