Coach Brian Kelly talks COVID-19 updates, playing in the ACC ahead of season opener

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—The Notre Dame Football team is making final preparations ahead of its first game of the season against Duke on September 12.

Because of an uptick in COVID-19 cases a few weeks ago, the start of the season looked bleak but now it’s full steam ahead for the Irish heading into the season opener.

Head Coach Brian Kelly addressed the media on Monday via Zoom and said that looking to their first ACC game against Duke, the team has zero active COVID-19 cases.

“We have no players that are in quarantine and we have no players that are in isolation so we have a full roster,” Kelly said. “It’s easy to get rattled, to get distracted, and they’ve done a really good job of parking a lot of that and when it’s time to get to the football field, by and large, they’ve done a great job.”

Kelly compared playing at Notre Dame Stadium like being in the NBA bubble and when asked about quarterback Ian Book, he said Ian is by himself, adding that “we’ll keep him under wraps this season.”

During the press conference, Kelly also commented on Notre Dame’s first season in a new conference and a new goal: winning an ACC title.

As of Monday, the Irish are a 19.5 point favorite to pick up their first ever win in the ACC.