One on one with Notre Dame's Brian Kelly
Posted: Nov 26, 2011 11:17 PM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 1:39 PM EDT
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – ABC 57 sat down with Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly before the late game of the season. The Fighting Irish traveled over two thousand miles to face the 10-1 Stanford Cardinal.
This is the sixth night game of the season for the Irish, but Kelly said this one is different than the others because of the time change.
“It’s only 5 o’clock on the west coast so we won't be in our normal 8 o’clock mode in relative to working out so our guys won’t work out like they normally do on a night game,” said Kelly.
Saturday night’s game is a big one, with two nationally rank teams playing on primetime television. Kelly said he just tells his guys to stay level headed.
"I tell our guys all the time it's important to know and manage the expectations also don’t buy into the hype really just try to stay level headed and attention to the little things on a day to day basis instead of these big picture items,” said Kelly.
The next man in motto has still been in affect this week, especially after losing senior Jonas Gray to a torn ACL in the Boston College game. Kelly said that means everyone has to step up.
"I think everybody. Tommy Rees has got to play better, Tyler Eifert, Michael Floyd, I think everybody. I don't know if there's one particular guy,” said Kelly.
As the last game of the season is nearing, some big players are reaching the end of their career as a Fighting Irish. Someone who will be missed is senior Michael Floyd.
After making some life changes this season, Kelly said Floyd is leaving a big mark at his alma mater.
“As we know he needed to make some changes in his life. He’s done that and I think now he’s put himself in the position where I think you can talk about him being an all-time great at the University of Notre Dame,” said Kelly.
Kelly said helping players be their best, is what his coaching staff is all about.
"I think there’s a responsibility to get the best out of all of your players whether it’s a Michael Floyd or somebody that’s lesser known. I think the head coach and the coach staff has that responsibility,” said Kelly.
And what’s the word on the street for a bowl game?
"We know we're going to one. I think that’s probably more than we would talk about our guys know they're going to play again after Saturday, but they're focus has been on Stanford,” said Kelly.