Recent comments made by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly are making the rounds today, with some wondering if they hint at Kelly’s eventual successor.
In an appearance on NBC Sports’ “Race in America: A Candid Conversation,” Kelly spoke at length about the hiring process. Among his quotes was one about new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.
“My defensive coordinator is black, and he’s going to be the next head coach,” Kelly said. “This is not about color or race. This is about the things that he just talked about. Steph talked about the important things to be a CEO and understanding how to make people around you better.”
All of Kelly’s remarks can be found below, so you can get the full context for how Freeman’s name came up.
Full quote from Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly from the NBC Sports series Race and Sports: A Candid Conversation.https://t.co/3lISmoUafP @247Sports pic.twitter.com/koTA4qzG98
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) August 26, 2021
Naturally, when Kelly’s words began going viral, there was speculation that he had outed Freeman as the head coach-in-waiting in South Bend. The 35-year-old former NFL linebacker spent four seasons as the DC at Cincinnati before choosing Notre Dame over LSU this offseason.
Yes he did https://t.co/LrMAGw7ubn
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) August 26, 2021
However, there were others who wanted further explanation regarding what Kelly said, and Irish Illustrated’s Tom Loy tweeted that he did not think the Kelly was implying Freeman was next up at Notre Dame.
“I believe he meant it as being the next from his staff to become a head coach. Simple as that,” Loy wrote. “Sure, it could be Notre Dame in a few years, but it could also be one of the many other places that will be coming after him.
Some clarification on the “next head coach” comment might be necessary. https://t.co/G3ye40pWST
— Chuck Freeby 46 Sports (@46Sports) August 26, 2021
I believe he meant it as being the next from his staff to become a head coach. Simple as that. Sure, it could be Notre Dame in a few years, but it could also be one of the many other places that will be coming after him.
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) August 26, 2021
One of three of these articles I’ve seen today and it’s all a terrible stretch. https://t.co/jGskBq5hLH
— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) August 26, 2021
I don’t think Brian Kelly meant what you think he meant, but Marcus Freeman is going to be a great head coach
— Dan Morrison (@Dan_Morrison96) August 26, 2021
Kelly, who will turn 60 in October, is heading into his 12th season at Notre Dame, so there’s understandably going to be whispers about how much longer he’ll coach.
It seems premature to declare Freeman next-in-line though. He’s going to be a head coach somewhere soon, but we don’t know yet if it will be in South Bend.
The post College Football World Reacts To The Notre Dame Speculation appeared first on The Spun.
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