By now you're probably well aware that Notre Dame's head football coach, Brian Kelly, has interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles. And reports say he'll be talking to the NFL team again this weekend. So how do Irish fans feel about all this?
Well they are thrilled with how this football season went and have high praise for Coach Kelly. Donald Daut said, "I think he's pretty sharp. I think he's trained the boys pretty good." Robert Elkins said, "he's probably the best candidate I've seen since Lou Holtz." And Michael Holdsworth said, "love the guy, I love his attitude, I love what he brings to the program." All the love explains why fans were caught off guard when they heard the reports that Coach Kelly interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Elkins said, "It was kind of shocking...mind blowing." Janet Gamache said, "I couldn't believe it, I felt betrayed." Janet Gamache says she gets the lure of the NFL, but Kelly Leaving? She says that just doesn't seem right. "that's a job and that's the ultimate goal for a coach and I understand that but ya know he's only given three years to this school. I think he owes them a little bit more than that."
Fans are afraid a Kelly departure could hurt the football program. A 5-star N-D recruit has already decommitted. Jerry Diveley said, "It might get helter skelter and I don't like the thought of that." "Someone's gotta come in and start from scrath again...we've been through that a lot the last few years," said Gamache.
But despite their fears, fans aren't wishing Coach Kelly any ill will. Jerry Diveley said, "I don't think anybody should be upset over somebody checking a situation out." Michael Holdsworth said, "I think it's great the NFL's looking at him. If I were in the NFL a GM, I'd be asking him to coach." And Tony Baranowski said, "I think it's an opportunity if he stays to show how loyal he is to the team."
We also asked fans who they would like to see as the next Irish coach if Kelly does leave. Only one fan would answer that question saying he'd like to see Lovie Smith. Everyone else said they won't even think about that yet.
There's at least some animosity about the reported interview from our Facebook friends. Michael said, "What happened to his dream job?" and Dave said, " I was shocked how he handled the Cincy departure. Would expect nothing less here at ND."
