Joel Klatt praises Brian Kelly for job with Notre Dame

Brian Kelly has been honest about the Notre Dame football program this season. While the Fighting Irish surely have talent, Kelly viewed this season as an opportunity to continue to rebuild, but didn’t necessarily believe his squad would be in contention for a national title.

Now, Notre Dame is sitting at No. 6 in the country with a true chance to make it into the College Football Playoff. Earlier this week, FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt joined Colin Cowherd and told a story about meeting with Kelly earlier this season.

“Remember earlier in the year I did the Wisconsin-Notre Dame game, in Chicago,” Klatt recalled. “And since we were so close to the campus, and we don’t get to visit their campus because we don’t do their home games, so I flew in a day early.

“Even though I had called Brian Kelly’s games before, I had never sat with him and had a meeting with him before a big game. I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity. I was blown away by what seems to be this transition. A guy, very confident in who he is, where he is and how his teams are going to win. And he was very straightforward with me that they were going to do everything they could, and put together a game plan but this was not his year.”

Klatt then elaborated on exactly what Brian Kelly meant.

“I was almost taken back,” Klatt continued. “He was not trying to say they were going to lose to Wisconsin, he was just trying to say this was not the team they were building towards.”

Since losing to Cincinnati at home on Oct. 2, Notre Dame has rattled off six straight victories. The Fighting Irish’s last five wins were by double figures, as well, meaning Brian Kelly has his team playing well at the right time.

“So in a development year, here the Irish are at 10-1,” Klatt added.

“This guy has done a remarkable job and I don’t think guys like Brian Kelly get the credit they deserve. Here’s this guy at Notre Dame that has won more games than anyone in that position in the school’s history, he also has more 10-win seasons than any coach in their history.”

Klatt makes several valid points. While Brian Kelly hasn’t won a national title since leading Notre Dame, the trajectory of the program is clearly headed in the right direction. Once again, in a year where the head coach admitted his team had major holes, the Irish are in contention heading into December.