Despite a 10-win season last year and a contract extension to open this year, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has come under extraordinary pressure after a 2-5 start to the season for the Fighting Irish. Off-the-field stuff such as Kelly calling out his players and getting into scuffles with opposing coaches haven't help his case, either.
The heat has turned up so much on Kelly that Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick released a statement to ESPN on Friday, claiming that Kelly's job is safe for at least the remainder of the season and more.
"Brian will lead this team out of the tunnel opening day next year," Swarbrick said.
It would be interesting to see how much of this is confidence in Kelly and how much of it is due to the extension that was signed earlier this year. The deal runs through 2021, so a buyout would be quite the financial setback, even for a program like Notre Dame.
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It could also be the "dreaded vote of confidence", but there there is at least some evidence that the program could keep Kelly until next season.
Kelly is 57-28 in six-plus seasons with the Fighting Irish. This includes two 10-win seasons and a berth in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.
