Kelly pulls for Irish in title game despite backlash over exit to LSU
Brian Kelly became Notre Dame's all-time leader in wins and helped change the program before leaving for LSU in a shocking 2021 decision that angered Fighting Irish fans. More than three years later and despite the criticism from the Blue and Gold fan base, the veteran head coach hopes his former team can end its championship drought Monday against Ohio State.
"I'm happy for all those guys, I pull for them," Kelly told CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello. "A lot of the guys there that are on both sides of the ball, I recruited. Obviously, I want to see those guys win it all, and I think they're in a great position. Totally excited for those guys."
Kelly coached Notre Dame for 12 seasons and posted a 113-40 record that included a national title game appearance as well as two trips to the College Football Playoff. The 63-year-old, who never won a national title with his former team, was heavily criticized for abruptly leaving the Fighting Irish to join the Tigers in November 2021.
At the time, he mentioned differences with Notre Dame's administration were among the reasons for his departure. He also said he wanted to be "in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship," Marcello recalled.
"They're selling it the way they want to sell it," Kelly said Tuesday. "Why do you leave Notre Dame? You leave Notre Dame because you're taking another challenge. I took Notre Dame to championships. It's just the way you want to twist it: 'You only leave Notre Dame to go win a championship.' I wasn't leaving Notre Dame because I couldn't win a championship. You can win championships at Notre Dame, but I chose another path because I wanted a different challenge."
The Irish haven't won it all since the 1988 season.
"I felt like I did everything that I could at Notre Dame, and they felt like they did everything they could do for me," Kelly said in 2021, according to Marcello.
Former defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman took over as Kelly's replacement at Notre Dame and has posted a 33-9 record. Freeman's outfit lost a shocker to Northern Illinois University in September but has since won 13 games in a row. The Irish eliminated Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State in the CFP to set up a blockbuster meeting with Ohio State at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Meanwhile, LSU is 29-11 under Kelly. The Tigers reached the SEC title game during the coach's first year in town but lost to Georgia.