Notre Dame academic fraud investigation: HC Kelly says no other players have been suspended

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly addressed the media Saturday for the first time since news of the academic fraud investigation against members of his team broke Friday.

Kelly said he hasn't been told of any other players on his team being investigated but also added that he's unsure if the four players currently suspended by Notre Dame will want to remain at the school, regardless of the investigation's outcome.

“My emotions were shock and disappointment at the time,” Kelly said when asked what he felt when he first learned about the investigation.

“It’s a privilege to play at Notre Dame, not a right. We don’t say one thing and do another. I’m proud of Notre Dame,” Kelly said. “There are no shortcuts in what we do. You can’t win taking shortcuts.”

Here are more of Kelly's comments, via ESPN:

I knew coming to Notre Dame, and one of the reasons why I wanted to come here, was there are some core values as one of the preeminent Catholic institutions that you just can't compromise on, and that's integrity. And if you see that something is going on that's not right -- and obviously through this investigation they found this out -- it's important that it's addressed. And so I applaud the university for doing that.

Now, along the way, I've lost a starting quarterback and some key players. But I came here because I wanted to be associated with a university that had those standards. And I'm disappointed, I'm saddened in a way for these young men, because they're good kids. They made some bad decisions along the way -- and I'm not throwing these four in that category yet, obviously. But we can talk about Everett [Golson], certainly, in that situation.

Kelly maintained that the "right young men" were recruited to Notre Dame, but that the school has more work to do once those men are accepted into the program:

I think we continue to have to do a better job educating them. We have to do a better job of providing them the resources. Look, this is never a one-sided issue. We have to internally look at providing our student-athletes all of the resources necessary that if, in fact, they took shortcuts, that they don't. And we have to look hard at that. And that's something that will ensue over this issue.

Kelly hasn't spoken to the four suspended players, according to ESPN, and while they can't practice with the team, they are still allowed to "in the football building for meals and other activities," writes Matt Fortuna. 

Kelly also refused to address whether his perception has been affected due to the difficult circumstances at the program:

This isn't the time to have a debate on what my leadership or lack thereof is. My focus is on my football team and getting this team ready. There's a time and place for that. People have their opinions, and certainly they're entitled to them. I'm going to focus on this football team.

The Irish open their 2014 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, when they host Rice at Notre Dame Stadium.