Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said on Friday that if the Irish are chosen to play in the college football playoffs, they would consider not playing if families are not allowed to attend the semi-final match.
During a Zoom call that previewed the ACC championship game, Kelly made timely remarks about the need for families to attend the games.
“I’m not sure we’ll play in the playoffs if the parents can’t be there,” Kelly said. “Why would we play if you can’t have families in the game? If you can’t have families in bowling games, why would you go to a game where your families can’t be part of it? What’s the point of playing? A game in an area of the country where no one can be part of it? “
The issue of attendance at the semifinals places came to the forefront this week, after the College Football Playoff said it hoped to keep one of the places in the Rose Bowl, as scheduled.
“Maybe them [CFP] I need to spend a little less time figuring out who the top 4 teams are and figuring out how to get parents involved in these games because it’s an absolute shame and a farce if parents can’t be watching their kids play. ”
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly
The problem with this site, in particular, is that Los Angeles County’s director of public health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, told ESPN last month that sporting events, including professional football and college football, ” they will be left without spectators ”after the county announced a stay at home order.
Kelly said she would be in favor of the Rose Bowl moving completely to another location.
“Why can’t it be the Rose Bowl in Las Vegas or the Rose Bowl in another city?” Kelly said. “Where is the student-athlete flexibility is all I’m saying. The only thing these kids have had is incredibly flexible, and on the other hand, can’t we be flexible? It’s hard to imagine.”
PCP Executive Director Bill Hancock said earlier this week that they hoped the state of California would ease restrictions on COVID-19 stadiums and allow the families of players to attend the game in Pasadena, California. .
“Maybe them [CFP] I need to spend a little less time figuring out who the top four teams are and figuring out how to get parents involved in these games because it’s an absolute shame and a farce if parents can’t be watching their kids play, ”Kelly said. . ” the kids have been on campus since June. They have not seen their families at all. They have had to fight through COVID, some of them have had COVID. They can’t be around their families for Christmas, and you’ll tell me we’ll have a playoff and maybe one place can have families and the other won’t? Please.
“Someone has to wake up in this room and find out, or you could say professional league. I’m very fed up and tired of this playoff committee talking about places where you can’t have parents and their families. It’s ridiculous. “
Kelly said the final decision on what to do would come from his players.
“Players drive that,” Kelly said. “I don’t drive it. I’m echoing their concerns. I’m not the type who does this because it’s not about my family. It’s about their family, so I’m a voice for our team, and they’re focused on the ACC championship.This is where their goals are focused.They won’t talk about these things.
“But if we’re actually selected to be part of it, this will be their number 1 on their radar, so I’ll have to deal with our leaders on how they feel about it.”
Kelly said Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick has been involved in talks as part of the PCP management committee and has made his position clear.
As for why the game hasn’t moved out of California with PCP selection day set for Sunday (12 pm ET, ESPN), Kelly said, “We’re adoring the ashes of tradition. That may be the only reason.
“No one will change this year for next year. Next year will be a revenue-producing year. I’m not in this meeting. I can’t imagine what momentum has been applied, but they’re not thinking about the student-athlete, and that’s the problem. I just made it clear that if our team is selected, the next issue will be to make sure student-athletes make their families see them play. “