If you needed another reminder that the Notre Dame football team is better off with Marcus Freeman than it ever was with Brian Kelly, then you need look no further than the comments the LSU coach made about a player that has given years of dedication to the Tigers. And then you can remember this is hardly the first time the former Irish head coach has been accused of really caring all that much about his players once they’re of no more use to him on the field.
The latest incident came on Saturday when Kelly was asked about running back John Emery, who is considering coming back for a seventh season of college football next fall. Kelly was asked whether Emery would be welcomed back if he did get the allowance from the NCAA.
The former Notre Dame football coach was blunt when he answered: “We’ll be supportive in any way that we can, but we’re set at the running back position.”
Brian Kelly on former LSU RB John Emery wanting to play a seventh year: “We’ll be supportive in any way that we can, but we’re set at the running back position.”
— Wilson Alexander (@whalexander_) March 22, 2025
Ex-Notre Dame football coach continues to show off people skills
While some might credit Kelly for being honest and forthright, it doesn’t feel like the LSU coach needed to be quite so blunt. An answer along the lines of “we’d discuss that with John” would have worked just fine there.
Especially come from a man who does indeed, have a rep as someone that doesn’t always appear to have time to discuss these things.
As Death Valley Voice pointed out, it is indeed unlikely that there would be room for Emery for a whole host of reasons. But part of being a coach isn’t just roster manager. Players want to know their efforts are appreciated.
Give me Marcus Freeman to lead the Notre Dame football program every day. He finds a way to say what he means without seeming throwing players from a moving train. And there’s the added bonus that I think he’s legitimately just a better coach and more likeable person.