Kelly discusses expectations for spring practice and offseason changes

The ObserverThe Observer Top Stories After a 4-8 season, change has been a big theme for Notre Dame heading into the offseason.
Change has already come in the form of six new coaches for the Irish, but head coach Brian Kelly said improvements in the team’s strength and conditioning will prove to be a major factor for the Irish in spring practice.
Irish junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush scores a touchdown during Notre Dame’s 62-27 victory over UMass on Sep. 26, 2015 at Notre Dame Stadium.
“Anytime that you go into the offseason and you make a number of changes, what influences your team the most is your strength and conditioning,” Kelly said. “And we have a whole new staff … in there that [is] influencing our guys over the last eight weeks.”
Specifically, Kelly said he wants his spring practices to be as competitive and intense as possible while still maintaining a healthy roster.
“First of all is skill development; [we’re] making sure that there’s a portion that we’re working on their skill,” Kelly said. “Putting them in competitive situations, putting fatigue, putting stress on them during competitive situations. To see those guys fight through those kinds of situations and handle themselves with great focus, with great attention to detail. Grit, grit. Grit is sustained effort over a long period of time. And having some adversity. So creating those situations in practice with an eye towards building those traits is what our practices will look like.”
Another departure from last season is the leadership structure Kelly has put in place. Traditionally, four captains are chosen a few weeks before the season commences. This time around, however, Kelly named captains for the upcoming season at the team’s end-of-the-year banquet in early December.
However, Kelly said the leadership isn’t limited just to captains, and he has put a system in place with more ...


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