8/13/2020 football Edit

Sights And Sounds Shared From Notre Dame’s First Fall Camp Practice

Patrick Engel • InsideNDSports

Beat Writer

Notre Dame held its first fall camp practice Wednesday in preparation for a season that still feels in limbo. Nonetheless, the Fighting Irish (and the ACC) will forge on until they are told to stop or decide to stop.

Wednesday evening’s practice was closed to media, and head coach Brian Kelly was not made available to reporters via Zoom. Kelly did, though, offer some brief thoughts in a post-practice video interview posted to Notre Dame football’s Twitter account.

“Obviously, these guys have been waiting a while to get out here, so pretty excited for the first day,” Kelly said. “But we’ve had first days. We had one day of spring practice and then didn’t have any other days. … First days, you can’t read much into other than they’re excited to be out here at practice.”

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Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly (wearing mask) and Notre Dame during Wednesday’s first training camp practice — Head coach Brian Kelly (wearing mask) and the Fighting Irish held their first fall practice yesterday afternoon. (Notre Dame Athletics)

Notre Dame practiced without nine players that were out due to COVID-19 protocols. Two of them tested positive and are in isolation, the team announced earlier Wednesday, and seven others were quarantined through contact tracing. The two positive tests brings the team’s total to four since June 15, out of 619. That is more than a 99 percent negativity rate.

“You don’t get to this point unless you’re accountable,” Kelly said. “We’re doing this in the midst of a pandemic. Our guys have done a great job when it comes to safety. We support them with testing and a great medical team, procedures and protocols.

“But at the end of the day, it’s our guys who have to make great choices and decisions. Up to this point, they’ve done that.”

Notre Dame announced three players have medically retired: running back Trevor Speights, wide receiver Isaiah Robertson and offensive lineman Cole Mabry. Speights came to Notre Dame this spring as a graduate transfer from Stanford. The team roster was updated to reflect weight changes, freshman numbers and other number changes.

Notre Dame also shared some practice video.