Brian Kelly 'disappointed' AD had to defend him

Most head coaches are usually happy to receive a vote of confidence, but the very fact a statement needs to be made often indicates their job could be in jeopardy.

It's no secret that many Notre Dame fans want the school to replace Brian Kelly, prompting athletic director Jack Swarbrick to voice his support for the head coach. Kelly, though, was frustrated the issue had to be addressed at all.

"Well I was disappointed actually," Kelly told Matt Fortuna of ESPN. "But anytime that your athletic director has to come out and say that, as a head coach you're disappointed that any kind of comments like that have to be made. So I didn't ask him, that was his decision, but I clearly understand what he was doing. He was probably sick and tired of being sick and tired, too. But for me it's disappointing, certainly, that you have to make those comments."

The Irish have been a mess this season with major issues on both sides of the ball, leading to losses in four of their past five games. That being said, Kelly hasn't won less than eight games in a season since arriving in South Bend and is only a year removed from a Fiesta Bowl appearance, so it would take something fairly significant for the 55-year-old to be given his walking papers.

Missing a bowl game might be just that, and it will be no easy task for Notre Dame to make sure that doesn't happen. The Irish have five games remaining against Miami, Navy, Army, Virginia Tech, and USC, and with the way the team has been playing, winning four of those seems like a real uphill climb.