Book, Kelly address Clemson, Lawrence's absence
Brian Kelly for two weeks has addressed the orange tiger in the room – his Notre Dame team's impending clash with Clemson.
Now, it's game week for the ACC's de facto Game of the Year, and the top-ranked Tigers officially are going to be without Trevor Lawrence due to the quarterback's positive test Wednesday for COVID-19, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney making the announcement on the heels of his team's come-from-behind win against Boston College earlier in the day.
Kelly addressed the topic after No. 4 Notre Dame worked past host Georgia Tech, 31-13, and in advance of next Saturday’s home game against the Tigers (7:30 p.m., NBC).
“Yeah, when I heard he got the virus and the first thing I thought of is, you know, hope he's okay hope he doesn't have any lingering effects that that affects him,” ND coach Brian Kelly said. “He's the best player in college football. Then after that, you're like the virus is indiscriminate; it doesn't care. The virus is going to do what the virus does.
“And then, you know, you start to think. All right, is he, is he going to play? (You think) I'm sure he's going to play. And then I heard today that is not going to play, which is, you know, probably the safest thing. It's too bad he's not playing . You know you want you want the best players to play, but look the kid that played today is, you know, a five-star recruit as well. I know he's not Trevor Lawrence, but they're not going to come to South Bend shorthanded.”
The kid that Kelly referenced is Clemson freshman D.J. Uiagalelei, the former top-rated prep quarterback who threw for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception, Saturday in his first start.
On the other end of the spectrum is Notre Dame's Ian Book, who's now played in 41 career games and lost just three times as the Irish's starting quarterback. Book wished Lawrence well but said Lawrence's absence would not impact what the Irish must do to beat Clemson and maintain their ACC title aspirations, as well as an inside track on the College Football Playoffs.
“First thing, I feel for him,” Book said. “It's probably killing him inside. I met him before, he's a good dude. A competitor. I couldn't imagine, bet that really sucks.
“At the end of the day, he's not on the defensive side and on the offensive side, we've gotta do what we gotta do. He doesn't play defense and they're gonna have all those guys playing (next week that play) week in and week out ready to go.”
While Clemson adjusts for one more week, at least, without Lawrence, Book said the Irish are heartened by knowing that, even at 6-0 with five wins by double figures, they are still seeking their best performance.
“Just the fact that we're getting better every week,” Book said. “We haven't peaked yet. Coach Kelly just talked to us, keep ascending your game. We took another step forward. Obviously there are some plays we want back. No doubt. We hurt ourselves some (at Georgia Tech).
“It's just getting better every week. We want to win in a dominant fashion.”