Getty ImagesTwo months after Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd‘s indefinite suspension following a March DUI arrest (his third alcohol-related run-in with the law), coach Brian Kelly has now come on the record to clarify if/how Floyd will participate with the team this fall.
Kelly told South Bend Tribune today that Floyd will be either “all in or not” for the Irish by the time they open up the season against South Florida and added that he would not be suspending Floyd on a game-by-game basis.
“We’re looking at Mike as an ‘all in or not’ situation,” Kelly said. “ In other words, he’s changing his life or he’s not. If he changes the way he’s lived his life, he’ll play every game for us. If he doesn’t, he won’t play one down here at Notre Dame.
“He is at that level. This is not, ‘I’m going to slap you on the hand and sit you for two games’ — because I don’t want to read about him in a year, where it says, ‘Ex-Notre Dame player arrested for X-Y-Z.’ That will be a failing on my part if that happens.”
Kelly mentioned that Floyd is currently going through a “check list” of items to get himself back on the team that includes, but is not limited to, maintaining his grades and participating in community service for the campus’ Res Life. In April, Notre Dame’s Office of Residence Life chose not to suspend Floyd following his arrest.
So far, Kelly seems to have been pretty diligent about making sure Floyd gets himself back on track; the soon-to-be senior has not been allowed to participate in any spring drills with the team.
“It’s like anything else,” Kelly said. “If you pull yourself out of your social environment and it isolates you, you have a better chance of not being able to stick to that change. He’ll be living on campus, though, in the fall, in a dorm.
“I’m not trying to be an AA counselor here, but he has got to be around the right people too if he’s going to change his life for good.”
You can also check out what our good friend Keith Arnold over at Inside the Irish has to say about Kelly’s comments as well.
So if he is a “good boy” for the next three months,
ZERO sanctions for his THIRD! Wow, Catholics really are forgiving.
“He is at that level. This is not, ‘I’m going to slap you on the hand and sit you for two games’ — because I don’t want to read about him in a year, where it says, ‘Ex-Notre Dame player arrested for X-Y-Z.’ That will be a failing on my part if that happens.”
So let me get this straight, he has to do what every other student athlete in America has to do to escape punishment? Come on Kelly! Just say that this is THE most pivotal season for ND in years and you cannot be without one of the best players in the country despite the fact that this is his third alcohol related offense. Despite the fact that he was more than two time over the limit driving around campus!
If you want to truly punish him, you hit him where it hurts and that is games.
So says the new savior at the Haven of Hypocrisy…
If it doesn’t work out for Kelly at ND he should go into politics or become head of the NCAA. This is some of the best spin I have ever seen.
Way to put that higher standards argument to rest!
How many DUI’s did Jesus get?
jw731 says: May 25, 2011 11:05 AM
How many DUI’s did Jesus get?
***************
None because he changed it back to water when they pulled over his chariot.
I like the way Brian Kelly is handling this. The chances of Floyd getting his act together on his own, is virtually nil.
Floyd needs ND football a lot more than ND football needs Floyd.
Grow up Floyd.
Too much talent to waste
Edgy,
Sounds like SC might have some good news coming regarding the sanctions. We find out tomorrow!!!!!
Some people are saying SC won the appeal and it will be announced tomorrow.
@soflatrojan
Any word on the appeal? Was just wondering how that worked out for you
You know that Kelly is setting this up for his return for the first game. The most hypocritical, holier than thou school and fan base in America at it again. Kelly had a slimy reputation before he ever got to ND. ND fans would be appalled if this happened somewhere else, yet it will be excused when it happens in South Bend. After all of the scandals over the past year, and now this, ND has sold it’s soul for wins on the field
Let’s rewrite this story: Floyd will play twelve games next season.