This is Irish Hill Street Insider.

I'm Tim Preister with Tim O'Malley.

We thought Pete Sampson was going to join us, but he's trying to get a story out at Notre Dame and has fallen low behind.

So we expect to have him on Friday's podcast.

We just had an opportunity to speak with Brian Kelly, Notre Dame's first practice after about a 10-day break from spring practice, just the fourth of the spring inside.

It's definitely turning nicer, warmer here, so we expect to be outside coming up for these open practices.

But Tim, Brian Kelly, just what stood out from you today in his conversation with the media.

I think the important thing would be linebacker remains completely open to the point where Kelly's comfortable talking about how completely open it is.

He did say, and this is something,

it took well from to get there, but he did mention Balal twice. And I think that's crucial

because I know everyone we're all trying to replace Asmar Balal, but he is the senior that started

13 games last year. It's a different position, but most people think it's a better position.

I don't think it's a great sign if Asmar Balal can't win one of these jobs because they're

young.

Just because they're young doesn't mean they're not going to have warts you don't know about

yet.

We just happen to know his.

Yeah, and he's played the position before, at least he played the old Will linebacker

before Mike Elko came in and Clark Lee ran with the buck, and Brian Kelly still

refers to the position as Will.

He did today.

But, yeah, I think you're right.

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