Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly on execution quote: 'It was taken serious? Are you people crazy?'

During the Bucs' inaugural season in 1976, when the team didn't win a game, McKay was asked about his team's execution, to which he replied, "I'm in favor of it."

"It's an old John McKay quote," Kelly told reporters, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "I was kidding. It was tongue-in-cheek. It wasn't funny? ... I was talking and making a joke about it. It was taken serious? Are you people crazy?"

Kelly added: "It's a John McKay quote that he used after a game. I was stealing one of his old quotes and being funny, because nobody likes to be funny anymore. If you want to take me to town on that, please do."

The Fighting Irish led 38-20 entering the fourth quarter but were outscored 18-0 in the final frame. Senior quarterback Jack Coan was impressive in the season opener, though, completing 26-of-35 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. 

If Kelly was upset with anything, it was likely the defense, which completely fell apart in the final minutes of the game.

Notre Dame's next game is against Toledo, which beat Norfolk State 49-10 in its season opener, next weekend.