In 2009, two days before Brian Kelly's Cincinnati Bearcats played Pitt for the Big East Championship, I asked Kelly about speculation he was leaving for Notre Dame.
Kelly downplayed it. He pushed back and asked why he couldn't remain at Cincinnati long-term, referencing Bobby Bowden's tenure at Florida State and others.
Five days later, Kelly accepted the Notre Dame job.
In 2020, Kelly was asked if he would finish his career at Notre Dame. Kelly told me he would.
“This is where I want to be,” Kelly said.