Kelly, Irish have not met

NEW YORK (AP) — Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly posted on his Twitter feed Tuesday that he had not interviewed with Notre Dame.

Kelly declined comment to the AP when asked about the Notre Dame coaching vacancy and reports that he could be the next Fighting Irish coach.

Kelly was attending the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame banquet at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.

Kelly has informed his players that he would meet with Notre Dame officials.

AP Source: Louisville expected to hire Strong

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville is expected to hire Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its new football coach, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.

Strong would replace Steve Kragthorpe, who was fired on Nov. 28 following three disappointing seasons.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet final. The hiring must be approved by the Louisville Athletic Association’s board of directors, which is scheduled to meet Wednesday.

Strong and Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich spoke several times this week about the opening. The two met in Florida on Sunday and talked by phone on Monday. Jurich also received a phone call last week from former NFL coach Tony Dungy in support of Strong.

If hired Strong, 49, will be tasked with returning the Cardinals to prominence. Louisville went just 15-21 during Kragthorpe’s three-year tenure, including a 4-8 mark this season.

Bowden won’t apologize for Seminoles’ bowl invite

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State coach Bobby Bowden isn’t apologizing for his team being picked for a New Year’s Day bowl game despite its 6-6 record.

The Gator Bowl invited Florida State a day after the iconic coach announced his retirement, pitting the Seminoles against Bowden’s prior employer, 18th-ranked West Virginia.

“We’re the fortunate ones in my opinion to be there because there are other teams that have better records, but I’m glad we’re there,” Bowden said Tuesday. “1978, we were 8-3 and did not get a bowl bid and there were other people who got ‘em with poorer records. We felt like we had not been done right.”

Bowden is also happy that he’ll go out against West Virginia, the school the Seminoles played to start their string of 28 straight bowl invitations.

“I guess it was meant to be,” Bowden said about his career finale against a school where he spent 10 years while his children grew up. “I’ve always felt like things were meant to be.”

Bowden also said he might reunite with some of his former Moutaineers players during the bowl trip.

Earlier Tuesday in Thomasville, Ga., Bowden told about 300 people attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast that he plans to spend more time sharing his Christian beliefs after he leaves the sidelines for the final time.

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