You woke up today and never knew you’d read a post like this presented here now. You couldn’t imagine this would be something worth reading. Folks, it’s the off-season. As someone with a keen interest in everything that fills the bookstore I was this close to putting together a piece on Brian Kelly’s best sideline outfits before reeling back at the sheer number of options. I’m interested in having a little fun but I’m not crazy.

So, here now are the Brian Kelly outfits from the Shamrock Series games, ranked from worst to first. In order to include 2017 I’m treating the Navy game–where the Irish wore faux back uniforms–as a Shamrock game.

#8 Maryland, 2011

I have a sweatshirt from this time frame that is very similar, except it reads “IRISH” across the front. It has the same Adidas stitching on the sleeves and might be the greatest thing I’ve ever worn when combining comfort and durability. Still, we know these first handful of Shamrock Series games were not well-planned on Adidas part and that’s very obvious when Notre Dame wore green (again) and Kelly came out in a very plain outfit that showed zero coordination with the players.

#7 Army, 2010

Like I just said above, Kelly didn’t coordinate with the team in 2010 except for a green visor which makes this effort only slightly better than 2011 at FedEx Field. Besides that, this is a very traditional look for Kelly in most games–quarter zip and a visor are among his most common outfits. Notice, he’s wearing Adidas golf spikes something he did early in his career in South Bend.

#6 Navy, 2017

The not-Shamrock Series game featured some lousy weather this past year. Everyone on the sidelines was bundled up in team-issued heavy rain gear which admittedly is a decent look most of the time. Kelly did wear a special Rockne baseball hat for the game which worked well.

#5 Purdue, 2014

Kelly looks as good in gray as Charlie Weis looked bad in khaki pants. Some of my favorite outfits for the sideline involve gray tops or bottoms. Ever since Notre Dame switched to Under Armour gray has been used extensively and I’m okay with that. I would never advocate wearing a visor so there are point deductions there.

#4 Miami, 2012

On the one hand, Kelly wore this outfit multiple times in 2012 and it’s really basic with a lack of frills. On the other hand, this Adidas jacket is the greatest thing Kelly has ever worn at Notre Dame and has so many great memories associated with it from this season. I’d put this one a little higher if there was some sort of attempt to make the sideline gear different from normal.

#3 Boston College, 2015

I thought about this outfit the most and continue to like it more and more. Kelly very rarely wears sneakers which adds a touch of uniqueness. I also like the blue-green-blue scheme from top to bottom. Although, my one beef is that the jackets for the staff featured so little green outside of the Fenway arm patch that in a vacuum they don’t really fit with the theme of this game.

#2 Army, 2016

There is gray again. These football uniforms drew mixed reviews and I was someone who really didn’t care for them all that much. Kelly on the other hand, looks sharp including wearing some interesting casual sneakers. His outfit in football uniform form would’ve been an interesting look.

#1 Arizona State, 2013

A majority of Irish fans favorite Shamrock Series uniform also featured the best sideline gear. Adidas only really put in one quality effort for these neutral games and it paid off handsomely. I’m glad Kelly doesn’t wear khaki pants hardly ever–nothing reminds me of the Davie Weisingham years more–but they looked really sharp paired with the kelly green tops.