On the surface, Brian Kelly looks like he gets it.

Unfortunately, Charlie Weis never did.

What the new Notre Dame coach seems to understand is that Irish football is much more than just him. It isn't just Kelly's world. Kelly believes he's the caretaker to a great tradition and views himself fortunate and blessed to be the man entrusted with leading the Domers for the next five seasons.

In Kelly's mind, no one, no coach and certainly no player is bigger or transcendent of the program itself. Without elaborating, that's what Kelly feels was one of the things that plagued the Irish during recent moribund campaigns. Too much emphasis on individual numbers and accomplishments. And too much focus on pro careers down the line. In other words, too much me and not enough about team, school and paying homage to a glorious football past.  

Kelly sensed a sort of self-absorption had crept into the minds of too many players that needed to be eradicated. The coach has done his best to eliminate that kind of me-first mentality. If the Kelly has his way, from now on, it'll be all about teammates, achieving as a unit and playing to honor a University his charges should be grateful to represent.

Now, that's not to say that Kelly doesn't have an ego. There's no denying, either through word or deed, that Kelly carries himself like a man who's convinced he can return the Irish to prominence. But he isn't a chest-thumper, a braggart or a blowhard. He knows how to keep his ego in check and when to put it aside. 

Kelly's energetic and enthusiastic but not showy. He's certainly not the type of annoying self-promoter who asks everyone to direct their attention toward him.   

Kelly knows full well that talk can be cheap and hence, asks that he be judged primarily by the results he achieves on the field and the type of players he develops. That's his bottom-line and for the coach, just about everything else becomes a secondary consideration.

With Kelly's predecessor Weis, the impression was always that he was a bit above it all. An air of arrogance, hardly justified, seemed to exist. From his ill-advised comments about having a schematic advantage over other coaches to his highly questionable pro approach to running a college program, it just seemed Weis was convinced he was superior to most.  

That attitude was off-putting, irritating and unproductive. That brand of conceit coming from someone who strung together three awful seasons in succession made Weis's persona all the more irksome.

Weis never seemed to embrace nor tried to foster the collegial atmosphere that most top college teams seek to engender. Instead, you sensed in him a detachment, a distance from many of his players, the student body and the public in general. 

Weis had an overabundance of CEO in his DNA. He was strictly executive-suite material. He never came across as being particularly accessible, likable or someone to whom one could relate. Thus, he never truly connected with a majority of his players.   

Yes, he had his defenders among those he tutored at ND but it can't be ignored that their collective efforts were underwhelming while Weis was at the helm. Though some may have respected and appreciated him, the team as a whole certainly didn't perform like they did. 

On the other hand, Kelly gives off an entirely different vibe. He's the sort to immerse himself in the action and take a hands-on approach to everything within his scope. He's happily down there amongst his troops, mixing with them in a animated and lively fashion. Kelly has already demonstrated he can be many things to many people. He deftly alternates between stern father, cajoling teacher, supportive friend or just about any other role that a particular situation requires.

Unlike Weis, who appeared overly driven to enhance his own reputation, what motivates Kelly is getting the Irish back on top. That's the priority, not him. Obviously if the Irish succeed, Kelly's stature will grow large but his motive is pure. His main concern is elevating the Irish out of a terrible morass and getting them to a better and loftier place. It's all about the school that he fronts for and restoring to it a luster that has been missing for far too long.

Kelly is asking his young troops to hop aboard the express of sacrifice, selflessness, commitment and unity he's attempting to construct. So far, it appears the players are buying into this refreshing, though in many ways, throwback approach. The atmosphere and culture at Notre Dame is changing and it's a change for the better. Self is again taking a back seat.

No longer is the head coach insisting on being the focal point. If this writer reads Kelly correctly, his players, the coaches, the student body, the alumni and the countless Irish fans throughout this nation, come before him.

That's the vibe Kelly is giving off. Let's hope it's as real as it is welcomed.