SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) In two of his nine previous seasons at Notre Dame, Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish have had a legitimate shot at the national championship and fallen short.

Starts of 12-0 have ended with losses, to Alabama in the title game in 2013 and to Clemson in a playoff semifinal after last season. Nevertheless, Kelly said he is eager to start the climb again with the first of 14 spring practices this weekend.

"Just because you know how to do it doesn't mean you can do it again," Kelly said Friday. "You have to work at it again, and this is work. It's not knowing how to do it. It's putting in the time and the effort and the sacrifice. That's really hard. Pushing that rock up the hill again is what they have to do again."