EL PASO, Texas -- Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly didn't shed any new light on the absence of starting wide receiver Duval Kamara during his Sun Bowl press conference, though he did indicate he's unhappy with the senior who will miss the Sun Bowl for "personal reasons."

Asked if Kamara, who lives in New Jersey, was merely caught in a snow drift and unable to get a flight to El Paso, Kelly said, ''I would run with that one,'' then added, almost under his breath, ''I'd like to stick him in a snow drift in New Jersey.''

Kamara's absence is rumored to be academic-oriented, but nobody's giving any more details than personal reasons, so all there is left to do is speculate on rumors. That's the way they want it, apparently.

Truth be told, it's not that big of a deal with regard to Notre Dame's performance against Miami at the Sun Bowl. Kamara technically is a starter, but he's been a bit player at best for most of the season. And with Notre Dame expected to be at full strength at wide receiver -- with Theo Riddick available after missing four of the last five games with a sprained ankle and freshman T.J. Jones also healthy -- if the Irish miss Duval Kamara in this game, it's their own fault.