It wasn’t anything big, just a side conclave Brian Kelly felt compelled to have this week with his “Philly guys.” The Notre Dame head coach wanted to speak to them about Saturday night, knowing full well it won’t be an “away game” for Will Fuller, Mike McGlinchey and Josh Adams when they step on Lincoln Financial Field to play No. 21 Temple on national TV.

For anyone else on No. 9 Notre Dame, it could be defined as an away game, although the sold-out Linc will probably be filled with screaming Fighting Irish fans.

For Fuller, a Roman Catholic grad, McGlinchey, out of Penn Charter, and Adams, from Central Bucks South, it marks a homecoming.

Fuller, the gifted long-threat junior receiver, and McGlinchey, Notre Dame’s towering 6-foot-9 starting junior right tackle, haven’t played in Philadelphia in three years. Adams, the sleek freshman tailback, is only a year removed from the Philadelphia area.

Up front, the trio holds up a great veneer for the pointed cameras and jutting microphones. They say the right things about how they’re excited to be coming to Philly, and playing at the Linc against the undefeated 7-0 Owls.

“Will can’t wait,” said Bill Fuller, Will’s father. “Will has been waiting for this game because it really means something to him, playing before his family and probably every coach and teacher he’s ever had in grade school and high school. It means a lot for him to do well, especially here.”

They say they’re trying to treat it like any other game, but for this trio, it won’t be any other game. This is their special stage. They’ll be playing before 69,176 and millions watching at home. That won’t matter. What does are the hundreds there that have known them since anyone tucked a football under their arms from pee-wee pound ball on up.

Privately, they are revved.

“Will can’t wait,” said Bill Fuller, Will’s father. “Will has been waiting for this game because it really means something to him, playing before his family and probably every coach and teacher he’s ever had in grade school and high school. It means a lot for him to do well, especially here.”

They chose to play within the ancient brick walls of Notre Dame Stadium. The aura of those golden-domed helmets still carries cachet, and it’s what lured these three to South Bend, Indiana.

“From our standpoint, we travel all over the country,” Kelly said. “We’re met with great support, especially on the East Coast; certainly the metropolitan cities in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. They have all been very strong areas for us in recruiting and following Notre Dame. I don’t think it’s a huge surprise that there will be a lot of Notre Dame fans there, but I think there will be a lot of Temple fans there as well. We’re prepared for that.

“We know the East Coast has always been a strong area in terms of support. That doesn’t surprise me.”

When it comes to Fuller, McGlinchey and Adams, “Those are three of our better players, and they can easily be three of the best players that we have on offense, if you really squint,” Kelly continued. “Those three guys from that area really tell you about the kind of players (that are coming out of Philadelphia). They’re national recruits. That speaks volumes about the football in that area.”

But how will Kelly manage to mollify his Philly guys?

“We already had a little conversation about it,” Kelly said. “We’re actually going to be practicing at McGlinchey’s high school (on Saturday morning at Penn Charter). They’ll have to settle into the game and they will. They played in some big venues and they understand that there will be some excitement about it. I’m sure they’ll be excited, but they’ll have to settle into the game.”

Fuller and McGlinchey appear destined for the NFL, where McGlinchey’s cousin, quarterback Matt Ryan (another Penn Charter alum), stars for the Atlanta Falcons.

Fuller emerged last year and this season has bailed out redshirt freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer, who replaced starter Malik Zaire after he broke his right ankle at Virginia in Notre Dame’s second game. It was where Kizer found Fuller streaking down the sideline for the winning score with 12 seconds to play.

“I feel like Philly is being put on the map now (for football),” Fuller said. “I see guys getting offers left and right. When I was in high school it was real hard for me. I see we’re on the map a lot more than we used to be. Philly is doing a real good job right now.”

In seven games, Fuller is sixth in the nation in yards per catch (21.9), 10th in touchdown receptions (8), 13th in receiving yards per game (100.3) and 17th in receiving yards (702).

“Me and Mike talk about the atmosphere and what it will be like (in Philly),” said Will Fuller, whose arm is adorned with a tattoo of the Philadelphia skyline. “I don’t think I’ll be overhyped or anything like that. I feel like I can keep a calm demeanor.

“I’m a calm dude, so it won’t be that difficult to just play my game. I know it’s not about me, it’s about the team. Whatever I have to do to get this win, it’s not about me going back to Philly or anything like that. It’s about doing my part and trying to win.”

Philadelphia has always been identified as a “basketball town,” considering some of the talent that’s come from here. With Fuller, McGlinchey and Adams, and emerging national-level high school stars like St. Joseph Prep’s D’Andre Swift, major football programs are taking a closer look at the Philadelphia area.

“I feel like Philly is being put on the map now (for football),” Fuller said. “I see guys getting offers left and right. When I was in high school it was real hard for me. I see we’re on the map a lot more than we used to be. Philly is doing a real good job right now.”

In his first full season as a starter, the 310-pound McGlinchey has blossomed. He’s come light years from where he was when he first arrived at Notre Dame. That has had a little something to do with the weight he’s added, the work done under noted Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and a lot to do with McGlinchey’s work ethic.

“Mike came here with very little knowledge of playing offensive line. Even vocabulary, words offensive linemen use, didn’t resonate with him,” Kelly said. “Each week he’s learned more and more about the intricacies about playing the (right) tackle position.”

McGlinchey comes from a massive family. His cousin, John Loughery, a redshirt junior who is Temple’s third-string quarterback, will be on the opposite sideline. The last time Mike was at the Linc was to see Ryan play against the Eagles in 2012. There were at least 100 relatives and friends that day.

There will be roughly 150 family members and friends to see Mike play Saturday night.

“I have a huge family, and they'll be there to see me,” McGlinchey said. “I’m on the other side of it now. It’ll be like a family reunion. It’s a great time, but the priority is winning the game. I have to keep focused on that.”

Two buses will be pulling out from the front of Central Bucks South High School Saturday afternoon with about 100 combined on board. They’ll be friends, coaches and former classmates of Adams, who scored two touchdowns in Notre Dame’s season-opening 38-3 thrashing of Texas, filling the void left by the injury to starting running back Tarean Folston just three carries into the game.

“The second Josh left here people continued to follow him and it’s going to be a nice little homecoming,” CB South coach Tom Hetrick said. “Josh comes from a great family and through the course of his career here you knew something good would happen to him. Before games, Josh wouldn’t get too hyped. He used the same level of focus and intensity. I can’t remember a situation when the game seemed to be bigger than him.

“Josh was always in control. It’s why he’s been successful at Notre Dame. This may be a little different. He’ll be hyped for this. It will be that way for all of those guys. That will end the first time they get hit and they’ll realize it’s the same game.”

Only this time before almost everyone they’ve ever met in their football lives.

Follow Joe on Twitter @jsantoliquito