A coach who won 54 and lost nine in his last five years at what he calls “his previous school” (never thought I would hear a former Notre Dame coach say that), said he came to Baton Rouge because he wants to win a national championship.
Kelly, in an interview with the Associated Press, said he came to Baton Rouge for a reason.
“I wanted to be in the American League East.”
After the opening day of spring practice, Kelly was asked about a player who was absent for much of the 2021 season.
Why was this player allowed to practice?
“Because he met a certain standard,” said Kelly.
Kelly is preaching big time accountability.
That standard means being on time for everything.
And, attending class with a certain rigor.
Kelly explained to the media that you don’t have to be an A student.
But, you must make the effort.
Some insights into how Kelly operates can be found in a book by Bill Koch, who covered the University of Cincinnati football program when Brian Kelly was the head coach.
The book’s title is self-explanatory.
“This Is What the Top Feels Like.”
It chronicles the 2009 team and its coach.
When Kelly arrived in Cincinnati, Koch made the following observations.
“Supremely confident.”
“Determined to succeed at a high level.”
“And, not afraid to hurt feelings.”
The author continued.
“Occasionally he rubbed people the wrong way, but that was of no concern to him.”
Koch noted that when Kelly first arrived, he noticed that the Cincinnati Enquirer did not send a reporter to cover Big East media day. He publicly chided the newspaper.
At LSU, Kelly is preaching not only accountability but teamwork.
It will be interesting to see if his style works at LSU, as the college football world changes, dramatically.
The transfer portal has swept through the college game like a brushfire.
Kelly wants more players like Miami Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley.
At LSU Riley was a full-time starter for one season.
Before his senior season, he started one game, as a sophomore.
Kelly wants more players like Falcons linebacker Debo Jones.
Jones made one start in his junior season, before starting 11 games in his senior year.
In today’s college game, players like that, who don’t look for the exits, are an anomaly.
Kelly’s final game at Cincinnati was a 45-44 win over Pittsburgh.
The Bearcats, who trailed Pitt by 21 points late in the first half, wrapped up the Big East championship and a BCS Bowl Berth. Kelly didn’t coach the Sugar Bowl against Florida.
He was off to Notre Dame, and the next challenge.
In his book, Koch notes that wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who was critical of Kelly’s exit, couldn’t argue with the results.
“What we did in those years, can’t nobody touch,” said Gilyard.
LSU fans will take a little gruff, but only if that gumbo includes plenty of victories.