LSU football fans are a tough crowd. Among SEC football programs, followers of the Bengal Tigers may be the boldest in expressing displeasure. In fairness to the LSU fanbase, their positive passions (when LSU is winning) can be even stronger.
The biggest problem in Cajun Country is many LSU fans have not gotten over being jilted by Nick Saban. Saban turning his back on LSU and SEC football rankled them. Far worse, to an unpardonable level, was Saban returning to the SEC to coach the Alabama Crimson Tide.
For LSU it has been feast and famine since. Their next two head coaches brought them National Championships. Les Miles had a strong run including a 2007 BCS National Championship. Begrudgingly some LSU fans could not fail to notice the upperclassmen on the 2007 roster were guys brought in by Saban.
The bloom was gone from Les Miles’ rose when LSU was dominated in the 2011 National Championship game. LSU fans were embarrassed, but the school stuck with Miles for almost another four and half seasons, before Ed Orgeron was picked to lead a Cajun revival.
LSU feasted with Coach O too with a 2019 National Championship – but rapidly fell apart, losing 12 games over the next two seasons.
Enter Brian Kelly in a move that surprised most SEC football fans. Kelly is a winner and his success at Cincinnati and Notre Dame proves his coaching skill. A coach as good as Kelly should do well at LSU. The Bengal Tigers have the advantage of being the only in-state, Power Five program in a talent-rich state. Lack of roster talent has not been an issue for LSU since before Nick Saban was coaching in Baton Rouge.
SEC Football Power Shift
Under Brian Kelly that recruiting advantage might be dissipating. To understand why go back to Kelly’s arrival in Baton Rouge. To many, including LSU fans, he was an odd fit. Attempts to talk southern and videos, oddly dancing with recruits did not aid his acceptance.
Got my coach! 🐯🐯 @CoachBrianKelly pic.twitter.com/j0nurt5sMa
— Walker Howard (@Walker_Howard4) December 13, 2021
Shortly after one of the videos, a recruit, dance partner, committed to Alabama. Again Nick Saban embarrassed LSU and Brian Kelly took all the blame.
Since then Kelly has gotten more heat for losing LSU’s top recruiter for many years, Corey Raymond to Billy Napier and Florida. Close watchers of LSU history were also agitated when a former LSU analyst, Russ Callaway returned to college football from the NFL and also joined Napier’s staff.
With Louisiana connections established by Napier, Raymond and Callaway, Brin Kelly may lose ground in signing top state of Louisiana recruits. There is some indication it is already happening.
After Kelly spoke at SEC Media Days on Monday, reviews from LSU followers were not glowing. The LSU fan site And The Valley Shook described Kelly’s presentation.
"He sadly broke from the pattern established by the previous LSU coaches where they read through the entire team’s depth chart. Kelly’s presser consisted of him saying… basically nothing interesting.I suppose we must learn to adjust to having a head coach who doesn’t say anything interesting …"
Being interesting is not Brian Kelly’s job. Win enough big games and boring works fine. But, to often win those games requires recruiting success. So far there are reasons to doubt Kelly can have that at LSU.
Not many experts predict much success for LSU in 2022. If they are correct, Brian Kelly will get no LSU honeymoon.