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Brian Kelly sends out message after first year as LSU head coach

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh11/30/22griffin_mcveigh
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Chris Graythen / Staff PhotoG/Getty

Just over a year ago, Brian Kelly shocked everyone in college football by leaving Notre Dame in favor of the open LSU job. Kelly had spent all of his coaching career in the midwest and was thought to be making a huge jump to Louisiana, the SEC, and the SEC West.

Many doubted the move and turns out, the joke was on us. Kelly had a successful first season in Baton Rouge, leading the Tigers all the way to the SEC Championship with a 9-3 record. He took time to reflect on the past three months by sending out a message, calling it “one of the most enjoyable” seasons of his long coaching career.

“It’s been an incredible first year as the head coach of LSU, and one of the most enjoyable years that I’ve had in my career,” Kelly said via Twitter. “Our work continues as we build a championship program that everyone can be proud of.”

Proud is one word some LSU fans could use to describe how they feel about Kelly’s debut campaign on the Bayou. Nine wins, a victory over Alabama, and another trip to Atlanta to compete for the SEC were thought to be the wildest of dreams — especially after an opening loss to Florida State.

Even ending the year on a down note against Texas A&M, the overall product has been a positive one from Kelly. He still knows there is work to do, as national championships are the expectation at LSU. With how well the Tigers recruit and the modern use of the transfer portal, Kelly should continue to build on the momentum heading into 2023.

Brian Kelly assesses growth of LSU in Year One

In his first season at LSU, Brian Kelly took over a program that needed to hit the reset button. Through growing pains, he was able to notably improve the team, which is now set to play for the SEC title. At the same time, losing to Texas A&M to end the regular season is a reminder of how far LSU still has to go.

The loss to Texas A&M to end the season could leave a bad taste in an LSU fan’s mouth. However, Kelly doesn’t want to let that happen. This LSU team still accomplished a ton in a bounceback season from 2021.

Following the loss to Texas A&M, Brian Kelly was asked about this team and if they overachieved.

“This is one of the most enjoyable years that I’ve had in my career. Watching these kids grow, this was not a step back,” Brian Kelly explained.

“This was a bump in the road where they’re gonna learn from it and understand how hard it is, each and every week in this league, and you have to be ready. Especially on the road and the talented team that came ready tonight to play and made plays. If we take care of the football late, who knows happens, but they fought. I mean, they kept fighting.”