Paul Finebaum questions if LSU can afford to keep Brian Kelly as head coach

LSU fans expect national championships and head coach Brian Kelly is yet to deliver. During an appearance on The Matt Barrie Show on Sunday, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum revealed whether he believes LSU can afford to keep Kelly at the helm of the program.

“When a program says, ‘We can’t afford to fire him,’ then, you respond by saying what you just did: ‘Can you afford to keep him, though?'” Finebaum said. “Right now, I think that there’s more pressure on ‘Can you afford to keep him?’ I don’t know how you can explain it away.

“… How do you explain away a 7-5 record when on Labor Day, Matt, a lot of people were saying on the network, I know I was sitting next to one, that LSU is the best team in the country. He left Notre Dame by saying, ‘I’m going to LSU to win a national championship.’ And Notre Dame played for a championship, and LSU hasn’t come close.”

On Saturday, LSU suffered a 49-25 blowout loss at home against Texas A&M. It’s the Tigers’ third loss in their last four outings. During the game, LSU fans let their frustration be heard, chanting, “Fire Kelly.”

Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, who picked the LSU Board of Supervisors, also expressed his displeasure. Landry tweeted at LSU athletics, writing the school should reconsider raising its ticket prices to game in wake of the Tigers’ lackluster performance.

Brian Kelly is in his fourth season at LSU. Paul Finebaum believes LSU’s storied history isn’t doing the 64-year-old head coach any favors.

“The thing that really gets him, and I think it’s somewhat artificial, but it’s a fact that the last three coaches at LSU have all won national championships,” Finebaum added. “Nick Saban, fairly quickly. Les Miles, fairly quickly. And Ed Orgeron, fairly quickly. Two of those three were fired. So, what do you do with Brian Kelly after four years?

“… If you’re Brian Kelly’s agent right now, you’re probably trying to figure out, ‘Is there somewhere I can go?’ Because, I still believe he’s a good coach, Matt, I don’t know anybody in the industry who says, ‘That guy can’t coach.'”

LSU has a bye this week, but will take on Alabama in Week 11. The showdown could prove to be a pivotal moment in Kelly’s career.