Now, this is not the kind of spring football fans had been waiting for all year. Once again, another college football head coach has rained on the spring game parade. This time, it’s Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Instead of the traditional intra-squad spring game, Kelly announced that LSU would host an open practice instead.
It’s a big decision and one that definitely needs some explaining. But rather than clearing the air, Kelly’s reasoning only landed him in choppy waters. Critics were quick to call him out, questioning whether this was really about player development—or if something else was at play. And let’s not forget, that Kelly already carries the burden of the dark past. Courtesy? The long episodes of tampering.
Brian Kelly joins the “fearful” club
Kelly isn’t alone in his decision to scrap spring games. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule already made headlines for canceling theirs, openly admitting concerns over player poaching in the transfer portal era. Soon after, Ohio State, Texas, and USC followed suit, shutting their gates to the public this spring. But while those programs have at least somewhat justified their choices, Kelly’s explanation left many shaking their heads.
“So I looked at the spring practice itself and the game,” Kelly said when addressing the media. “And I think what was more important to me, where we are as a football team, was to get all of our players an opportunity to get reps.” In simpler terms? No spring game for LSU. No chance for fans to watch a televised scrimmage, something SEC Network has broadcasted in prior years. Instead, LSU will hold an open practice at Tiger Stadium on April 12.
“We just took a step back and said, ‘You know what? Let’s think like OTAs… use them up, make sure that you’re getting all the developmental work and skill work necessary, and don’t be wed to the idea of a spring game,’” Kelly noted. It sounded reasonable on the surface, but for many, it just didn’t sit right.
Kelly’s decision quickly became a hot topic of debate, with the backlash reaching new heights on the March 18 episode of That SEC Football Podcast. Hosts SEC Mike and Cousin Shane didn’t hold back, slamming Kelly’s choice and questioning his true motives. SEC Mike, clearly frustrated, let loose: “Just going to take a whole practice. Get him run out there. I mean, what the h- – l we talking about here? This guy’s—he’s losing me, I’m not going to lie. I don’t like this at all.”
One move, and just like that, Kelly’s respect seemingly evaporated. But the harshest words came from Cousin Shane, who outright called the decision cowardly. “This is just a coward’s way,” Shane said bluntly. “It’s like my kid explaining why she didn’t do her homework. I’m like, come on, man, you know why you did bad on this quiz—because your a- – didn’t study.”
According to them, Kelly and his staff weren’t actually prepared for the spring game, and rather than put their team on full display, they took the easy way out to avoid embarrassment. Shane didn’t stop there, further suggesting that Kelly simply didn’t want to deal with the hassle of preparing for a full-scale spring game. “I feel like he would rather have the practice than having to ‘get everything ready for the spring game’… he would rather just go there, do some coaching, and get the hell out,” Shane added.
Brian Kelly, however, framed the decision as one made in the best interest of his players, insisting that he didn’t want to burden them with lofty expectations. “We have some young players that need some practice time, and this will give everybody an opportunity,” Kelly said. Maybe he truly believes that. Or maybe, like many suspect, he’s just not willing to admit that he—like Rhule and others—is afraid of losing players to poaching.
Did Kelly dodge the real issue?
The HC stated, “I wasn’t worried about that. I think if you’re going to lose a player, it’s not because of what they put on film in spring ball. It’s because of what’s happened throughout the entire semester or year. I think that was just an easy soundbite to get out from under having a spring game.” The Tigers lost 19 players to the transfer portal in the last winter window. During last year’s spring, after the game, Kelly did lose some significant players.
To name a few—four-star prospects from Belle Rose, WR Khai Prean, tight end Connor Gilbreath, and cornerback Jeremiah Hughes, among multiple others. So, it’s obvious the fear is nudging him a little. He gets zero points in the level of transparency. More so, after Rhule exposed the truth behind his decision.
“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just absolute free, open, common market. And so I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world. I don’t want these (other coaches) all being able to watch our guys and say, ‘Wow, he looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’” See, Rhule was honest about it. That’s why Brian Kelly’s attempt to spin his decision, to whitewash his image just made him look more suspicious.
The post Brian Kelly Faces Unexpected Accusations as ‘Coward’ Move Adds to Ongoing Tampering Woes Misery appeared first on EssentiallySports.
