“Don’t be cool with ‘I’m Alright, or I’m good’ when you know deep down something isn’t right. Mental Health is real, and for the most part, it’s invisible, don’t ignore the signs, even if they may seem small“. This was Kenny Lacy, Kyren Lacy’s dad, devastated and still figuring out the ‘meaning’ of the tragedy that occurred. But, even in these tough moments, he advised people to check up on their mental health. While Lacy’s death has shaken everyone in college football and beyond, Brian Kelly has since offered some words of encouragement.
Stepping into the roles of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in the NFL, 24-year-old wide receiver Kyren Lacy not only exceeded all expectations but delivered a performance of his life. Lacy not only notched up more than 850 receiving yards but also provided us with moments to cherish for life. Take, for instance, the Ole Miss game he played, which was probably the most clutch performance of his career. Raked up 111 yards in total and latched on to a 4th quarter-incredible catch that set up the winning drive for LSU. But, now that he is no longer with us, Brian Kelly’s words may give some comfort to people who remember Lacy fondly.
In a recent press conference, Kelly was asked. “How will you remember him(Kyren Lacy), he came here in your first year, right? He’s been here the same amount of time you have, just your thoughts?”. Kelly thought for a moment and replied, “Unfortunately in my career um you know this is not the first time that this has happened um you know mental health is part of one of the facets of player development that you’re working within my field and unfortunately it’s happened before“.
Kelly might be talking about the tragic death of Notre Dame student Declan Sullivan, who was filming practice when Kelly was at Notre Dame in 2010. Sullivan, a 20-year-old student videographer, was filming Kelly’s practices when a scissor lift collapsed due to high winds. The incident at the time sparked outrage in the college football world, and questions were starting to be raised about Kelly’s conduct of practices in such harsh conditions. But, in the case of Lacy, it’s an issue of mental health that requires a different focus, as Kelly highlighted. But, most of all, he remembered the wide receiver quite fondly.
“Kyren was a bright star, he had an incredible personality. I’ll remember him as somebody who had a love for the game, a love for being a tiger, uh, and was a guy who played with great emotion. When you think of Kyren you’re going to smile most of the time because of the way he handled himself; he was he was a guy who was full of energy. And I think a lot of his teammates will remember him that way“.
Kyren died tragically in a suicide recently when officials in Harris County, Texas, were pursuing him, and his car crashed. But Lacy was found in the car with a “self-inflicted gunshot” as per the authorities. They later revealed that they were responding to a female member of Lacy’s family who called about Lacy discharging a fireman into the ground. The LSU wide receiver was facing multiple counts of criminal charges after allegedly killing a 78-year-old man in a case of ‘negligent driving’ as per reports, and was scheduled to face a grand jury on Monday.
Garrett Nussmeier finds solace in his girlfriend’s words
Naturally, after the death of the wide receiver, the whole LSU fraternity has been shocked by the tragedy. Brian Kelly even said that they will need some time to get back to normal. Deion Sanders also recently addressed the issue in his team meeting and stressed the importance of ‘family’ and ‘love’ in avoiding these tragedies. Still, it seems Lacy’s close confidant Garrett Nussmeier, who had great chemistry with Lacy as both ran havoc together with their partnership, has penned a heartfelt note. This has gotten support from Nussmeier’s girlfriend, Ella Springfield.
The QB wrote on his Instagram post, posting several emotional pictures and videos together with Lacy. “I have been waiting for the right words but I don’t know if I will ever have them. You weren’t just my teammate, or friend, you were my brother. Your smile and energy were so contagious and you brought so much joy into every single room that you entered…You were so loved, I just wish I could have told you it one more time. Get your rest brother…“. Nussmeier’s girlfriend responded to this and commented with some words of support.
“This was beautiful” and “Keep doing it for 2“. Surely Nussmeier’s girlfriend is supporting him in this tough time. But, the QB can take solace in moments the duo performed not only on the field but off the field, too. Where both had an incredible bond and gave us moments to remember. The story isn’t ended for Lacy; it will live on in the hearts and minds of the people associated with the program and become a tale of inspiration and brotherly love.
The post Kyren Lacy’s Tragic Death Forces Brian Kelly’s Painful Admission as Garrett Nussmeier Finds Solace in Girlfriend’s Words appeared first on EssentiallySports.
