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Louisiana State’s Brian Kelly was the first SEC head coach to take the podium during the first day of the 2023 SEC Football Media Days. After being one of the most successful football coaches in Notre Dame history, the LSU Tigers hired Kelly as their head coach in December 2021. In his first season, Kelly led the Tigers to a 10-game win season and an SEC West Division title. With the 2023 season approaching, Kelly and three Tigers players spoke on Day 1 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Plans For A Better Season
Around this time last year during the 2022 SEC Football Media Days, Kelly had no idea who his starting five offensive linemen would be. After a year of developing the Tigers’ offense, he has not only determined who those five players are, but he also feels confident and prepared for them to take the field in the upcoming season. Kelly believes that the best way to better his defense is to work from the inside out. He intends on building strength up the middle and allowing that to translate to defensive tackle, middle linebacker and safety.
Tiger Excellence
After completing his first year with LSU, Kelly has had some time to figure out what makes LSU such a great program. In June 2023, 11 LSU football players made the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll. Kelly said as great as it is to have hungry athletes, dedication and discipline first starts in the classroom.
He also appreciates how much talent there is in Louisiana. Previously in his career, Kelly would have to reach out to select states and get the best player in each respective state. Fortunately, for LSU’s recruiting staff, the talent is abundant in the Bayou State making their roster ventures an easier task.
Heading Into Year Two
As Kelly heads into his second year as coach, he wants to continue to develop the talent he has at LSU. Kelly plans to create more focused workouts based on position groups. While he wants to condition his players further, he is working against a deadly enemy: The Louisiana heat. July is the hottest month in Louisiana with highs reaching 110 degrees. He’s had to adjust conditioning times in order to not wear players out.
Nonetheless, with LSU athletic success on the rise, including LSU baseball’s 2023 National Championship, Tiger fans are anxious to see what is in store for the upcoming football season.
