ESPN feature story on Kelly and LSU.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45716712/brian-kelly-lsu-national-cham...

It's amazing (or maybe not so amazing) how almost every BK quote here seems to be about tamping down expectations.

As Kelly sees it, this is the first time since his surprise move from Notre Dame to LSU four years ago that he has had everything in place to compete for a championship: more financial support, university alignment, a more experienced staff, a culture built by players he has helped develop and transfers ready to fill the obvious holes.

When asked whether the roster and staff he has assembled for this year is one that can win a title, Kelly says yes. But he also throws in a caveat or two.

"It's been a process, right?" Kelly says. "It's like anything else. It takes a little bit of time. This state relies on success. The governor told me the other night their best Mondays are after a win. We all know what that means and the expectations of it. But I stay focused on the process of building it."

Kelly contended for an SEC title in Year 1 in 2022 with young upstart quarterback (and future Heisman Trophy winner) Jayden Daniels, but he thinks that might have created unreasonable outside expectations for his program. Kelly says that season did not change the trajectory of the program under his leadership.

"Those are the people that don't have enough information," Kelly says. "They're just reacting emotionally, and you're going to have that, and that's great. We love that passion. With that passion comes unrealistic thoughts."

Humorous postscript here at the end.

When he got to LSU, he told The Associated Press, "I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship," a statement that resurfaced this past season after Notre Dame made it to the national title game, while Kelly has yet to get there with the Tigers.

The resources now seem to be in place. In addition to the renewed financial commitment and aggressive portal push, LSU expanded its operations center last year with a new recovery suite that includes everything from nutrition and fueling stations, a reimagined athletic training and rehab area, plus a hydrotherapy suite and float tanks designed to help players "achieve deep relaxation and mental clarity."

The financial commitment is a significant one. Kelly and his wife, Paqui, decided to match donations up to $1 million for the football team's name, image and likeness efforts. Kelly says after he made that announcement in March, 1,600 donors gave money to LSU.

I don't know why, because he can clearly afford it, but that just feels weird/icky/desperate. Anybody else doing that?

He might be paying the money, but it could also be that he added something to his contract to get paid extra and donate the money as a marketing ploy. Maybe the rules have changed, but universities are (were?) not allowed to donate money to NIL collectives directly.

It is interesting to me that a team can be deficient in having "all the pieces in place to compete for a championship" when they had a Heisman trophy winning QB who was good enough to have a great rookie season in the NFL. Maybe it's because their offensive coordinator at the time wasn't capable of getting a team deep into the playoffs? /s

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That's what I think it is. Political cover. Smart political cover.

coming off disastrous seasons, who can't realistically get fired because of the number yrs & buyout $$ remaining on their deal (c/o Mel Tucker. These coaches should at least pass the hat for Mel after his deal got vaporized!)

Norvell and Gundy are two other coaches who signed Tucker inspired extensions, followed it up with horrific seasons, and then decided to give a tax-deductible donation to their schools NIL fund to show they are "all in" ....and are personally contributing to the nobel cause.