LSU head coach Brian Kelly and his team had a challenging start to their 2024 season, suffering a heartbreaking 27-20 loss to the USC Trojans in a nail-biting finish on Sunday night in Las Vegas. The game was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with both teams battling it out in a closely contested matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Ranked No. 13 in the country, LSU entered the game with high expectations. The Tigers managed to keep the game competitive, tying the score late in the fourth quarter. With the clock winding down, it seemed like the game might head into overtime. However, USC had other plans. The Trojans orchestrated a final drive that culminated in a game-winning touchdown with just eight seconds remaining on the clock, leaving LSU stunned and heartbroken.
"I'm not doing a good enough job as a coach … it's unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game."
Brian Kelly says he's "angry" with his team after the loss to USC. pic.twitter.com/vloYGyKDh2
— ESPN (@espn) September 2, 2024
The loss was particularly painful for Kelly, who had high hopes for his team this season. Known for his passionate approach to coaching, Kelly did not hold back his emotions during the post-game press conference. Frustrated and visibly upset, he expressed his disappointment with the way his team handled the closing moments of the game.
“And we’re sitting here again, we’re sitting here again talking about the same things,” Kelly lamented, his frustration evident as he pounded a table. “About not finishing when you have an opponent in a position to put them away. But what we’re doing on the sideline is feeling like the game is over. And I’m so angry about it that I gotta do something about it. I’m not doing a good enough job as a coach and I got to coach them better because it’s unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game. It’s ridiculous.”
Kelly’s post-game outburst highlighted the deep disappointment he felt in his team’s inability to close out the game. His criticism was as much directed at himself as it was at his players, acknowledging that the responsibility ultimately falls on him as the head coach. His emotional response has drawn mixed reactions from fans and analysts alike, with some praising his passion and others questioning the impact such displays might have on his players.
Then win the game. This is kind of lame. Figure out the problem/s and fix it. https://t.co/7BAZAF8H0z
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 2, 2024
As the Tigers regroup and look ahead to the rest of the season, Kelly’s challenge will be to channel this frustration into constructive changes. The loss to USC is a tough pill to swallow, but it could serve as a crucial learning moment for both the coach and his team. With a long season still ahead, LSU will need to find ways to close out games and capitalize on opportunities if they hope to meet the high expectations set for them this year.
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https://www.si.com/college-football/lsu-brian-kelly-ripped-for-throwing-tantrum-after-loss-to-usc
