Brian Kelly Criticizes LSU for Costly Penalties in Season Opener Against USC

Brian Kelly Criticizes LSU for Costly Penalties in Season Opener Against USC

In a frustrating start to the 2024 season, LSU head coach Brian Kelly openly expressed his disappointment following the Tigers' loss to the USC Trojans. The defeat, marked by several key penalties, left Kelly feeling angry and concerned about the team’s discipline, or lack thereof.

A Frustrating Performance

In his post-game press conference, Kelly didn’t hold back his feelings about the game. He began by highlighting a crucial issue that plagued the team: undisciplined penalties. These mistakes, according to Kelly, were not only avoidable but also selfish. He noted that the penalties directly influenced the outcome of the game, leading to USC's late touchdown that sealed LSU’s fate.

“This is the first time since I’ve been here that I’m really angry at our football team,” Kelly stated. “We didn’t play complementary football. When our offense did something good, the defense couldn’t back it up, and vice versa. But what bothers me the most are the personal fouls, the selfish penalties.”

Penalties That Hurt

One of the most critical moments in the game was a targeting penalty late in the fourth quarter. This penalty not only hurt the Tigers on the field but also gave USC the opportunity to score the winning touchdown. LSU ended the game with 10 penalties, totaling 99 yards. In contrast, USC had about half that penalty yardage, showing a stark difference in discipline between the two teams.

“Both of those penalties led to scores, and they’re undisciplined. They fall back on me because I’m responsible for making sure our team plays disciplined football. We pride ourselves on running a disciplined program, but clearly, we didn’t do a good enough job because those penalties impacted the game,” Kelly explained.

A Lack of Killer Instinct

Another issue that Kelly pointed out was the team’s inability to maintain focus and intensity when leading. He mentioned that LSU seemed to become complacent whenever they were ahead, which led to more mistakes instead of a stronger effort to close out the game.

“Unfortunately, it’s clear that when we get up in a game, we don’t know how to handle ourselves. You’ve got to have a killer instinct in this game. You’ve got to put teams away when you have the chance. We had the opportunity to put this game away, but instead, we got complacent and made more mistakes,” Kelly said. “That’s disappointing.”

Reflecting on the Coaching Staff

Kelly didn’t just blame the players for the loss; he also held himself and the coaching staff accountable. He admitted that the coaching staff failed to prepare the team adequately for the game, which is something he plans to address moving forward.

“I’m angry because it’s on me to shape this group and get them ready to play. We had guys that played hard and wanted to win, but those two issues—discipline and lack of focus—are things that eat at me. They’ve got to get fixed,” Kelly stated.

Looking Ahead

With this tough loss behind them, LSU now faces a short week to regroup and prepare for their next game against Nicholls State. Kelly and his team will need to quickly address these issues if they want to turn things around and have a successful season.

In conclusion, the loss to USC was a wake-up call for LSU. The penalties and lack of discipline highlighted areas where the team needs to improve. Coach Brian Kelly’s frustration was evident, and it’s clear that changes need to be made if the Tigers hope to avoid similar mistakes in future games. The upcoming match against Nicholls State offers an opportunity for LSU to bounce back, but it will require a more disciplined and focused effort from both the players and the coaching staff.