Less than 96 hours ago, it was decided that LSU football’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M — its second loss to the Aggies in a row and a first at home since 1996 — was Brian Kelly’s final game as head coach.
Around 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 26, LSU announced that associate head coach Frank Wilson would take over for Kelly, who has been with the program since 2022.
Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was also dismissed on Monday, and now, the Tigers are headed into a bye week with an away game against rival Alabama looming.
The string of decisions triggered major discourse in the media. Many praised LSU’s swift action, while others slammed the decision, calling the administration impatient and too eager for early success.
Wilson has a long history with football in Louisiana. He formerly served as head coach at McNeese from 2016 to 2019 and played college football at Nicholls State.
He spoke with the team late Sunday night following the news of Kelly’s release being made public.
“We can either fold or give it what we got,” Wilson told the team during the meeting, according to a report from TigerBait. “Finish this thing 9-3 and surprise a lot of people.”
That same message echoed as he took the podium officially for the first time on Tuesday evening.
“You have a responsibility to the man that’s next to you to be a great teammate, to individually continue to develop yourself into the best version of you,” Wilson said in his inaugural press conference.
Wilson insisted that this team cannot lose focus thinking about all the adversity that lies ahead, but instead needs to live in the moment and be fundamentally sound. He was asked multiple times about his approach to the offense.
“We need to be able to run the ball, to have relief in the passing game,” Wilson said. “At times, we have done it, but we want to do it more consistently. I think if we do that, it will allow our game, our team, our offense, to be that much more effective.”
The Tigers had their first practice during the open week today, and according to Wilson, placed a heavy emphasis on individual position groups and promised they’re going to run the ball.
The team ended with a 20-play scrimmage, during which players who often don’t see the field on Saturdays had an opportunity to prove themselves, Wilson said.
Wilson said his football team is “all in” and ready to answer the “rally call” as the Fighting Tigers prepare to travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to take on Kalen DaBoer and his Crimson Tide.
