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LSU Tigers coach Brian Kelly asked his team (5:30 mark), “Do you want to fight or not?” following the team’s 27-16 loss to the Florida Gators on Saturday.
The Tigers are currently on a three-game losing streak, having previously fallen to Texas A&M and suffering a blowout loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, 42-13, last weekend.
Dropping to 6-4 on the season and sitting eighth in the SEC, Kelly has expressed frustration with the team’s inability to bounce back this season.
“Do you want to fight and take responsibility as coaches and players that we’re not playing well and we’re struggling right now?” Kelly continued. “It’s life, it’s a myriad of things but it’s a reflection of what life is about; There’s a rough spot here that we have to fight through.”
In LSU’s loss to the Gators, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completed 27-of-47 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown, while being sacked seven times for a total loss of 53 yards.
While Kelly did not name specific players lacking the drive to improve, he subtly indicated some players he may have concerns with.
“If you’re not a thumb pointer, if you’re not somebody saying I’m going to work and continue to work and be better, then we don’t have a place for you in the last couple of weeks,” Kelly said. “If you want to fight and you want to keep working to get better, then we’re going to be alongside of you.”
In his third year with LSU, Kelly has led the team to a 26-10 record and two bowl game victories in 2022 and 2023.
If the No. 22-ranked Tigers hope to make a strong close-out run, they must capitalize on their last two games, both of which will be played at Tiger Stadium.
“At the end of the day it’s about overcoming adversity and fighting through these last two games that are at home, that we desperately want to win,” Kelly said.
LSU will start its final push next Saturday against the Vanderbilt Commodores.
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