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Brian Kelly called out on social media for questionable decision at end of first half leading to Tennessee points
Published:
LSU trails Tennessee at home Saturday 23-7 at halftime.
It has been a mistake-filled opening 30 minutes for the Tigers, including some questionable decisions from head coach Brian Kelly.
Most notably, trailing 20-7 with less than 30 seconds to play, LSU went for it on 4th-and-10 from the Tennessee 45.
The play resulted in a sack, setting up the explosive Volunteers offense up with the ball at LSU’s 47 with 23 seconds still on the clock.
Three plays later, Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker found Bru McCoy across the middle for a 32-yard completion that set up a Chase McGrath 32-yard field goal on the final play of the half that pushed the lead to 16.
Heading to halftime, Kelly told ESPN of his decision to go for the 4th down that, “It’s a go there, but we can’t give up a sack.”
Observers around the nation didn’t see that way, however, as Kelly is being hammered for his decision to go for it on 4th down instead of punting the ball away:
Brian Kelly has to be shaving points here today. Not kicking FG in first Q down 10-0 to make it a 1 score game and then going for it on 4th in own territory before Hooker bomb and right before half on 4th and 10. Should be a 20-10 game at the least
— TJD (@Seal_theDiel) October 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/action_eddie/status/1578804517008658433?s=20&t=OMGn-FyHqX-Vv7FxADBXvg
Brian Kelly with the stupid decision to go for it right before the half. Special teams gives up basically 10 pts
— FreeFromBondage (@FromBondage) October 8, 2022
Brian Kelly coaching like he’s playing Madden. “Nobody punts”
— Woodie (@WoodieWudpekher) October 8, 2022
https://twitter.com/BeachGalloway/status/1578804313660723200?s=20&t=OMGn-FyHqX-Vv7FxADBXvg
Brian Kelly decision making not the greatest today
— B.J. (@_jwalker3) October 8, 2022
Brian Kelly saying don’t give up on a sack on 4th & 10, how bout you just punt the ball then? DUMBASS
— Von (@404von_) October 8, 2022
Hey thanks for those 3 pts Brian Kelly! pic.twitter.com/soxhTtqgyX
— Karen Phillips (@karenp23) October 8, 2022
Brian Kelly’s gamble to go for it in 4th turns a 2-score deficit into a 3-score deficit for LSU.
— Zac E. (@rzacellis) October 8, 2022
Brian Kelly just blamed his oline for his mistake to go for it on 4th. Pay attention 'croots
— Tenmanjonez (@tenmanjonez) October 8, 2022
That was some coaching malpractice by LSU coach Brian Kelly to the end the 1st half vs Tennessee
— Steve Emanuelson @unceman.bsky.social ⛅️ (@unceman) October 8, 2022
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
