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Brian Kelly emphatically refutes details from interview with Greg Brooks Jr. and his father
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Brian Kelly was disappointed to hear some aspects of a recent interview from former LSU star Greg Brooks Jr. and his father, Greg Sr.
In that interview for ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the Brooks’s detailed Greg Jr.’s story and lawsuit against LSU that alleges mishandling of his early symptoms and an emergency surgery for a brain tumor. While Greg Jr. remains cancer-free, he continues to rehab and recover and has had to re-learn basic tasks such as eating, talking, writing and walking.
At one point in the interview, Greg Sr. delivered a specific comment directed at the head coach. He claims the family has not heard from the LSU coaching staff, and Kelly specifically, since late 2023.
“Specifically, (head coach) Brian Kelly,” said Greg’s father. “My son almost lost his life, coach. Where were you? Forget about football, pick up the phone and say you love the kid.”
During a Wednesday press conference, Kelly emphatically refuted those comments as “factually incorrect.” Kelly claimed someone from LSU was by Greg Jr.’s side nearly every single day while reaffirming his love for Brooks.
“There are many things I can’t say because it is pending litigation, but here’s what I can tell you: It is factually incorrect to state I was not there by Greg’s side through this ordeal,” said Kelly. “I was there on multiple occasions. We had somebody from my staff that was there virtually every single day.
“We love Greg. We love him for the person that he is, the competitor that he is, and the battler that he is, and can only wish him continued progress as he goes through an incredibly difficult time. But it was important for me to set the record clear as to my care and my love for Greg Jr. during this very difficult time.”
Kelly went on to say the comments were particularly important for him to address. While he understands critique of his status as a head coach, Kelly said it “hit my heart” to hear “factually incorrect” comments about his status as an individual away from the field.
“That was just extremely important for me to talk about. You can question me as a football coach, you can question me in terms of the things that we do on the field,” Kelly conceded. “But off the field, as a parent, as a husband, as somebody that is actively involved in every community that I’ve been involved with. This is where the line is drawn with me. That comment struck a nerve with me. It hit my heart… It rattled me that somebody could be so factually incorrect in stating that I was not part of Greg Brooks Jr.’s care and support.”
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
