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LSU players discuss what’s different between being coached by Brian Kelly, Ed Orgeron
By Sydney Hunte
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LSU wide receiver Jack Bech and linebacker Mike Jones, along with defensive end B.J. Ojulari, were the Tigers’ player representatives for SEC Media Days, making the trip to Atlanta with new head coach Brian Kelly.
Kelly, along with Florida’s Billy Napier, are the newcomers in the conference’s coaching ranks this year, with Kelly the head man in Baton Rouge after Ed Orgeron’s departure.
That, of course, begs the question: how are the 2 men different?
“Coach Orgeron was definitely motivated (and) got the teams pumping while Coach Kelly is more of a CEO moving chess pieces, Bech said on Monday, according to AL.com. “He’s very strategic in what he does. He knows what he wants and when he wants it.”
Jones mentioned the culture of accountability that Kelly has installed within the program, including the fact that players have to check in with the coaching staff prior to meals, on their weight, and their vitamin intake.
“We were very detailed last year but throughout my whole college career, I haven’t seen it done to this close of a perspective,” he said. “I know what’s important to me and important to them right now, we’ve built a relationship now, I know they can go out there and do their job because I’ve seen them go out and do it for months.”
Kelly’s immediate goal is to help the Tigers improve on their 6-7 (3-5 SEC) record from 2021. Since their 15-0 undefeated, championship season, they are just 11-12 overall.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
