LSU coach Brian Kelly called out a reporter for arriving late to his Tuesday media availability. The reporter had an immediate, and rather pointed, comeback for which she later apologized.
Just before Kelly opened his press conference to questions, he made a reference to The (Baton Rouge) Advocate’s Leah Vann, who had just arrived, for not being on time, although he did not identify her by name. He said he was fining Vann $10 and that the money would go toward a postseason bash.
Vann’s response? “Maybe if you win, I’ll be on time.” Kelly’s Tigers are, of course, coming off a 24-23 loss to LSU on Sunday night that left the $90 million coach open for more criticism in his first season after leaving Notre Dame.
Kelly, not looking pleased, responded: “I don’t think it has anything to do with winning. I think it has to do with being on time.”
MORE: Why Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU
Vann addressed her comment by posting a Twitter thread after the availability. She said that she apologized to Kelly for her retort.
“Not my finest hour,” she wrote.
Press conference was at noon, I was running from a doctor’s appointment. Got there at 11:57. Brian Kelly called me out, said jokingly I owed him $10, I said if he won maybe I’d be on time. Not my finest hour. I apologized afterward, he was super chill and said I still owe him $10 https://t.co/6zsp6k9PuL
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) September 6, 2022
But she also said that Kelly understood her barb was a joke.
I know Brian Kelly likes to joke. He clearly took it as one from our conversation afterward. All in good fun, fam.
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) September 6, 2022
She said the two also had an exchange, seemingly humorous, about the fine and Kelly’s contract.
He said he needs $10 so he can afford his new jackets and I said he has $90 mil for that and he said that’s a smoke screen and I said that’s fair and I liked his new jacket and he thanked me. If y’all want all the details.
— Leah Vann (@LVann_Sports) September 6, 2022
Kelly’s LSU tenure got off to a rough start and things haven’t gotten much better. First, the Boston native was ripped for using a bad Southern accent in his first speech to a crowd as Tigers coach. Soon after that, he took part in a bizarre hype video with a recruit who ended up committing to Alabama. That was all long before Week 1.
Then, in his Tigers debut, Florida State blocked a potential game-tying PAT kick with no time remaining. Kelly explained why he went for one and overtime rather than two and the win in regulation.
The fans’ tolerance for Kelly won’t last long if the Tigers lose more games like their opener. Then it won’t just be the media calling him out for not winning.
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