Sunday wasn’t the best start for Brian Kelly at LSU – and a player on the team that beat him took the opportunity to rub it in.
After the Tigers lost in upset fashion to Florida State, 24-23, in Kelly’s debut with the school – aided by a blocked extra-point attempt that would have tied the game late – Seminoles offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons took a shot at the head coach over his awkward offseason introduction.
“No fake accents on this team,” Gibbons wrote on Twitter, along with a celebratory photo in the locker room after FSU’s upset victory.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly Getty ImagesHis post referred to a speech Kelly gave in the offseason after he made the shocking move from Notre Dame, in which he addressed the crowd at an LSU basketball game in what appeared to be a southern accent.
“It’s a great day, to be a Tiger. I’m here with my family, and we are so excited to be in the great state of Louisiana,” Kelly said at the time, with a notable twang.
Kelly, who is from Boston, appeared to address the accent while on the broadcast for LSU’s bowl game against Kansas State, speaking in a different — and more natural — drawl.
“Listen, whether it was dancing or I couldn’t get my accent down with ‘family,’ listen, I’m from Boston, we don’t have strong accents — and by the way, you cannot get on me about my accent,” Kelly said during the broadcast.
Despite being a favorite at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Seminoles pulled off the upset in highly dramatic fashion. LSU was on the brink of tying the game at 24 after Jaylen Daniels threw a touchdown to Jaray Jenkins with zero seconds left on the clock. But Damian Ramos’ extra point attempt was blocked, sealing an improbable victory for Florida State.
“I’m not here to say we take any solace in a loss,” Kelly said after the game.
“The reality is we’ve got some learning to do. We’ve got to coach better, and we’ve got to play better.”



