Brian Kelly jokes about intensity, having fun this season

Brian Kelly is proving he can be intense at times, but the LSU Tigers head coach can also have some fun with his players.

Speaking with the media at a press conference, Kelly highlighted both sides of his personality, first explaining why he can get intense with his players, expanding on a moment he had with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier on the sidelines.

“Did you see me with Nussmeier on the sideline? I mean, that didn’t look intense? I mean, I think I maintain my intensity, you know, when it’s game time. You know, that’s my office,” Kelly explained. “Like, if I had a camera in your office, I’m sure there’d be times where you, you know, get intense. If you had a camera in your office, there would be intense moments. But no, I mean, I just think that, you know, there’s a lot of coaching, there’s a lot of teaching going on, you know, and for me, you know, you have to be able to, you know, get to a lot of guys, and, you know, talk to a lot of guys at different levels.

“Nuss and I have got a great relationship where, you know, he responds well if he’s leaned on in some instances. You can’t lean on him like that all the time, but there are times when you need to lean on him.”

While Kelly certainly can turn on the intensity at times, it’s looking like he’s been a little looser throughout the 2024 season so far, and he can attest to that, as he elaborated on the fun he’s having in Baton Rouge at the moment.

“I love it. It’s comfortable,” Kelly said, regarding coaching at LSU. “I think I don’t have to feel like you can’t, you know, joke around a little bit without being taken too seriously. It’s so, for me, you know, I have to check myself at times, because I think a couple of weeks ago, I was a little bit too sarcastic in the press room. So, I have to check myself, too. But by and large, I enjoy it here.

“I love being the head coach at LSU, and it’s a place that, you know, for me, it feels real comfortable.”

As long as Brian Kelly continues to win at LSU, Tigers fans will love to see their head coach as loose as possible. We’ll see if they can keep up their hot streak, as LSU will enjoy a bye week before a game against Ole Miss in Week 7.