Brian Kelly jokes about ‘old Alabama’ returning: ‘Is Nick Saban back? He’s everywhere!’

Brian Kelly cracked some jokes about LSU playing Alabama in a couple of weeks, saying even Nick Saban is back!

Well, he was only kidding. Kelly was asked this week about Alabama being “back to its old self.”

So with that, the LSU coach was almost spooked that the future Hall of Fame coach wasted no time getting back into coaching.

“What’s that old self look like? What is Nick Saban back? Nick’s on the sideline? He’s everywhere. GameDay, he’s at GameDay too. Did you know that? Oh, my God,” Kelly said. “I’m not sure what the old Alabama (is). They’ve got great personnel. They’re well coached. You know, we certainly know that it’s going to be a great challenge, but that’s the SEC every week. It’s going to be the same. I don’t know that there is a sense that our team can’t, if they’re playing to their best when their best is needed, that they can’t compete and play with anybody.”

Of course, Kalen DeBoer led Alabama to a bounce back win over Missouri, 34-0. The Crimson Tide go into a bye week before hitting the road to play Kelly and LSU.

“We certainly have to play four quarters,” Kelly said. “And I know that they’re anxious and excited about the opportunity to play at Tiger Stadium and look, and I think I said this in the presser after, you know, you have a 24 hour rule. But it’s easier to have that after a win. The 24 hours after a loss, (it) sticks around a lot longer, and these guys are going to want to play and they can’t wait to play Alabama.”

Kelly isn’t fixated on the Crimson Tide just yet as LSU has two weeks to prepare. Sure, they’re getting ready, but no reason to go psycho just yet.

DeBoer was asked a similar question to Kelly, as the Alabama coach was asked about his improved defense following Saturday’s win.

“You’re only as good as your last play, right? And only as good as your last game,” DeBoer said. “There are things you make sure that you know you do well, and that’s something that is certainly, there’s some good vibes when it comes to taking the football away defensively.

“They’re hunting it. They’re anticipating a little bit. So a little bit more of an attacking mindset and not so much on their heels and just making every yard count.”