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Brian Kelly not giving Ali Gaye a pass for targeting penalty, addresses impact of NCAA rule changes

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•09/06/22•

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Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

When LSU takes the field in Week 2, it will be without Ali Gaye to start. He was ejected for targeting in the second half against Florida State and, therefore, will miss the first half of the matchup against Southern on Saturday.

That’s just one ramification of the ejection, though. Brian Kelly said he’s not letting Gaye off easy for the lapse in judgment.

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“I’m not giving Ali Gaye a pass on that targeting,” Kelly said. “If you look that up in the dictionary, that’s what targeting is. That was a young man who’s regretful of the decision and how that went about. He’ll sit the first half. He’s got to be better. He knows that.”

Kelly’s answer was in response to a question about whether or not NCAA rules contributed to the targeting call. The NCAA has cut down the amount of contact practices with pads over the last few years, and Kelly was asked that’s a factor in some of the tackling issues. He made it clear tackling is essential and the Tigers work on it on a daily basis.

It doesn’t help LSU was going against Jordan Travis, who made defenders work to bring him down.

“Tackling is an art, right?” Kelly said. “It’s something that you have to develop that skill. We tackled as much as we could.

“Let’s give Florida State’s quarterback a lot of the credit, too. He’s extremely elusive. We had 16 missed tackles on him, and that’s too many. We had him wrapped up for tackles for loss on a number of occasions, which would’ve gotten us off the field. But we’ve got to be better. There’s no question.”

Jordan Travis thanks Ali Gaye for apology after targeting incident

On Tuesday, Travis revealed there is no bad blood between the two. In fact, Gaye reached out to Travis after the game to apologize for the hit. Florida State’s signal caller said the gesture “shows that type of person” Gaye is.

“Respect to Ali Gaye for reaching out to me,” Travis said. “I really appreciate that, and it shows what type of person he is. It’s a part of football, and I wish nothing but the best for him.”