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GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 15: head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers (L) shakes hands with head coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators (R) after a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The 2021 college football coaching carousel was one of the most chaotic in the sport’s history. It’s hard to find another cycle with as many big names shuffling between major programs.
LSU and Florida were both involved. LSU moved on from Ed Orgeron and hired Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame. Florida fired Dan Mullen and gave Billy Napier the chance to move up from Louisiana.
LSU went big-name hunting while Florida went with the successful G5 coach.
That’s not to say either school was right or wrong. There’s no right or wrong way to hire a football coach. There are too many variables for there to be a single magic ingredient.
Kelly and Napier will always be linked. Napier was one of the hottest names in 2021 and in the state of Louisiana, yet he wasn’t that involved in LSU’s coaching search. LSU was set on landing a guy with big-time experience.
There were critics. Kelly never won a playoff game at Notre Dame, but did take the Irish to a national title game in the BCS era.
In passing on Napier, LSU was passing on a younger coach who just led Louisiana to a Sun Belt title. A guy from the Saban tree who would arrive at LSU and recruit at an elite level.
That narrative was out there.
Three years later, it’s hard to judge either of the hires yet. Kelly will eventually be evaluated on whether he leads LSU back to a national title. LSU was ahead of schedule with 10 wins in 2022 and notching another double-digit win season last year was impressive, but fans were not happy with LSU squandering an elite offense.
LSU has a chance at another 10-win season in 2024. That…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-vs-florida-brings-attention-205523994.html
Author : LSU Tigers Wire
Publish date : 2024-11-13 20:55:23
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