The buildup to Clemson football and LSU’s primetime clash on August 30 continues to gain steam, and Tigers head coach Brian Kelly isn’t shying away from the spotlight.
Speaking Wednesday at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, Kelly didn’t miss the opportunity to take a swipe at Clemson’s home turf.
“You need those [championship] traits when you’re on the road [at Clemson]; when you’re at Death Valley Junior,” Kelly said, reigniting the long-running rivalry over which program holds the true claim to the “Death Valley” nickname.
Kelly’s comments came on the heels of what he said earlier this month at SEC Media Days, where he not only praised Clemson as a worthy opponent but explained how the season opener has been central to LSU’s offseason preparation.
“It’s also a program that is considered a premier program,” Kelly said. “We got an incredible challenge that we are excited about and one that we are looking forward to.”
Recently, Kelly revealed that Clemson’s logo has become a daily presence inside LSU’s football facility.
“We have made this a specific goal, meaning it is tangible for our guys. You go through our weight room, and we have a Clemson paw print on the bags that we hit every day. It is on every monitor in the building to go 1-0,” he said.
Despite the mutual respect he expressed toward Dabo Swinney and Clemson’s consistency, Kelly still couldn’t help but joke, “We still think we are THE DEATH VALLEY. They can use the name, too. We are letting them borrow it.”
As for his own squad, Kelly is confident in what LSU will put on the field this fall.
“On paper, this is the best roster we will put out there since I have been here,” he said Wednesday. “It’s not just about names. It’s about individuals, through the transfer portal process, to win a championship for LSU….
Source link : https://clemsonwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/clemson/football/2025/07/24/clemson-football-brian-kelly-death-valley/85358761007/
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Publish date : 2025-07-24 16:52:00
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