We haven’t lost the SECCG yet. I’m certainly not ready to concede that loss. Likely as it may seem today, I’m not sure it seems any more likely than us beating A&M did this time last week. That’s why you play the games.

I will say that this may be the most challenging week of BK’s LSU career, not just so far, but potentially for the rest of his tenure. He will face post-Honeymoon phase criticism for the 1st time (he pretty much got a mulligan after the FSU loss). He’s obviously faced it a million times before, so it’s no big deal in and of itself and he’ll handle it externally like a pro. But you could hear his disappointment after the game—he hurt for his players, his coaches, the university, and the fanbase—and it was more than regular disappointment from a loss. He felt what huge opportunity they had just let slip away, and I’m sure was really 2nd-guessing himself over things he could have done differently.

But the real challenge comes from himself and the coaching staff letting that game go (“1 snap and clear”), and then communicating that same message to the team in a way that they can hear it and respond. The buy-in to his process will be challenged like it hasn’t yet. He’s got to convince them that not only is there still inherent value in winning the SEC Championship (this notion seems absurd to reasonable people, but there are a lot of people who have de-valued not only a conference championship, but any accomplishment short of winning an NC), but there is inherent value in winning the game, period. (You play to win it. Hello!).

Can Kelly put that in a message that the players are able and willing to hear this week and respond to? Can they, as 18-21-year-olds, maturely (and quickly) forget about the epic opportunity they lost and focus on the ones they still have in front of them and prepare and play accordingly? I think so, but it will be fascinating to watch unfold throughout the week.

This post was edited on 11/28/22 at 8:43 am