Notre Dame football fans understand the pain the LSU fanbase is feeling
When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame in 2021 to become the head coach at LSU, he told Dan Patrick in an interview that he felt it was time to move on.
"It really didn't have anything to do with what Notre Dame couldn't give me," Kelly said on Patrick's radio show. "[It was] another opportunity, another challenge. To come down to the SEC, to play in arguably the best conference in the country, and the resources here are incredible... I was at that time of my career where I was looking for the next challenge."
Kelly's departure left a bad taste in the mouths of Irish fans- not because he left, but because he had made clear just a week earlier that it would take "the fairy godmother" and the "$250 million check" to pull him out of South Bend.
And thus, the Brian Kelly Era at LSU began. First with an awkward introduction at an LSU basketball game, then with a solid 10-4 season that saw the Tigers as the SEC runner-ups. That season also included a thrilling 32-31 victory over Alabama, which saw LSU and convert on a two-point conversion in the final seconds. A gutsy call, and a heck of a game.
But then LSU lost the opening game to Florida State in 2023, en route to another 10-win season. With Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, the Tigers missed out on both the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff.
Now 2024 starts with another loss, this time to ranked USC.
Two 10-win seasons in two seasons, but a 3-6 record against ranked opponents.
This is the same narrative that plagued Kelly during his time at Notre Dame. Double-digit win seasons were plentiful in the Kelly Era, but so were embarrassing losses in big games (2012 National Championship, 2018 and 2020 CFP appearances, just to name a few).
Notre Dame football fans know about LSU's frustations
Brian Kelly has to be the single least likable man left in College Football. Throwing a temper tantrum after you got outcoached for the 3rd year in a row is childish.
— College Football Watcher (@CFBWatcher) September 2, 2024
LSU fans are finally learning what Notre Dame fans tried to tell them back in 2021. pic.twitter.com/jJY5iadd82
Notre Dame football fans, and college football fans alike, responded appropriately- with memes.
Brian Kelly’s new accent when he is named the new Head Coach at Rutgers in about two seasons pic.twitter.com/YysTJfQYfE
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) September 2, 2024
Some took shots at Kelly's 0-3 record to start the season since taking the LSU job:
Brian Kelly the start to every year
— * 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 🐅 (@StripesAllDey) September 2, 2024
pic.twitter.com/WHAhcPoFK4
Others took aim at Kelly's coaching ability, implying he does not have what it takes to win on the biggest stage:
If you need 10 wins in a season, Brian Kelly will give you 10 wins.
— Muhammad Alinked-in (@PBSImpulse9) September 2, 2024
If you need 13 wins in a season, Brian Kelly will give you 10 wins. https://t.co/niKOoow34T
No big wins.
Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU to win the big games. Since he’s left he hasn’t won a single big game. Losing all three season openers. Marcus Freeman just lead Notre Dame into Kyle Field and won. The biggest win Brian Kelly brought to ND was him leaving. Go Irish
— Billy Mack (@JerseyMack1331) September 2, 2024
Notre Dame fans know.
Notre Dame fans watching USC stick it to Brian Kelly pic.twitter.com/GR4CjQkSIm
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) September 2, 2024
While others are calling for Kelly's job at LSU (a bit too extreme, if you ask me... or literally anyone), Kelly has 11 games to turn it around. It isn't "panic mode" in the Bayou just yet, there's still a whole season to play.
But for Notre Dame football fans watching from afar... this loss has to feel pretty good.