It has been a chaotic couple of days for LSU football following the dismissal of head coach Brian Kelly. Outside of letting Kelly go and negotiating the terms of his buyout, this program must now determine its next steps. There appear to be some intriguing options, but questions surround what would be best for the Tigers and their future. 

With the recent news that LSU and athletic director Scott Woodward are also parting ways, things continue to get even muddier. For whoever ends up being the next athletic director, there will be a lot of external pressure to get this next hire right. This is a proud program, and you can bet that everyone will be watching closely, both from the Tiger fan base and on the national level. 

There have been, and continue to be, numerous names that have circulated already. That includes the likes of Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Jon Sumrall (Tulane), and Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri), among others. While all those names have reasons to be excited about, there is one name that could end up being the best for the long term: current Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. 

Kelvin Sheppard lived it 

Kelly’s biggest fault is that the former Notre Dame head coach came to Baton Rouge and attempted to transform the LSU culture completely. A head coach should always put their mark on a program, but when you are just such a different person from the demographic of the individuals you are leading and the fanbase you’re answering to, things can get tricky.

That’s where some of the biggest issues came from. 

Sheppard played with LSU from 2007 to 2010 and won a national championship during that stretch. He’s also a Southern guy originally coming from the state of Georgia, so there is a familiar understanding about that environment, the culture, and daily life. He won’t have to adopt that lifestyle. Sheppard lived it. 

LSU needs a cultural rebirth

Beyond the general understanding of Baton Rouge and everything the program offers, understanding what the LSU program is built upon is equally important. That “culture” is something that Sheppard is also familiar with. When you think of vintage Tigers teams (maybe outside of 2019 slightly), LSU has been built on strong running games, stingy defenses, and good offensive and defensive lines. Physicality has been the name of the game for the majority of its history. 

Over the last few years, this team just hasn’t been physical. They have mostly struggled to run the football, and the defense has been a mess. Getting physically dominated up front isn’t in the Tigers’ DNA, yet here we are. That is something that needs to change, and quickly. Getting a defensive mind like Sheppard, who is familiar with the program, could do just the trick. 

Keep the Louisiana talent at home 

For whatever reason, Kelly didn’t care as much about keeping the top talent in Louisiana at LSU, both in terms of players and coaches. The history of the program is important, and it’s something that Sheppard is deeply involved in. You’re in a great recruiting territory; use it. You’ve had great coaches with roots in the region; use them. It’s really not that hard, and odds are that Sheppard wouldn’t shy away from that tradition. 

While there are flashier names on the shortlists and ones with head coaching experience, Sheppard is exactly what LSU needs right now. It needs a worker’s mentality, an attitude, and a swagger. It needs someone to rally behind, and it should be easy with Sheppard. If you can make that fit work, the program should. 

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LSU Tigers finally got the solution they needed to save the program after Brian Kelly firing

About 24 hours after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry went scorched Earth on LSU brass and former head coach Brian Kelly, a major change was announced. It’s official now that LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward will be relieved of his duties, and the Tigers will be led by someone new in the near future. Landry had […]

Ian Valentino