Joe Burrow made a strong statement about what kind of coach is needed at LSU after getting asked about Lane Kiffin
Former LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow was asked this week for some thoughts on expectations surrounding Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge this fall.
Joe Burrow made it clear this week that the expectations at LSU are always playoff or bust — regardless of who the head coach happens to be.
“I think whenever you get a new head coach at a place like LSU, then expectations are always going to be high,” said Burrow on Chasing No. 1 when asked about the expectations surrounding Lane Kiffin at LSU this fall. “But going into every season, if you don’t win the SEC, if you don’t go to the national championship, then it’s like, ‘What are you doing?’ You’ve got to find a new head coach, you’ve got to find a new quarterback. You’ve got to find something to change it if it’s not going that way — because that’s how high the expectations are there.”
Fair or not, that’s reality for any coach at LSU. Brian Kelly learned that the hard way the last few years after underachieving for four straight seasons.
And speaking of Kelly, Burrow also made some comments this week about how important “fit” is at LSU. And while he never said Kelly’s name, he certainly seemed to suggest that Kelly was a poor culture fit in Baton Rouge.
“You’ve got to have somebody that can number one, hold people accountable,” said Burrow. “But number two, just be themselves. And you can’t, in my opinion, have the traditional, stereotypical head coach that you’re going to have at a Notre Dame or an Ohio State.
“You have to be able to fit into the culture of Louisiana and lean into that, and not try to bring your own culture in. Obviously, you have to bring certain things in, but you have to mold what you have done and what you are into what Louisiana is.”
I think Burrow is spot on, but that’s also a tough needle to thread.
Burrow, though, did it perfectly after transferring from Ohio State to LSU in 2018. He was himself, but he completely embraced Louisiana.
I think Kiffin, outside of all the controversy that’s been going on ahead of the season, is also doing a good job with that. You don’t have to be from Louisiana to be a good culture fit at LSU. And I think Kiffin is doing a good job of what Kelly didn’t — organically embracing Louisiana instead of awkwardly trying to force it.
