LSU entered the game with its back against the wall, needing a win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Tigers played with desperation and passion in the first half, which led to the team’s best first half of the season and an 18-14 lead at halftime over the 3rd ranked Texas A&M Aggies.
But the second half was one of the worst halves of football in LSU history as the Aggies rolled to a 49-25 win as several “Fire Kelly” chants broke out until the LSU faithful could not stomach it anymore and exited Tiger Stadium.
“Our fan base should be upset; they have every right to be,” coach Brian Kelly said.
Texas A&M scored 35 consecutive points in the 2nd half. It is the second year in a row that the Aggies took it to LSU in the 2nd half. Last year, A&M outscored LSU 31-6 in the 2nd half. This year, the Aggies outscored LSU 35-7 in the 2nd half.
“That second half was unacceptable at any level and I’ve got to figure out the ways that we can get our football team to play better football, consistently, not just in spurts, but for four quarters,” Kelly said.
The problem is that Kelly has had a long time to fix what ails this program and has not been able to do it.
A poor offensive line, as the Aggies had seven sacks, 11 tackles for a loss.
The inability to slow down a dual-threat quarterback. Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice in the first half. But he also rushed for 108 yards and two scores.
It was an embarrassing performance by the defense in the second half as the will to fight was not there. On run plays, the Tigers failed to set the edge, allowing A&M ball carriers to pick up big yards, and missed tackles were also an issue.
Questionable play calling. LSU freshman running back Harlem Berry gave the Tigers a balanced attack in the first half as he had eight carries for 56 yards.
In the second half, he only got one carry. LSU only had 89 yards of offense in the second half.
There were also several pass plays on third down, when the Tigers would throw short of the sticks and not get the first down.
And special teams were bad in the second half. Terry Bussey returned the opening kick 43 yards to set up the first of five Aggie 2nd-half touchdowns. KC Concepion returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, and the rout was on.
After every bad LSU moment, the television broadcast would show Kelly chewing out an assistant coach or player.
It’s only the second time Kelly has lost a night game at Tiger Stadium (20-2), but it feels like the lights will soon be turned out on Kelly, who turned 64 years old on Saturday.
“This is my responsibility, and we need to get it turned around,” Kelly said.
But the fan base has lost patience, and changes are certainly coming. Will there be big changes?
It depends on whether there are enough boosters out there that have big enough wallets to pay the 53-million-dollar buyout.