LSU head coach Brian Kelly was forced to break his silence on the tampering allegations that have been swirling around the program in recent weeks. Kelly, who has been under fire for his handling of the situation, addressed the media on Wednesday and announced a major overhaul of the team’s spring game.
“We’re excited to announce that we’re making some changes to our spring game this year,” Kelly said. “We’re going to be playing a more traditional spring game, with a draft-style format where the players will be divided into two teams. We think this will be a great way to showcase our talent and give our fans a more exciting experience.”
Kelly’s announcement was seen as an attempt to shift the focus away from the tampering allegations that have been plaguing the program. The allegations, which were first reported by ESPN, claim that Kelly and his staff were involved in improper contact with recruits during the NCAA’s quiet period.
“We take these allegations very seriously, and we’re cooperating fully with the NCAA’s investigation,” Kelly said. “We’re confident that we’ve done nothing wrong, and we’re looking forward to putting this behind us and moving forward.”
Kelly’s comments were his first public statements on the matter, and they were seen as an attempt to calm the waters and reassure fans that the program is committed to doing things the right way.
“We understand that these allegations have caused concern among our fans and supporters, and we want to assure them that we’re committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and compliance,” Kelly said. “We’re proud of the program we’re building here at LSU, and we’re confident that we’re doing things the right way.”
Despite Kelly’s efforts to move the focus away from the tampering allegations, the issue is likely to continue to be a major storyline for the program in the coming weeks and months. The NCAA’s investigation is ongoing, and it’s unclear what penalties the program may face if the allegations are found to be true.
In the meantime, Kelly and his staff are focused on preparing for the upcoming season. The team’s spring game is scheduled for April 22, and it will be a key opportunity for fans to get a glimpse of the team’s talented young players.
“We’re excited to get out there and compete in front of our fans,” Kelly said. “We’ve got a talented young team, and we’re looking forward to seeing them in action.”
As for the tampering allegations, Kelly and his staff will have to wait and see how the NCAA’s investigation plays out. But for now, they’re focused on moving forward and preparing for the upcoming season.
“We’re not going to let these allegations distract us from our goal of building a championship program here at LSU,” Kelly said. “We’re committed to doing things the right way, and we’re confident that we’ll come out of this even stronger and more united than ever.”