Is he really adopting a southern accent already?
He’s not fooling anyone
As good of a football coach as he is, Brian Kelly seemed like a questionable cultural fit when he was hired at LSU. He was born and raised in suburban Boston, went to Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., started coaching there and spent the rest of his career in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Those places are a long way from the Bayou. After six years with Ed Orgeron—the ultimate Cajun—in charge, having this yankee replace him will be an adjustment for LSU fans.
Or will it?
Kelly was introduced at a press conference on Wednesday and addressed fans later that day at the Tigers’ men’s basketball game against Ohio. During that speech he sounded… different.
What’s up with that?! Listen to the way he elongates his vowels, particularly on the words “started,” “Tiger” and “family.” That doesn’t sound like a guy who’s spent his entire life north of the Mason-Dixon.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington spliced Kelly’s speech to LSU fans together with the leaked audio of his farewell speech to his Notre Dame players to highlight just how different he sounds.
It sure does sound like Kelly, who arrived in Baton Rouge for the first time just a day earlier, is already trying to adopt a southern accent. But it is not very convincing. He sounds like a non-American actor auditioning for a role as a southern football coach. I half expected him to drop an “I do declare.”
It’s weird because at his press conference earlier on Wednesday he sounded just like he always does.
Speaking to fans is obviously different from speaking to the media, so it’s natural for there to be some code-switching. But this isn’t a case of Kelly just being more energetic and less polished than he was with reporters. This is him trying on a whole new personality.
The least charitable reading of Kelly’s Foghorn Leghorn impression is that it’s a cynical ploy to ingratiate himself with the new fan base, which would require him to think the fans are stupid enough not to see through his sudden country-fried makeover. The more generous possible explanation is that Kelly, hearing his voice relayed back to him by the arena’s speakers, tripped over his words a bit. Or maybe there’s something in Coach O’s old office that’s slowly rubbing off on him.
The best of SI
The overarching theme of the MLB lockout is that the league needs to modernize. ... Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL coaching carousel. ... In the midst of a hectic week in college football, Luke Fickell remaining at Cincinnati stands out. ... Expert picks for this weekend’s college football conference championship games.
Around the sports world
Some Bucs players, including Tom Brady got on a FaceTime call with a high school basketball team in Michigan after Sean Murphy-Bunting got a text from a wrong number. ... The NCAA added a 42nd bowl game at the last minute so that all 84 bowl-eligible teams will be able to play in one. ... Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson and U.S. women’s national team forward Mallory Pugh are engaged.
The Grizzlies (without Ja Morant!) set a new NBA record by blowing out the Thunder by 73 points
The Predators’ Stadium Series jerseys are a doozy
Even more embarrassing: Iowa State was “disappointed” after its 19-point win
This graphic has eight more logos than it needs to
Not sports
31 people spent the night at an Ikea in Denmark because of a big snowstorm. ... Barbados has officially declared Rihanna a national hero. ... The Home Alone house will be (briefly) available to rent on Airbnb.
A good song
Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.