After back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt and Texas A&M dropped LSU to 5–3, Athletic Director Scott Woodward made the bold decision to part ways with Brian Kelly. Now, LSU is racing to fix what’s broken in Death Valley. But wouldn’t waiting until the season’s end be a better choice than messing up again? At least Rece Davis believes it. The ESPN analyst cautioned the Tigers against repeating history, warning that the same impatience that led them to hire Brian Kelly could once again steer the program in the wrong direction.

In an appearance  ESPN College Football podcast, while discussing potential hires, when Lane Kiffin’s name came up, Davis wasn’t exactly sold on the idea of moving that fast. “You always react based on what political pressures or other pressures that you’re feeling, but in a vacuum, if I were a sitting AD with one of these jobs and I had a guy that I felt like would take the job, I would sit till the end of the playoff because for this reason, if you hire a guy that you’re not sold on.” With Ole Miss still fighting for a playoff berth, he warned that LSU’s eagerness to make a quick splash could backfire, much like it did the last time they rushed a major coaching decision.“You may be right back in this position in two years anyway. We used to say three or four. Now you’re going to say probably two. So why not wait it out?” He said.

Most of the real movement in coaching hires happens quietly, through agents and backchannel talks. That’s why Woodward still has room to be patient to find a coach who truly fits LSU, not just one who’s available. With programs like Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Florida, Penn State, and UCLA already in the market for new head coaches, the competition is already fierce. Waiting until the playoff picture settles could give LSU the breathing room it needs to make a thoughtful decision without being driven by pressure.

“You have to feel really good about him saying yes when that guy’s playoff run is over,” Davis said. “You have to feel almost 100%.” Names like Lane Kiffin and Kenny Dillingham have already surfaced as possible successors, but both coaches still have seasons to finish. So LSU can’t afford to gamble on a coach who might ultimately decide to stay put or turn elsewhere once the postseason dust settles.

“If you believe he’s the guy, the one you want to tie your future to,” Davis explained, “…..then he’s worth the wait.” It’s a warning rooted in experience. The Tigers made a similar move when they hired Brian Kelly straight from Notre Dame, impressed by his resume but perhaps too quick to commit. Under Kelly, LSU went 34-14 but never reached the title picture. Along the way, came missteps; from parting ways with longtime strength coach Tommy Moffitt, who had worked under all three of LSU’s national championship coaches, to staff reshuffling that backfired, like firing and then rehiring assistants Blake Baker and Corey Raymond at higher salaries.

Those choices now should serve as reminders that a rushed hire might fix optics in the short term, but it can set a program back years in the long run. Now, Rece’s urge for political influence in Brian Kelly’s firing is making major buzz.

Brian Kelly’s firing involves political pressure

Look, political influence already took Brian Kelly out of the program as Governor Jeff Landry and board members together took this massive step. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger broke it down and said, “I think, after a meeting at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion—because of course, the governor is involved—that the decision was made by Scott Woodward, the athletic director, and other people who were in attendance at that meeting, including donors and board members, that they would fire Brian Kelly.”

The reason behind Landry’s presence in the entire process was the lack of a permanent president after William F. Tate IV moved to Rutgers. So, Landry had to step in. Also, he has a major influence on the Tigers Board members, as he appointed 6 of 14 members of the LSU Board of Supervisors and is planning to appoint 4 more next year after their terms come to an end.

Even disagreements between Kelly and Woodward about staff changes just intensified the situation even more, resulting in his being him out of the program. Now, let’s wait and see if LSU mindfully makes the right coaching hire or messes up again the next season.