Everyone at LSU believed getting rid of Brian Kelly solved one complicated problem. Turns out that it didn’t put a dent in the program’s conundrum. Any guesses? The real battle began after the former head coach refused to compromise on his multi-million dollar buyout. Two weeks on and two settlements offered, LSU can’t catch a break.

On November 10, Front Office Sports tweeted, “Brian Kelly’s lawyers have told LSU he wants his full $53M buyout, the second-largest in college football history. Kelly rejected two separate settlement offers of $25M and $30M, per @theadvocateno.”

It turns out that LSU tried to make it easy for Kelly to walk away. With a 10-year, $95 million contract guaranteeing 90% of his remaining salary, a fundamental question arises. Can this issue be resolved and moved forward?

According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, Scott Woodward slid a $25 million lump-sum offer across the table on firing day. He even offered to drop the clause that would cut his cash if he coached elsewhere. Kelly, however, stood his ground. After firing Woodward, LSU’s executive deputy athletic director, Julie Cromer, took charge of the matter to reassure the Tigers’ squad. She increased the settlement offer for Kelly to $30 million, payable in two installments, according to the documents. However, that too hit a brick wall, and now Kelly’s attorneys have issued an ultimatum to LSU. 

In a letter dated November 5 to new athletic director Verge Ausberry and LSU Board member John Carmouche, Kelly’s attorneys drew a logical line in the sand. They demanded written confirmation by 6 p.m. ET on Monday that the school will “fulfill its contractual obligation” to pay Kelly the “full liquidated damages.” However, wasn’t Kelly the one who offered to meet LSU midway?

Five days ago, on November 5, the former head coach had penned his farewell note. It read, “As we discussed in our meeting, I’m open to your desire to reach a settlement of what’s owed to me under the contract, although of course it would have to make sense financially.” But what’s the ground on which Kelly’s attorneys are fighting for a full and final settlement?

Here’s where it gets pricey for LSU. Kelly’s deal runs through 2031, and his buyout’s supposed to be paid monthly until then. His lawyers declare the school fired him “without cause.” So, he still owed 90% of everything left on that massive contract. Kelly still hasn’t seen the offer he’s asking for, but that hasn’t stopped his name from echoing around Baton Rouge days after his firing.

The booster who spoke the truth about Brian Kelly’s firing

LSU booster Gordon McKernan has known the Tigers’ program inside and out. The powerhouse attorney, with a net worth of $50 million, has been the driving force behind improving Louisiana’s sports scene. With enormous contributions to the NIL landscape, he has formed a close bond with the players. After interacting with a few of them, McKernan shared how Kelly’s firing has been inevitable.

“He wasn’t as committed. My players, at least, were telling the guys on my team, were telling me, I don’t really know him, he doesn’t spend time with us,” shared the LSU booster. Culture issues aside, Kelly received criticism for LSU’s struggles against Alabama, even days after being forced to retire.

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffocated the Tigers. They allowed only 13 first downs and 232 yards while cruising to their eighth win in a row. That’s 17 straight at home now, the longest streak in the country. And even with just 344 total yards, Bama made every big play count. It was time for a veteran to pull Kelly into the conversation. 

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On the Nightcap podcast, Chad “Ocho” Johnson shared, “It was sort of a snoozefest in a sense when no one was able to score. You know, in the first half, it was going back and forth. But then, once things opened up, Alabama ran the show. I mean, for a team like LSU to only score nine points, only score nine points in a four-quarter game, let you know why Mr. Kelly was fired.”

Brian Kelly may win the financial battle with LSU, but the war for his image? That’s still up for grabs.