Florida State spoils Brian Kelly's LSU coaching debut - 'The reality is we've got some learning to do'

NEW ORLEANS — Brian Kelly's debut as LSU's head football coach didn't lack for drama.

After rallying from 14 points down in the fourth quarter Sunday night against Florida State — and needing only an extra point to send the game into overtime — the Tigers saw their comeback bid come to an abrupt halt when Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown blocked Damian Ramos' kick to secure the 24-23 victory for Florida State.

It was the second blocked kick of the night for Florida State, which blocked an LSU field goal attempt in the first half.

But the Tigers' struggles on special teams weren't limited to the kicking game. They also failed to field a pair of punts, both of which the Seminoles recovered.

«Mistake after mistake for us, particularly in the first half,» Kelly said in offering his assessment of the game. «And, you know, obviously more mistakes in the second half.»

Kelly said he was proud of the way his team competed but also made it clear that «I'm not here to say we take any solace in a loss.»

«The reality is we've got some learning to do,» he added. «We've got to coach better, and we've got to play better.»

It was an inauspicious start to Kelly's tenure at LSU. He became the first Tigers coach to lose his debut since Gerry DiNardo in 1995.

Kelly — who spent the previous 12 seasons at Notre Dame, posting a record of 113-40 — signed a 10-year, $95 million contract to join LSU in late November, replacing Ed Orgeron, who was out less than three years after winning the national championship.

Kelly remade the roster during the offseason, adding a number of transfers, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels from Arizona State.

Down seven points on the 2-yard line with only 1 second remaining, Daniels threw what