Why LSU football has Clemson's Tiger paw logo in weight room ahead of Week 1 showdown
The Clemson Tigers, that is.
LSU and Clemson will play one of the most anticipated games in Week 1 on Aug. 30, a game that will set the tone for both programs in 2025. Kelly told assembled media at SEC media days on July 14 that Clemson's logo has been plastered on workout bags at LSU's facility this summer for motivation as players prepare for the season, with a focus toward curbing LSU's recent Week 1 struggles.
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"We've got a Clemson paw print on the bags that we hit every day," Kelly said. "It's on every monitor in the building to go 1-0. I think it was important to have a tangible, specific goal for us to start the season."
Part of LSU's focus on the Week 1 showdown is about the Tigers' lack of success on opening weekend in the Brian Kelly era. LSU is 0-3 in Week 1 in Kelly's three seasons, all of which came to power conference opponents away from home. That includes losses to Florida State in 2022 (24-23) and 2023 (45-24), and to USC last season (27-20). Those three games were neutral-site matchups, while the Aug. 30 battle of the Tigers will be played in Clemson.
The 12-team playoff widens LSU's margin of error (and Clemson's, too), and a loss on Aug. 30 will not send the program tumbling out of the rankings or out of the CFP picture.
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But it's clear Kelly (who went 1-3 against Clemson and Dabo Swinney at Notre Dame) is tired of losing in Week 1 marquee games.
"We've made this a specific goal," Kelly said. "... Our kids want that. They can taste it."
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why LSU football has Clemson's Tiger paw logo in weight room ahead of Week 1 game
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