Brian Kelly And Kalen Deboer Comment On Saturday's 'Must-Win' Game For Both Programs

A lot of chatter this week surrounding the LSU-Alabama matchup has been about the game being a 'must-win' for both programs in hopes of making the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Both head coaches Brian Kelly and Kalen Deboer spoke with reporters on Monday, and we're asked about how they are handling the added pressure this week.

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DeBoer on LSU being a must-win game…

“You saw our response, I think, with the Missouri game. That was really the case there. I say that, and all of a sudden you start thinking, ‘Why wasn’t that the case with Tennessee?’ Well, it was. That’s just more experiences that you have together, backs to the wall, there’s different things that different teams respond well to. At least for the first test, and Missouri was at home, we got off to a fast start defensively, did a nice job there and just continued to apply pressure.

“I think offensively, once we got field position in our favor we kind of cracked through. For us, it’s just always going back to really the process. The work that needs to be put in, the areas we need to continue to improve on. The guys, I use the word intentional a lot whether it’s here, whether it’s with our team. We have to be intentional and we have to bring that energy in order to really continue to improve, and they’re doing that. They want to make something big of this season, and it’s important through the action that you see on the practice field, you see it in the way they’re going about their business off the field, just the details that they really continue to hone in on. It’s just a matter of time, right?

“As the season goes on you become more comfortable with what we’re doing, whether it’s our scheme or just the routine, or each other. A lot of our youth is rising up and continuing to gain more and more confidence, mixed in with the veterans that continue to have great leadership. I like where we’re at. Unfortunately, like you said, we have less wiggle room, and our backs are to the wall, so we’re going to fight. Each and every day we’re going to fight, scratch and claw like you’ve never seen, and that continues on this week.”

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