FULL CIRCLE
There was something surreal about being on the sideline for LSU vs. Vanderbilt, two programs led by men who both shaped my college football journey in very different ways. For me, this game wasn’t just an SEC showdown; it was a personal collision of two philosophies, two personalities, and two men who have had an undeniable influence on my career and perspective.
I played for both Coach Brian Kelly and Coach Clark Lea at Notre Dame. To the public, they couldn’t be more different, the so-called “villain vs. the white knight,” the “most hated vs. the most liked.” Social media and soundbites often shape how fans perceive them, but having been in both locker rooms, I can tell you it’s much deeper than that. They’re both incredible football minds, just wired differently.
Coach Kelly brings a demanding, results-driven approach. He’s intense, calculated, and expects excellence at every turn. It’s the kind of environment that pushes you to grow fast or get left behind. Coach Lea, on the other hand, operates with a quiet strength. He’s introspective, relational, and incredibly disciplined in his process. His belief in building something the “right way” is as genuine as it gets.
Before the game, I caught up with Coach Lea at Friday walk through. When I asked him about facing Coach Kelly, with a straight face said, “I haven’t thought of the coaching battle very much, but I credit Brian for the knowledge he’s given me along the way.” That humility is classic Clark, steady, focused on his players and his mission, not the headlines.
To see Vanderbilt in this position, ranked and competing head-to-head with a powerhouse like LSU, is incredible. It’s a testament to the culture Lea has built in Nashville. From the opening kickoff, you could see it: disciplined execution, relentless effort, and a belief that never wavered.
And then there’s Diego Pavia. The kid is special. He makes plays out of nothing, and his confidence radiates through the entire team. Vanderbilt looked like a program that expects to win, not just hopes to.
When the final whistle blew and Vanderbilt walked away with the upset, you could feel the shift. For Lea, it was validation of years of hard work. For Kelly and LSU, it was a gut check. The public will question how a roster that expensive and talented could lose a game like that, but anyone who watched closely knows Vanderbilt is for real.
Walking off that field, I couldn’t help but think how football has a funny way of bringing stories full circle. The teacher and the student, the villain and the white knight, both still chasing the same thing: greatness, just in their own ways. And to witness that clash firsthand? Incredible.
By Shaun Crawford