LSU head football coach Brian Kelly is defending himself against claims that he abandoned safety Greg Brooks Jr. after the player underwent emergency brain tumor surgery in September 2023. The allegations, made by Brooks’ father Greg Brooks Sr. in a recent television interview, paint a picture of a coach who turned his back on an ailing player in his time of need. But Kelly is fighting back, insisting he stood by Brooks’ side throughout the harrowing ordeal.
Coach Denies Abandoning Player After Brain Surgery
In an emotional press conference on Wednesday, Kelly vehemently denied the elder Brooks’ accusation that he cut off contact with Greg Jr. shortly after his life-saving operation to remove the brain tumor. “It is factually incorrect to state that I was not there by Greg’s side through this ordeal on multiple occasions,” Kelly stated emphatically. He went on to claim that he had a staff member with Brooks virtually every single day during his hospital stay and recovery.
We love Greg, we love him for the person that he is, for the competitor that he is and the battler that he is. We only wish him continued progress as he goes through an [incredibly] difficult time.
– Brian Kelly, LSU Head Coach
Kelly’s comments come in response to the Brooks family’s heartbreaking account of feeling abandoned by the LSU coaching staff as Greg Jr. fought for his life. In a tearful interview on Good Morning America, Greg Brooks Sr. claimed they hadn’t heard from Kelly or anyone else at LSU since shortly after the surgery that left the 23-year-old safety permanently disabled and unable to walk.
Lawsuit Alleges Medical Negligence by LSU Staff
The family’s sense of abandonment is compounded by the pending lawsuit they filed against LSU and the hospital that treated Brooks, alleging a shocking pattern of medical negligence. According to the complaint, LSU coaches encouraged Brooks to continue practicing despite showing worrying symptoms, while team doctors and trainers misdiagnosed his condition for weeks before finally sending him to a specialist. Most disturbing is the claim that the surgeon who performed Brooks’ operation wasn’t qualified and ended up causing catastrophic damage that led to multiple strokes mid-surgery.
While Kelly didn’t address the lawsuit’s specifics, citing the ongoing litigation, he seemed to allude to it in his forceful denial of abandoning Brooks: “You can question me as a football coach, you can question me with things we do on the field but off the field, as a parent, a husband, as someone who is actively involved in every community that I’ve been involved with, this is where I draw the line for me.”
Outpouring of Support For Recovering Player
Despite the swirling controversy, there appears to be unanimous support for Brooks as he continues on the long road to recovery more than a year after his fateful surgery. While he may never play football again, the LSU community seems fully invested in helping the young man reclaim as much of his life as possible. Kelly emphasized that support has come from every corner of the university and surrounding community, not just the football program.
- Extensive rehab to relearn basic skills like walking and talking
- Outpouring of love and encouragement from LSU fans and teammates
- Family by his side providing constant care and motivation
As for Kelly, this personal slight clearly struck a nerve with the often stoic coach. “That comment struck a nerve with me. It hit my heart,” he admitted when addressing the elder Brooks’ criticism. In a job where wins and losses typically define you, Kelly wants to be clear that supporting his players, especially through immense hardship, is where he hangs his hat. Time will tell if he can reconcile with the Brooks family, but his intentions appear genuine in wishing Greg Jr. a full recovery.
The Long Road Ahead
As the legal process plays out and more details emerge about what exactly transpired with Brooks’ medical situation, the focus remains on the talented young player whose life has been forever altered. The road ahead will be arduous, but if the LSU community follows Kelly’s lead in staying by Brooks’ side, he’ll have the support needed to push through the pain and create a new path forward.
I’m in this business for our players, and it rattled me that somebody could possibly be so factually incorrect in stating that I was not a part of Greg Brooks Jr.’s care and support.
– Brian Kelly
Only time will tell how this story unfolds, but one thing is clear – the love and support for Greg Brooks Jr. is unwavering, even amidst controversy. As he fights to reclaim his life, he’ll have an entire community behind him every step of the way. For Kelly and LSU, the mission now is to ensure no player ever feels abandoned in their time of need again. The path forward is unclear, but a commitment to standing united is the only way through.
