LSU football hype video sparks backlash after Notre Dame tragedy
LSU football appeared to delete a hype video in anticipation of the 2025 season after facing some backlash on social media over the weekend.
The video, shared on the team’s X account, opened with a black and white image of a watchtower, which many felt was reminiscent of a tragic incident in 2010, when a student videographer died at a Brian Kelly-run practice while he was head coach of the Fighting Irish.
Declan Sullivan died after the hydraulic lift he was filming practice from crashed due to wind gusts of up to 53 mph. He was 20 years old.
IOSHA [Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration], which investigated the incident, fined Notre Dame $77,500 for six safety violations tied to Sullivan’s death, including knowingly putting its employees in an unsafe situation, according to ESPN.
Kelly said at the time he decides whether to practice outside while relying “on information from my support staff.”
The investigation ruled out mechanical failure, and the state said Notre Dame failed to maintain safe working conditions or heed National Weather Service warnings.
Kelly left Notre Dame in 2021 to take the head coaching job at LSU following Ed Orgeron’s exit.
LSU did not acknowledge the deleted tweet.
The image appeared to show a tower near the Tigers’ practice field before the video went on to flash player highlights.
“Wow… R.I.P Declan Sullivan,” one person wrote.
“Absolute insanity. Knowing how far that had to go to get approved to post makes it crazier,” another added.
Others were confused and asked why the video was “controversial.”
Someone else said, “Guys it’s practice, that’s a practice viewing/camera tower, a practice hype video, it’s not that deep. It wasn’t a hydraulic lift and it was 15 years ago. Relax.”
Kelly is entering his fourth season with LSU and has a 29-11 record.
The Tigers begin the 2025 campaign at Clemson on Aug. 30.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
