A lasting impression
Bruce Arians was able to successfully recruit one of the best tight ends ever to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Former MSU and National Football League tight end Reggie Kelly discussed his relationship with Arians during a recent radio interview.
First impressions are hard to forget, good or bad, and Arians made a lasting one on Kelly and his family.
Kelly said that Arians tells people exactly how it is about a situation. That’s what sold him and his parents on why the former Aberdeen Bulldog should continue to be one in Starkville.
“He’s just as blunt and straight forward and didn’t try to sugarcoat anything,” Kelly said to Amy Lawrence of CBS Sports Radio. “He wasn’t trying to tell my parents anything they just wanted to hear. They fell in love with him and said this guy is at least a straight-shooter. He told us exactly what we needed to hear. That made our decision.”
Since his playing days at MSU from 1995-98 and throughout his playing career, Kelly stayed in touch with Arians.
Even when Arians retired from coaching briefly, Kelly communicated with him. Now Arians looks to begin his second season as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they still visit.
That is the type of bond that developed between Kelly and Arians since being together with the Bulldogs.
If Arians had any influence in getting quarterback Tom Brady in Tampa, it would not surprise Kelly in the least.
“He’s a great guy, a fiery guy and head strong guy,” Kelly said about Arians. “He’s turned that program around in one year in my opinion. Bringing in Tom Brady, that’s a big time cat.”
Kelly probably wouldn’t make a bad assistant coach for Arians because he probably understands him better than anyone.
Even with that, Kelly said Arians has an unpredictable side that keeps people guessing. “You never really don’t know what coach Arians is going to do,” Kelly said. “You really have no clue. Each week brings its own type of challenge. He’s different from any other offensive coordinator I’ve been involved with.”
Arians was first a wide receivers coach at MSU from 1978-80, then returned as offensive coordinator under Jackie Sherrill from 1993-95. During that time, he developed a reputation of doing things his way. That’s what made Arians a successful offensive coordinator for Sherrill and has led him to success in the NFL.