What LSU interim coach Frank Wilson said after loss to Oklahoma

LSU interim football coach Frank Wilson has spent his entire career, from his playing days to Saturday, in the South. He knows a thing or two about the football played in that region.

Wilson handled post-game press conference duties with care Saturday after his Tigers team lost to Oklahoma in the regular-season finale, 17-13. LSU had been under a microscope for the better part of the last three weeks, ultimately finally firing now-former head coach Brian Kelly without cause earlier in the week.

As such, Wilson's remarks following his team's lost mostly focused on the formalities and finalizations of the Tigers' season. But he did say about the game, you can catch below.

LSU finished the season 8-4 and 4-4 in SEC play. It's the same record the Tigers had at the end of last season, though they did go 5-3 in-conference. They nearly went 5-3 this year, only ruined by a 58-yard touchdown pass from John Mateer to Isaiah Sategna in the final minutes of Saturday's come-from-behind win for Oklahoma.

Opening statement

Competed. The way that they believed that they could win this game and came into it with that mindset and played accordingly. Unfortunately today wasn’t our day. We were not able to attain victory. But very proud of our football team.

On LSU offense

They did the best they could do against a very tough defense. Weren’t able to cash in on one of them. The other was as good as punt. You’re inside the 10-yard-line that we got it. We’d have had to go 95-plus yards. There’s no excuse. Just the realities of it against a very stringent defense. We did the things - they did the things - our kids fought their ass off. They really competed. They did their very best. Our best wasn’t good enough on this day, unfortunately.

On competing

We play a top-10 team three weeks ago, play a top-10 team again this week and two in-between. It showed that we’re resilient. Our kids were prideful. That we were going to go in and compete to the best of our ability and use the things that we have to give us a chance. I thought we did those things at times. We kept the game where we wanted, where it was in the balance. Came down to that. Unfortunately we didn’t make the plays to be able to attain victory.

On defensive front play

I thought it was great quality and quantity in the defensive line rotation against one of the better teams in our conference. I thought those guys did a great job of holding steadfast and at times bending but not breaking and just showing up with quality depth.

On circumstances

A lot of things. The elements were one of the things. That may not have required us to drop back every play and try to launch it. They did and it cost them three interceptions. Unfortunately we didn’t cash in on all of them. We were not trying to duplicate that with the conditions. Then with the other things we thought were more advantageous for us, we wanted to do those things.

On his future at LSU

I love LSU. As long as LSU will have me, I’d love to be a part of what we’re doing here.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: LSU interim coach Frank Wilson's post-game remarks after Oklahoma