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LSU Football: How Bo Pelini feels at home in Baton Rouge

By Zach Ragan

MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Bo Pelini of the Youngstown State Penguins looks on during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field on September 10, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Bo Pelini of the Youngstown State Penguins looks on during the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field on September 10, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Ed Orgeron hit a grand slam when he hired Bo Pelini to serve as LSU football’s defensive coordinator.

LSU football’s defense will have a much different look in 2020 than it did in 2019.

Dave Aranda, who served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator from 2016-2019, left LSU this offseason to become the head coach at Baylor.

To replace Aranda, head coach Ed Orgeron decided to bring former Tigers defensive coordinator Bo Pelini back to Baton Rouge.

Pelini, who was serving as the head coach at Youngstown State, was LSU’s defensive coordinator from 2005-07.

Even though Pelini, who will move LSU from a 3-4 defense to an “attacking” 4-3 defense, only spent three seasons with the Tigers, but it’s clear that Baton Rouge made a huge impact on him.

Pelini spoke at LSU’s coaches clinic on Thursday night and he shared a few comments about returning to Louisiana.

The former Nebraska head coach said “this place is special to me, this is my second home”.

Pelini also said that he turned down numerous other opportunities before joining LSU’s staff, saying it took “about 30 seconds” to accept Orgeron’s offer to return.

Coach O values coaches/people who love Louisiana and LSU. And it’s obvious that Pelini holds the program in high regard. I mean, he left his hometown (Youngstown, OH) to take the job. That should tell you all you need to know about how Pelini feels about LSU and Baton Rouge.

Pelini’s defensive style, plus his love for the Tigers, makes him a perfect fit for the Tigers and Coach O.

And it’s not just me that feels way. Former LSU players that played under Pelini echoed similar sentiments in January when the hire was made.

Former LSU safety Danny McCray tweeted “This is going to be epic” when Pelini was hired.

LSU athletic trainer Jack Marucci told The Advocate “He was a guy that was one of us”.

I don’t think Coach O could’ve made a better hire. It’s not often that a defensive coordinator leaves on his own accord and a program is able to upgrade.

How LSU can prove they're not a one year wonder. dark. Next

But that’s exactly what LSU did by bringing Pelini back to his second home.

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