LSU Football: Ed Orgeron hands Bo Pelini a big compliment

LSU football will have a new defensive coordinator in 2020.

When LSU football takes the field in 2020 (hopefully college football takes the field in 2020), there will be a familiar face on the sideline calling defensive plays.

Bo Pelini, who served as Les Miles’ defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge from 2005-2007, was hired by Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron in late January after previous defensive coordinator Dave Aranda left to become the head coach at Baylor.

Most folks probably remember Pelini’s fiery personality from his first stint with LSU. The Ohio native is often pictured intensely screaming on the sideline at players, refs, or whoever happens to be close by.

But Pelini isn’t just an intense coach. He’s also an extremely bright coach — especially when it comes to the defensive side of the ball.

And that’s the main reason that Coach O brought him back to LSU.

Orgeron, who also possesses a great defensive mind, recently discussed the addition of Pelini with WAFB’s Jacques Doucet. And he handed Pelini a BIG compliment.

Coach O told Doucet that he believes Pelini has the “brightest defensive mind”.

This is quite a compliment coming from Orgeron, who has worked with some pretty bright defensive minds himself. Coach O worked with Pete Carroll at USC in the early 2000’s and with Dennis Allen in 2008 with the New Orleans Saints  He also worked with Monte Kiffin in 2009 at Tennessee.

In other words, Orgeron has been around some of the best defensive minds in college football, which means his words, when it comes to Pelini, carry a LOT of weight.

Orgeron has made some incredible hires during his time as LSU’s head coach. Bringing in Joe Brady to help the offense in 2019 was one of the main reasons the Tigers were able to win a national championship last season.

It’s certainly possible that hiring Pelini could have the same effect for LSU in 2020.

Wouldn’t that be nice?