LSU Football: Ed Orgeron handled Terrace Marshall Jr question with complete class
By Zach Ragan
LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron handled a tough question with class.
2020 has been a weird season for LSU football and everyone else in the college sports world.
In any other year, a player “opting out” would be viewed as selfish.
But in 2020, due to the strange circumstances surrounding this season, it’s completely understandable.
Players have their futures on the line. And COVID-19 is still very real and very serious.
Tigers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr — a player that’s viewed as LSU’s best wide receiver — decided this week that he’s opting out of the season and entering the 2021 NFL Draft.
I respect his decision completely. And I get it — he has nothing to gain by staying.
But there’s no doubt that the decision is a bit odd after Marshall’s recent speech to the team.
LSU football lost Marshall after a riveting speech to the team
Marshall recently made a speech to his Tigers teammates about “finishing the season”.
The speech was well received. But ironically, it will be Marshall that doesn’t “finish the season”.
Again, I get Marshall’s decision. I think it’s probably the right decision (he has to focus on his future for himself and his family). But the speech certainly makes for some awkward questions.
On Monday, Ed Orgeron was asked specifically about Marshall’s speech to the team and how he felt about it in retrospect.
Unsurprisingly, Orgeron was nothing but class in his response.
“Obviously he had a change of heart,” said Coach O (via Rivals). “I thought when he said it, he meant it. The team believed him. Obviously he had a change of heart.”
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LSU fans should be proud of the coach they have. Orgeron is as genuine and caring as it gets. And it showed in his response to the question on Monday about Marshall.