It shouldn’t be a surprise that LSU Football is experiencing turmoil inside locker room

LSU football’s nightmare season continues to get worse.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for LSU football this season, it did.

On Wednesday, The Advocate reported that the Tigers’ locker room was fractured before the 2020 season even started (which would explain some of the opt-outs before the season).

According to the report, the conflict in LSU’s locker room stems from Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron and how he handled player-led protests prior to the start of the season.

Orgeron didn’t provide a comment to The Advocate, so it’s unclear what both sides have to say.

But if there’s indeed conflict in the locker room, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Orgeron almost lost the locker room in 2018.

LSU football has been down this road before

When Orgeron named Joe Burrow the starting quarterback in 2018, it didn’t go over well with numerous players on LSU’s roster.

“There was a black cloud around here. There were a lot of rumors going on … and people taking sides”, said Orgeron earlier this year while discussing Burrow’s 2018 season (via The Advocate).

Coach O tried to calm the storm by calling a team meeting — which also didn’t go well.

The only thing that saved LSU in 2018 (and, by extension, 2019) was a players-only meeting.

Burrow, one of the best leaders I’ve ever seen in college football, was able to bring the team together.

It’s blatantly obvious this season that LSU lacks leadership. Terrace Marshall Jr tried to be a team leader and rally the troops, but his decision to opt-out just weeks after his speech to the team essentially made those words ring hollow.

There is no Burrow on this team to get things heading in the right direction.

Maybe the culture at LSU isn’t as great as we all thought it was. Maybe it was just the presence of Burrow that led to the dream season in 2019.

It’s still a bit early to say that for sure, but I think there’s definitely reason for concern right now.