LSU Football: Why Ed Orgeron deserves more respect than ever
By Zach Ragan
LSU football’s trying 2020 season came to an end on Saturday.
A year ago at this time, LSU football was the talk of the college football world.
The Tigers were SEC champions. And they were the favorites to leave the College Football Playoff with the season’s final prize (which they did).
This season, however, things haven’t gone nearly as smoothly.
LSU struggled to start the season, losing to Mississippi State in the season-opener. Things started to get worse from there.
Starting quarterback Myles Brennan suffered an abdomen injury that forced him to the sidelines. And then there were rumors that LSU’s locker room was in turmoil.
Somehow, though, the adversity made the Tigers stronger.
Which is why I think LSU head coach Ed Orgeron deserves more respect than ever.
LSU football faced adversity and is better for it
LSU dealt with more hardships than any other program in the SEC this season.
Losing 14 players to the NFL — plus key wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase — left the Tigers with very little connection to last year’s national championship-winning squad.
Late in the season, wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr decided to opt out. Then true freshman sensation Arik Gilbert decided it was time to opt out.
At this point, the Tigers were 3-5. Throw in the locker room rumors and it looked like LSU could be on the way to a 3-7 season, which would’ve been disastrous.
But thanks to the culture that Coach O has built, LSU started playing their best football of the season when adversity hit.
The Tigers shocked the Florida Gators. And then they knocked off Ole Miss to finish the season with a 5-5 record.
I don’t think anyone expected LSU to finish the season at 5-5 after everything they had to deal with late in the season.
It’s time that folks start talking about Ed Orgeron like they do the other great coaches in football (not just college).
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It’s clear that Coach O is special. He has the “it” factor. And that’s why he’s going to win more championships at LSU.