LSU Football: Ed Orgeron doesn’t want players who just want NIL money

LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron created a few headlines this week when he told Tigers fans to pay LSU players.

Orgeron was serious with his comments — he’s fine with LSU fans legally sponsoring/making deals with Tigers players.

But part of the reason Orgeron made those comments was as a rebuttal to Nick Saban’s comments about Bryce Young making a boatload of cash (close to a million) in endorsement money.

Coach O had no choice but to make a comment about NIL rules after Saban’s comments.

Don’t get Ed Orgeron’s comments twisted

While Orgeron views NIL rules as a good thing for players, he doesn’t want it to be the sole reason a player comes to LSU.

“I think it’s good for our players, as long as it’s handled in the right way,” said Orgeron this week while speaking to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club (via Brody Miller). “I do believe there’s going to be some disappointment. They’re going to learn what taxes are.”

“You came here to win football games,” added Orgeron. “So the most important thing you can do is focus on school and football. If that can supplement you, fine. But if that becomes your sole purpose, you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

Orgeron is absolutely right. The focus has to be on becoming a better football player. Otherwise, players will end up just making a little bit of cash from small NIL deals and then missing out on future NFL money because they didn’t focus on football.

Players being able to profit off their name, likeness and image is a good thing. It’s the way it should be. But it can’t be the main reason players are coming to LSU.