Brian Kelly may be gone from Baton Rouge, but he certainly has not been forgotten by the LSU faithful. In all the wrong ways, that is. Kelly was never fully embraced by the fan base due to his inability to win at a rate that matched LSU's sky-high standards and his lack of fit with the culture, most famously when he faked a country accent shortly after being hired.
Former LSU nose tackle Breiden Fehoko recently aired some of his thoughts on Kelly, in light of the Ed Orgeron hire.
"No. You don't need Ed (Orgeron) to coach X's and O's in Baton Rouge right now," Fehoko posted to social media. "Ed (Orgeron) was brought back to make sure Lane Kiffin isn't Brian Kelly 2.0. Not just for recruiting but from a cultural aspect."
No. You don’t need Ed O to coach X’s & O’s in Baton Rouge right now. Ed O was brought back to make sure Lane Kiffin isn’t Brian Kelly 2.0.
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) May 21, 2026
Not just for recruiting but from a cultural aspect. https://t.co/jTUYbVmqaM
Agree or disagree with Fehoko, he definitely hits the nail on the head for that last part, in regard to the contrast between Kelly and Orgeron, at least. As for where Kiffin stands on fitting the LSU culture, that's a bit more polarizing. Kiffin truly is his own bird and brings a sort of culture and vibe of his own. To say he's the perfect fit for any one place can't exactly be said.
Shortly after his hiring, some claimed LSU was the perfect landing spot for Kiffin's personality, while others thought he simply took the job to climb the ladder at any and all costs.
Lane Kiffin and LSU bring former Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron back into the fold
Kiffin made a hire that everyone in Baton Rouge loved, bringing back former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron as a special assistant to recruiting and defense. Fans received the move well, with Kiffin earning a lot of praise for bringing back a Louisiana native who embodies everything about the state's culture. The only complaint was that some fans argued he should have been brought back in a larger capacity, and that the team needs his energy on the sidelines every game day.
Kiffin expressed his excitement to have Orgeron back in Baton Rouge, after the time they spent together on the same staff at USC and Tennessee. The two also saw time in the same capacities at Ole Miss, though at different times.
“He brings us tremendous value with his ability to recruit elite players nationally, but especially the impact he can have for us recruiting the great state of Louisiana," Kiffin said in a statement shortly after Orgeron's hire was announced. "Coach O understands my expectations and commitment to being a championship program. I look forward to seeing him with recruits and his intensity working with our defensive players.”
This position marks Orgeron's first in football since he was fired by LSU in 2021 after six seasons in a run that included LSU's legendary national title team. Between Kiffin's status as "The Portal King" and Orgeron's ability to recruit one of the best teams in college football history, what they put together in Baton Rouge in the coming seasons could be very special.
Add us as a preferred source on Google