Tag: Scott Woodward

LSU Morning Rush: LSU-Alabama viewer numbers, coaching carousel updates

Coaching carousel and viewership notes from LSU-Alabama.

The top stories from around the web involve the LSU Tigers from Yahoo Sports and ESPN. Pete Thamel gives you one name to watch as the Tigers chase down their next head coach. Not to be outdone by a report breaking down how many fans tuned into the LSU-Alabama showdown in Tuscaloosa.

No. 1 target identified by Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports

C. Morgan Engel-USA TODAY Sports

What Thamel Says…

The LSU job is the most attractive on the market. And that’s not expected to change, regardless of any other movement. Until another coach is walked to the podium at the news conference by athletic director Scott Woodward, it’s safe to project Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher as the target here. That’s always been Woodward’s dream candidate, and his history of paying historic amounts for Fisher is the best empirical evidence of that desire. Who from there? The names are all familiar – James Franklin, Luke Fickell, Dave Aranda, Lane Kiffin and Mel Tucker. If it’s not Fisher, the name will be big and the price tag expensive. Expect the LSU-Texas A&M game to end the season in Baton Rouge to be a quintessential SEC spectacle. – Pete Thamel on LSU and Jimbo Fisher

That goes differently than what Dennis Dodd recently said about who he thinks LSU should and will hire.

LSU-Alabama game is the most-watched game since…LSU-Alabama in 2019

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

According to a press release from ESPN, the LSU-Alabama matchup was the most-watched game since these two teams met in 2019.

The most-watched game of the weekend on ESPN networks was LSU at Alabama (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), averaging 5 million viewers – the most-viewed college football game on cable this year. The primetime presentation was the top game in Week 10 among key male and adult demos (18-34, 18-49, 25-54). The audience was up 18 percent from the same matchup in 2020 and peaked with 6 million viewers from 10-10:15 p.m. in the final minutes of the game.

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Could LSU still go after Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher?

“Scott Woodward is not giving up”

As soon as the rumblings started with the job security of Ed Orgeron, eyes immediately looked to the west. More specifically to College Station and former LSU assistant Jimbo Fisher.

Of course, there is history with Fisher and LSU, he was the offensive coordinator for the national championship team under Nick Saban. He also has ties with current athletic director Scott Woodward, who brought him to Texas A&M from Florida State.

It is quite simple to connect the dots here. Given the huge extension that Fisher just received, is it still possible for it to transpire? There is no buyout clause with the Aggies, but Texas A&M certainly has the backing to money whip any deal that LSU and Woodward bring to the table. Fox Sports analyst and The Athletic insider Bruce Feldman still believes that Fisher is in play.

“From what I’m hearing from people around LSU is that Scott Woodward is not giving up easily. And he feels like he may be able to pull Jimbo Fisher again even though the A&M people are like ‘no, that’s not happening.’ So we’ll see how that plays out.” via On3 Sports

Fisher has already refuted any rumors. “I love it here,” Fisher said. “I plan on being here and fulfilling my contract. I love everything about this place. I love being at A&M.” Put that down as a nondenial denial.

Feldman also mentions Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker, a name we have hit on repeatedly. Seems pretty clear that Woodward and the administration are looking at coaches with ties to Alabama’s Nick Saban. That could eliminate several candidates if that is indeed the case. Or it could just be a case of coincidence.

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If the decision-makers at LSU are looking for a tie-in with Saban, don’t forget to look to the Pacific Northwest with Mario Cristobal from Orgeron. He knows the SEC, has ties to Saban, and he is an elite recruiter.  As the month of November moves on, we should get a clearer picture of who is actually in play.

My gut tells me it won’t be Fisher, but it is a wait-and-see scenario at this point.

Eye of the Tiger: Coaching candidates take center stage this weekend

No LSU game this weekend, but who could you be watching for the future of the program?

There is no college football this weekend as far as the LSU Tigers are concerned. Both LSU and Alabama have an open week before they face off next Saturday. However, there is no shortage of storylines to follow this weekend.

Current head coach Ed Orgeron stated that he will be watching his son play this weekend, meanwhile, AD Scott Woodward should be watching other games.

We have discussed at length about the potential list of candidates for the LSU coach job as the offseason grows closer by the day. Here we look at which candidates will be on the sidelines this weekend as week nine of college football gets underway.

Should LSU and Scott Woodward entertain a Group of Five candidate?

At least it would be worth kicking the tires on.

By now you have seen the list of potential head coach candidates ranging from Penn State’s James Franklin to Michigan State’s Mel Tucker to Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin. There are no shortage of candidates that could replace Ed Orgeron when the season kicks off in 2022.

The idea of going big game hunting for the next head coach comes from Scott Woodward’s history as an athletic director. What about a non-Power Five head coach? Yes Luke Fickell should be under strong consideration for the job given what he has accomplished at Cincinnati, but that isn’t the name we will focus on here.

Just down the road in Lafayette, Louisiana, you have Billy Napier. The former Furman quarterback has coached at plenty of big-name schools including Clemson, Alabama, and Arizona State. Napier got his first shot as a head coach with the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2018. Since that time he has amassed a record of 34-12 and 2-1 in bowl games.

Napier is a head coach that has been on the radar for a head coaching gig. He has turned down jobs that plenty of people would love to have. For instance, he turned down Auburn just last year when they looked to replace Gus Malzahn. Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee all looked at Napier but they weren’t able to get him out of Lafayette. Could LSU be a different story altogether?

In the state of Louisiana, Napier is a well-respected head coach. It might not be a flashy hire that we are expecting them to make, but Napier should get a phone call. He knows the landscape in Louisiana and has been on the radar of multiple SEC schools.

After a 7-7 start to his coaching career, Napier has a combined 27-5 record since. Also posting an 18-2 conference record.

Jimbo Fisher responds to being linked to the LSU job

Jimbo Fisher is ‘happy’ where he is.

Once the news was official that LSU would be in the market for a new head coach, current Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher’s name was among the top names listed.

Fisher spent time on the LSU staff under Nick Saban and Les Miles before taking over the Florida State Seminoles program, where he won a national championship. He also has ties to current athletic director Scott Woodward, who brought Fisher to A&M.

On Monday, Fisher was asked about being linked to the Tigers head coaching job, denying any interest in the job. Fisher stated that he and Woodward are friends but nothing more to any conversations with the AD.

“There’s nothing going on there. There’s nothing happening there”

Fisher is coming off a monster victory over his former boss Nick Saban and Alabama two weeks ago. This past Saturday the Aggies defeated Missouri, 35-14. This is likely not the last you will hear of Fisher and LSU being linked. It is early on in the process and the leadership group will likely do all of their homework on any prospective candidates for the job.

LSU travels to Ole Miss on Saturday for an SEC West showdown with another likely candidate, Lane Kiffin.

What Ed Orgeron said during his press conference Sunday night

What Ed Orgeron said during Sunday’s meeting with reporters.

The LSU Tigers called a press conference on Sunday night following the news that Ed Orgeron would no longer be the head coach following the season. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger broke the news on Sunday afternoon.

The head coach that led the Tigers to the 2019 national championship has been under fire for the better part of the last two seasons. It felt that a move was inevitable, a matter of when not if a move would be made. That became clear following the embarrassing loss to Kentucky.

The LSU leadership made it public and they will begin their search for the next head coach of the Tigers.

Ed Orgeron released the following statement through the LSU Football social media channels:

DEAR TIGER NATION:

Five years ago, I fulfilled a lifelong dream and returned to LSU to lead the Tigers into Death Valley. I have loved LSU since I first touched a football in Lafourche Parish in the late 1960s. I loved the Tigers when I enrolled as a freshman defensive lineman in 1979. I loved the Tigers when I left to continue my playing career elsewhere, and I loved them every step of my professional journey — even from far away — as my career took me across America until I returned 35 years later.

My love for LSU has only strengthened over the past five years. All I wanted to do when I accepted the position as head coach in 2016 was to build a championship program and make the state of Louisiana proud. With the hard work and support of talented players, loyal assistants, dedicated staff, and the most passionate fans in college football, we did just that in 2019.

I have always understood the expectations at LSU, and they are the same expectations I have for myself and our staff. I am disappointed that we have not met these expectations over the past two years. Thank you to the entire LSU family for the opportunity to coach one of the greatest college football teams of all-time. I’ll continue to fight, as will our team, throughout the rest of the season.

Geaux Tigers,

ED ORGERON

We have collected some of the quotes from Orgeron’s press conference with Scott Woodward.

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LSU and head coach Ed Orgeron reach separation agreement

Ed Orgeron will leave LSU following the season.

After so much discussion revolving around head coach Ed Orgeron and his job status, he won’t return to the school in 2022. SI’s Ross Dellenger reported the move on Sunday morning.

According to the report, negotiations began before the huge win over the Florida Gators. He will finish out the year as the head coach of the LSU Tigers and will step away after the season. It appears to be a mutual agreement with Orgeron understanding the expectation level with the Tigers.

With the news now public, athletic director Scott Woodward will begin the head coaching search for LSU. Many have speculated that the top target for the school will be Penn State head coach James Franklin. He is no stranger to the SEC having led Vanderbilt to two consecutive nine-win seasons before leaving for Happy Valley.

Another name brought up on Saturday morning by Bruce Feldman was Mel Tucker of Michigan State. He served under Nick Saban and is no stranger to LSU. Tucker served as the defensive backs coach for the Tigers in 2000.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they are made available.

Lincoln Riley, Mario Cristobal named among ESPN’s LSU head coach “wishlist”

Well, wouldn’t that be something.

Earlier this week, I put out a list of coaches that could get a look once the brass at LSU decides to move on from head coach Ed Orgeron. While we were just spitballing some names, there are three that I do hear more often than not. The top being Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss, James Franklin of Penn State, and Luke Fickell of Cincinnati.

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN (subscription required) put together a list of “home run” hires for the Tigers. Among them are some very heavy hitters, we will focus on a couple. We know the history of LSU AD Scott Woodward and Jimbo Fisher, so let’s skip that name.

The biggest head-scratcher from Rittenberg is Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley.

Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley might be an unrealistic target, but Woodward could still gauge his interest. The Sooners are SEC-bound and could face a rocky transition. Riley is considered the nation’s premier quarterback developer and offensive playcaller, two areas in which LSU has been lacking except in 2019. While Riley is extremely loyal to OU, he also might have a ceiling when it comes to winning national championships, which wouldn’t be there in Baton Rouge.

Rittenberg also mentioned Mark Stoops who just beat LSU at their own game just a few days ago. Or how about Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy? Gundy took over as the Oklahoma State head coach when Les Miles bolted for LSU following the Nick Saban departure. Not exactly a sexy pick, but you can understand the reasoning.

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How about Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal?

Oregon’s Mario Cristobal would be one. Cristobal is one of the nation’s best and most relentless recruiters, and has built a top-10 program aiming for its third consecutive Pac-12 title and its first College Football Playoff appearance since 2014. Although the Ducks should be even better next year, Cristobal could be intrigued by the SEC, where he coached under Saban at Alabama, and a Tier 1 job with no recruiting limitations such as LSU. He wouldn’t be cheap, and his buyout to leave Oregon is $9 million until Jan. 14, 2022. But money isn’t going to stop Woodward and LSU, as any coaching transaction will total in the tens of millions.

One should believe that Cristobal is more believable than Riley. While Riley has Oklahoma in a very good spot, the pressure as the Sooners head coach isn’t near what he would face at LSU. Cristobal has already served under Nick Saban and knows what it takes in the vaunted SEC.

Either way, this coaching search is likely to be huge.

Roundtable Discussion: When does LSU make a move at head coach

When could a change be made at LSU?

The loss to UCLA was a humbling experience for this football team. Changes to the entire staff essentially and the returning talent had many believing that 2020 was the aberration. Turns out that 2019 was the glitch in the matrix for head coach Ed Orgeron.

There is no Joe Burrow and Joe Brady to save the head coach this time. The upcoming schedule is absolutely brutal with Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas A&M all ranked in the top 25 of the coaches poll. The only unranked team remaining on the schedule is UL-Monroe. That might be the only win left on the schedule. At least on paper, we could get a surprise win or two.

We have gone from a national championship team to a squad that is struggling to get bowl eligible. How the mighty have fallen. Everything going wrong for LSU falls at the feet of the head coach, Ed Orgeron. A team can’t stop the bleeding on defense with an offense with zero continuity and zero identity.

It has become a matter of when not if that LSU makes a change at head coach. The LSU Tigers Wire staff answers the question of when.

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Potential targets for the LSU Tigers at head coach

Looking ahead after Saturday’s game, could LSU look to make a change with any of the guys on this list?

No, the LSU Tigers have not moved on from Ed Orgeron as the head coach. However, one can’t possibly think it is anything but a foregone conclusion at this point.

The Tigers went on the road to Lexington, Kentucky, and lost a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Looking at the schedule, every remaining team has a winning record with the exception of UL-Monroe. It isn’t looking too grand for the LSU football program. The remaining opponents have a combined 23-11 record.

It is very likely following the upset win by Texas A&M, all but ULM will be in the top 25 when the polls are released on Sunday morning. It is also likely that LSU will not be favored by win probability metrics in any game except the nonconference finale in late November.

Here is how the upcoming schedule breaks down:

Opponent Wins Losses
vs Florida 4 2
at Ole Miss 4 1
at Alabama 5 1
vs Arkansas 4 2
vs UL-Monroe 2 3
vs Texas A&M 4 2

Sitting at 3-3, it is hard to fathom the Tigers will win more than a couple of these games. Anything is possible, but with another dreadful performance, faith is wearing thin. It seems 5-7 or 6-6 might be the ceiling. It isn’t just the record but how this team has looked in the past 16 games that make many believe that Orgeron is likely done in Baton Rouge.

The team last year had many people thinking he might be one and done after winning the title in 2019. He wiped the staff clean, and here we are halfway through the season at 3-3.

We compiled a list of potential targets for the LSU Tigers and athletic director Scott Woodward.