Ed Orgeron’s tenure with LSU football was complicated. The man led the Tigers to a national title and built the best team in college football history. Less than two years later, he was out of a job.
Orgeron let the program slip away in his final two years. Poor assistant hires and a pandemic created a rough 2020. Ja’Marr Chase opted out and Bo Pelini’s defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed.
In 2021, there was renewed hope. 2020 was a blip on the radar and LSU would get back to its winning ways.
A season-opening loss to UCLA quickly killed that vibe and Ed Orgeron and LSU agreed to part ways in October. Orgeron finished the year and went out with a win over Texas A&M.
Three years have passed and Orgeron has been absent around LSU. A fired head coach doesn’t hang around the program that let him go, even if he is the native son.
It’s time to bring him back. Orgeron should be College Gameday’s guest picker when the show heads to Baton Rouge for LSU’s meeting with Alabama in week 11.
The awkwardness from Orgeron’s tenure has faded. His legacy is that of a national title winning head coach. And with Nick Saban back too, there’s already one former title-winning head LSU coach on the set.
Orgeron and LSU had a weird ending. Much of it played out in public, only adding to the problems. But that 2019 team was special and it belonged to Coach O.
Nearly every component from that 2020 team has gotten their flowers, now it’s O’s turn.
The Gameday crowd with Orgeron on set would be electric. That’s the effect Gameday should have on campus.
Whether or not Orgeron is comfortable with it, that’s another thing. But LSU and Orgeron can benefit from a mutual relationship. He’s Louisiana football through and through and big game days such as this one are a celebration of the sport within the state.
That makes Orgeron the perfect fit.