LSU is out of its frontrunner spot as the SEC’s representative in the Sugar Bowl, and Ed Orgeron might be out of a job in Baton Rouge.
The No. 16 Tigers lost two key fumbles in their 16-10 loss to No. 23 Florida, which came down to the final play of the game. LSU faced fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with three seconds left, but sophomore running back Derrius Guice was unable to punch in a toss play.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 6-4 and 4-3 in SEC play while severely damaging Orgeron’s bid to have his interim tag removed after the season. Even with the game rescheduled in Baton Rouge against a banged-up Gators squad, LSU wasn’t able to keep its push toward a premier bowl going.
Here’s what Orgeron said after the stunning loss:
Coach O: "Tough battle. Came up short. Our guys fought hard to the end … shot ourselves in the foot." #LSU
— James Moran (@SmartestMoran) November 19, 2016
Orgeron: "Probably the worst we've played since we started the new season…had a chance at the end." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers) November 19, 2016
O on last play: “Just came down to execution. We didn’t execute.” #LSU
— Christian Boutwell (@byCBoutwell) November 19, 2016
Orgeron: "Poor red zone play." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
Orgeron on Fournette: "Game time decision. He wanted to play." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers) November 19, 2016
Coach O says Leonard Fournette came to him before the game and said he wanted to play. "Obviously he wasn't full speed." #LSU
— James Moran (@SmartestMoran) November 19, 2016
Coach O: We didn't put them away when we had chances to do it. #LSU
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) November 19, 2016
Orgeron on Beckwith: "Obviously, we missed him." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
Orgeron on the last play: "We had a little short toss and the back went the wrong way. Made a good effort." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers) November 19, 2016
Orgeron on the #Gators 98-yard touchdown: "We got beat." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers) November 19, 2016
Orgeron: "We emphasized tackling all week. Missing Kendall in there hurt is a little bit." #LSU
— JT (@ThatDamnJosh_) November 19, 2016
O: "We weren't clicking on all cylinders and it showed." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
O on fracas before the game: "Wasn't out there. That's not the way the game is won." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
O asked about the report that Fournette wanted to play because of the shoving match.
"He didn't say that to me." #LSU
— James Moran (@SmartestMoran) November 19, 2016
Orgeron on talk of a potential Sugar Bowl berth: "Nothing was mentioned in our room about that." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers) November 19, 2016
O on special teams: “We didn’t play very well tonight there … We have athletes, we should be better in that area.” #LSU
— Christian Boutwell (@byCBoutwell) November 19, 2016
O on last march: "That fourth down play was a hell of a play. Hell of a call by coach Ensminger." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
O on goal line: "Maybe we should have spread it out a little bit. … We thought we could run it in." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 19, 2016
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
