LSU's staff was gutted, but this will serve as another reminder that Ed Orgeron is elite now
Is it OK to prematurely hate a take? Asking for a friend.
When word came out Thursday that Dave Aranda was leaving LSU to become the head coach at Baylor, I put the pieces together. Add that on top of losing offensive wunderkind Joe Brady and soon enough, the take quake is going to be out there.
“Well now we’ll really see if Ed Orgeron knows what he’s doing.”
With all due respect to anyone who has or will voice that opinion, you’re wrong if that’s your take now or 7 months from now.
You don’t go 15-0 with arguably the best season of all-time with a head coach who is still figuring things out. You can bet there are still somehow Orgeron skeptics waiting to pounce the second he loses a game for the first time since the 2018 regular season finale that inexplicably gave us 7 overtimes against Texas A&M.
Orgeron knows what he’s doing. That’ll be true even if LSU goes 9-3 next year without the aforementioned Aranda and Brady.
If anything, 2020 should serve as a reminder that Orgeron is an elite coach now. With Aranda’s departure, that means none of the top assistants who were on staff when Orgeron shed the interim tag after the 2016 season are there anymore. Perhaps now it can be universally appreciated just how far Orgeron has come and how focused he keeps his team.
It’s funny because that’s the very thing we praised Nick Saban’s team for throughout Alabama’s decade of dominance. Great coaches don’t let their teams take anyone lightly (Saban hasn’t lost to a non-top 15 team since 2010).
Remember when LSU lost to Troy and Orgeron was on the hot seat a month into his first season as the full-time coach?
Looks like we forgot to throw Ed Orgeron on the SEC hot seat too.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) October 1, 2017
LSU is 31-5 since then. Orgeron said it was the turning point of the program.
In case you were wondering, all 5 of those losses came to teams that finished the season ranked. And 12 (!) of those wins came against teams who were ranked in the top 10 at the time that they played. Even without Aranda and Brady, I’m not betting against the Tigers to continue to rack up quality wins.
(For those wondering about what the offense will look like now that Brady is gone, think Alabama post-Lane Kiffin. The system stayed after Kiffin went to FAU. Saban made sure that any coordinator who came to Alabama knew that they were going to run some variation of the spread with Kiffin’s concepts. In other words, no, LSU isn’t about to go back to running the I-formation.)
But sure, the second LSU doesn’t look like an all-time great team next year, it’ll somehow come back to Orgeron and his new-look staff.
The thing that skeptics dismiss about Orgeron is how good he is as a talent evaluator. That’s true of how he sees both players and coaches. The under-the-radar moves he made that were key parts of LSU doing what it did was keeping longtime strength coach Tommy Moffitt on board, as well as the decision to pivot to Steve Ensminger after the Matt Canada experiment failed.
One thing Orgeron also does much better at this stage in his career than he did at Ole Miss is check his ego at the door. LSU has benefitted and will continue to benefit from that. The ability to pay assistants like Aranda top dollar only happens because Orgeron is content not making money of a top-10 coach, even though he clearly proved he should. It’s one thing for a coach to say “he truly wants what’s best for his program.” It’s another when a coach says that and he leaves millions of dollars on the table so that he can truly better his program.
LSU, if it continues to win, is going to cycle through top assistants on a yearly basis. That’s what elite programs like Alabama and Ohio State deal with on an annual basis. It’s the ultimate sign that your program is a well-oiled machine. Orgeron is operating a well-oiled machine right now. There’s no question about that.
Players want to play for him, and coaches want to coach for him. If that wasn’t the case, someone like Aranda would have left years ago.
Speaking of Aranda, his contract has always been part of the reason that perhaps Orgeron didn’t get credit for being an elite coach. When you pay a coordinator $2.5 million a year to coach the same side of the ball where your head coach’s expertise is, yeah, it sends the message that one person is handling the Xs and Os while the other is more of a figure head. It’s different than Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables getting paid $11.6 million over 5 years because Dabo Swinney is an offensive-minded guy.
But it’s easy to forget that Tony Elliott did most of the offensive play-calling for Clemson, and that Ryan Day did that for Urban Meyer in 2018. Even stubborn Jim Harbaugh turned complete control of the offense over to Josh Gattis. It’s about what works for a program.
Orgeron knows what works at LSU. Clearly. It shouldn’t take away from who he is as a coach just because he isn’t back there calling defensive plays like Saban.
And here’s the other thing that’s not going to be talked about in the wake of LSU losing Brady and Aranda — LSU’s recruiting isn’t going to take a hit. Like, at all. As great as those assistants were, Orgeron is going to continue to crank out top 5 classes. That’s what great coaches at great programs are supposed to do.
The goal now is to consistently rack up top 10 finishes (and not go 8 years between wins against Alabama). Not since the first 3 years of the Les Miles era did the Tigers earn 3 consecutive top 10 finishes. That was the first and only time that happened at LSU.
That’s in play for 2020. Orgeron can and will avoid the post-2007 championship season that yielded an 8-5 record and a finish outside of the Associated Press Top 25.
It’s a new era in Baton Rouge. A new chapter of Orgeron’s journey is ahead. Some will tell you that losing those assistants will send him and LSU back to reality. Are they tough losses? Absolutely.
Will they halt the freight train that is Orgeron and the Tigers? Absolutely not.
LSU was middle of the pack until Brady. And the defense has gone down from that dominate style they use to play, much like Alabama. LSU has done their best to replicate Alabama, with success this year.
We will see if they can maintain. My best guess is no.
Your hope is no. You aren’t fooling anyone. The middle is the pack nonsense just means you have no credibility.
In the SEC West. Sorry I wasn’t clear. And credibility is in the eye of the beholder. You don’t like hearing things you don’t agree with, so you attack people’s “credibility”. Symptom of today’s society. I expect that here on this site.
When has LSU been middle of the pack? One team in the country has more NC’s than LSU this century. No one has more consecutive winning seasons. The middle of the pack nonsense is what hurts your credibility.
I am willing to go on record that LSU loses to Bama, Auburn, and possibly aTm next year. That is middle of the pack in the SEC West.
3 years ago, when you lost to Troy, middle of the pack in the SEC West.
Is this really difficult?
More nonsense and reaching. Even that season, LSU was 6-2 in the SEC, which was one game out of first place in the SEC West. Keep trying to discredit us. You’re failing miserably so far, but you do it with such confidence it’s comical.
So, by your logic Alabama is the middle of the pack in the SEC West, correct?
Is this really difficult?
Also, your are using you’re prospective record to assess their ranking in the SEC. that’s pretty ridiculous. why should anyone care what you go an record with?
You’re original statement was that they were middle of the pack prior to Brady and that is clearly an inaccurate statement. If you can’t even properly assess previous seasons, you probably shouldn’t make a habit of projecting future ones.
take your “middle of the pack” Tide team and go somewhere else with that nonsense.
He is wrong. Since 2012 (the year after LSU’s previous great year), no SEC team has a better overall record than LSU other than Alabama and Georgia
Absolutely Alabama was middle of the pack in 2019. Now you are getting it.
Chizik 2.0. Be ready fellas.
Rolltide. This article was written specifically for people like you. I guess you don’t believe it. No surprise I guess, coming from a bama fan. When Orgeron was hired, I think about 50% of the LSU fanbase (and everyone else) hated it. They’ve finally seen the light and can’t argue it any longer. But there are still some fans of other programs who haven’t followed the story as closely who don’t believe in Orgeron, especially Bama fans. TBH it sounds like losing to LSU this year hurt bama fans’s feelings, because immediately after they started claiming LSU was a one year team – sound familiar? Go back and read the article again, because clearly he sees what happening without a fan bias.
Seen what light. The glow from one great season. Maybe LSU fans are good with one NC a decade. Do you buddy?
Danged right my hope is no. We already chasin’ Bama and them boys’s fast. Now we got Swamp Kitties to deal with too? Dang it!
You’re chasing way more than just Bama. I believe the Aggies have finished tied for second once in the West. That’s their best finish. You’re behind Alabama, Auburn, and LSU. Way behind.
They were a top 10 team last year before Brady. I’m not sure what your definition of middle of the pack is.
Well according to geuaxlong mediocrity is two losses or more…. How many did they lose last year?
He is wrong. Since 2012 (the year after LSU’s previous great year), no SEC team has a better overall record than LSU other than Alabama and Georgia
2nd place is first loser. Just saying. There are no points for second place.
I meant in the SEC West.
LSU is 38-10 against SEC West teams other than Bama over the last 10 seasons. When exactly were they middle of the pack? Maybe in 2014-2015. That’s about it.
Mold the stats to fit your narrative.
It’s literally everyone’s narrative. Except yours.
You have to first present stats in the first place before you even begin to mold them to fit a narrative, which is something you have consistently failed to do. If you think the stats I am presenting distort reality it should be pretty easy to refute with more appropriate stats of your own. The fact is that LSU does not have a losing record against any SEC West team for any period of time ending with 2018 or 2019. That’s not middle of the pack. You were just talking out of your backside and won’t own up to it now. You have zero to back up your statement. Zero.
Clarification: No losing records against SEC West teams other than Bama. Middle of the pack would imply playing basically even with everyone else. The facts say otherwise.
Its not even worth your time to even argue if you have nothing to back your narrative. Before the 2019 season, 24/7 sports came out with an article stating the top 10 winningest programs in the NCAA this decade. Only two SEC teams were on that list: Bama and LSU.
I have yet to ever hear anyone try and pitch LSU is middle of the pack. This isnt Talladega Nights.
LSU has been no higher than 3rd in the SEC until 2019, for like 8 years. Middle of the pack.
So 3rd out of 14 is the “middle”? LSU has won the West 6 of the last 19 years but we’re going to define the program by a dry spell in the middle of that period? That’s fine. We can limit it to the 7 years between conference titles. During the time LSU was 6-1 against A&M and 5-2 against the other 4 West teams besides Bama. No team finished ahead of LSU more than twice in that period and only 5 times total. LSU finished ahead of those teams 25 times total. Doesn’t sound like the “middle” to me.
If you aren’t first or Last, you are in the middle right?
Sorry, no. If you look up the definition of middle, it means being at an equal distance from the ends of something. LSU has not been at an equal distance from first and last and definitely not equidistant from first and last within the “pack”. They have been the leader of the pack chasing Bama.
Semantics. It you are not 1st, you are the first loser. Really reaching for the not Middle thing. If you are ok with not being first I guess you reach for anything positive.
Words have meaning. Everyone responding to your words in this thread understood you to be implying that LSU was just an average SEC West team before this season. Every response you made took the same condescending evaluation. It’s only now that it’s clear that LSU has not been average and, in fact, has been the second best SEC West program even in a down period that you are back pedaling and crying semantics. Do I want LSU to stay in down cycle? Of course not. I’m just not defining LSU’s program intentionally excluding their best seasons. In 9 seasons, LSU had one NC and 2 title game appearances. Only Bama and Clemson have more. That is who LSU is, not a middle of the pack program.
Ok
After observing this guy, it appears he makes some stuff up to make himself seem superior.
You stalking me? Observing me? Sounds creepy man.
Yeah pal, sleep with one eye open cause I got spies everywhere…no one is safe.
LOL. That’s awesome.
And what stuff have I made up to make myself seem superior. Maybe you just have an inferiority complex. I’ve never once said or acted as though I’m better than anyone. If you are going to throw out sensationalist claims against someone, back it up.
Dude, you’re a Bama Gump, we all know you’re not superior to anyone. Just in your head.
Change your name to reflect who you really are…”Moms Basement Tide Fan Boy”
Why do you have to go sling in the mud?
If you would like to take exception to something
I have said,then by all means. Lets have a discussion.
Otherwise shhhhhhhhh.
Hey do you really live in Colorado?
Why you want to take me to dinner or something? Man crush?
And no I don’t smoke that stuff. Too many government contracts.
that was a little aggressive. Yes I live in Colorado Springs. Well Peyton actually, out in the country.
Middle of the pack? What game are you watching? certainly not CFB.
Middle of the pack in the SEC West. Sorry, I should have made that clear.
I see this NC has really hurt Bama fans bc most of them has tried to discredit LSU every chance they get. You are pointing to his first year as a coach and a future season as to why you think LSu is middle of the pack when in reality LSU has finished 2nd or 3rd most seasons dating back to around 2000. With a few 1st place finishes and one 4th towards the end of Les Miles era. Please tell me where you get your info to determine “middle of the pack”
2nd is first loser.
I guess Bama was middle of the pack this year
*insert excuses*
-we had injuries
-LSU cheated
-Refs cost us the game
-It was a fluke
-Burrow is a grad transfer so it doesnt count
Alabama absolutely was middle of the pack this year. I have no problem admitting that. This team did not reach their goals. Rough stuff.
LSU was superior to everyone this year. Great season. ONE for the record books. Emphasis on ONE.
Nah, bama wasn’t middle of the pack this year. It may be been a little bit of a down year for them because of all the injuries, but they were in the conversation to the end. It’s hard to not take a step back when your QB goes down – you don’t have another Tua on the bench. But they certainly passed the eyeball test.
It takes ZERO intelligence to be a so called sports expert, or even a little ESPN wannabe, not sure what you’ll are so excited about at this point
BamaTime validates your statement everytime he makes a post.
That’s intellectually dishonest. They obviously have credentials at ESPN. Go apply for a job with any agency, I bet you don’t even get a Thanks for Applying email.
LSU, … middle of the pack? Dude, … come back when you have credible content.
Always attacking credibility. Triggered man. People attack when they are cornered. Bad look.
Good call on all of this. You were right about LSU…They were middle of the pack in 2018 and in 2020 with one good year in between. Also good call on picking LSU losing to Auburn, Bama, and Texas A&M in 2020. Looks like Orgeron may not be as “elite” as LSU fans were claiming.
LSU loses so many players and coaches that I think they may lose a few games and fall out of the top ten but that doesn’t mean Orgeron isn’t a top coach.
Top 10 coach? I’d agree with that.
Watch out for Leach coming in though. I’m very interested to see how he turns that program around.
He has a natty and 2 NY6 bowl wins. He’s top 5 right now for sure.
Wow. Top 5. seems ambitious. But let’s say he is, a top 5 coach wouldn’t skip a beat after losing what they just lost.
Let’s see if he was lucky, or is top 5.
Tell us who you think the top 5 are so we can judge whether they meet your criteria.
Of the current head coaches, who the heck is above him besides Dabo and Swinney? There are others who perhaps have equivalent resumes either because of earlier success (Smart & Riley) in their careers or past nattys (Mack Brown & Jimbo), but I mean…
Head coaching rankings change, just like the curren top teams. If Orgeron goes back to losing to Troy or something like that then my respect will probably wane like all of ours.
Dabo and Swiwney. Dang. Two headed monster. It takes more than one good year to establish a great coach. I think we can all agree on that.
You guys are right. Coach O is the second coming of Christ after one great year. He is on his way to passing The Bear and Saban, writing his name in the history books for greatest of all time. I’m way out of line here guys.
Godddang it, I meant Saban.
Can you at least provide your current top 5 list so we have an idea?
If Orgeron turns into a Chizik or Jimbo, then he’ll slip down all of our lists. Next season will tell a lot as to whether or not that’ll happen.
Top 5 is elite, and I think putting Coach O in the top 5 after one good year is a little dishonest.
I think the measurable criteria for Elite Coaching involves sustained success, recruiting ability, drafted players, and winning your division consistently, conference consistently, and championships consistently play a part as well.
And the things you can’t measure are important as well. Developing young men, how you conduct yourself and your programs.
Coach O is the perfect fit for LSU, that is why he got the job initially. Not because of his track record or his ability to lead a team. I think now he has proven he can do these things, and make the right hires. Let’s see if he can sustain that. That is what makes a top 5 elite coach.
I mean with your criteria RollTideCO, Coach O checks most of those boxes.
– Recruiting (yes)
– Staffing (yes)
– Developing young men (hard yes)
– Drafted players (yes)
– National Championship (done after 3 years of coaching, something Saban hasnt done)
I just dont understand why you cant say anything positive about an opposing team. You could simply say, “Coach O has done a great job so far, congrats on winning, cant wait for next year” and move on. Just by reading this site, Ive gained alot more respect from Florida, UGA, and Auburn fans and alot less for Bama fans because youre constantly discrediting anyones success. Sure Orgeron has to prove himself in the long run, but you just cannot stand the idea of LSU being competitive.
For God’s sake, NAME YOUR TOP 5.
I’ve said many times that Coach O is a great ambassador for LSU. I think he has a lot of character and the kids love to play for him. He is a players coach for sure. And I’ve also said many times that this was a historic season. What else can I say? No one can discredit this year. They whipped everyone. GREAT SEASON.
Now, looking to the future, it is my opinion that LSU will take a step back, and until Coach O can sustain success and be consistent, I can’t be to high on him. Give it time. Maybe he is the GOAT. But he can’t be after one great year.
TOP 5 Active?
Yes active top 5.
My Top 5:
1) Saban
2) Dabo
3) Kirby Smart
4) Orgeron
5) Mac Brown
Top 5 Active, based on the criteria we already set forth, and most importantly on consistently.
Saban
Dabo
Lincoln
Kirby
Chris Peterson
You can’t put a coach in the top % after one year of success. I just can’t do it. I would put Fisher before Coach O as well. I’d put James Franklin ahead of him as well. Look at the track record.
Peterson is gone but that’s actually a pretty good list. I guess I got caught up in the hype. I think I would rank him above Kirby to prevent jinxing.
Petersen went from 2 losses, to 3, to 4, to 5 and then out of the profession. He’s a very good coach, to be sure, but how is that any better than going from 4 losses to 3 to 0? Kirby is 36-7 over the last 3 seasons to 34-7 for O, including 0-2 against LSU with no NCs. Not sure I see a lot of difference in what the two have accomplished. Riley has made consecutive playoff appearances, only to get dismissed by the SEC every time. I could see the argument there. At the end of the day, I don’t necessarily disagree with your wait-and-see attitude toward Orgeron. I just don’t see too many current coaches beyond Saban and Swinney that have a long and/or consistent track record themselves.
I think Orgeron is in the top 5 of current, active head coaches right now, and just like everybody has a margin of error that would push him out if his production dips. Since he hasn’t been at LSU very long and he’s really only produced in a quality manner for 2 of his 6 head coaching seasons, his margin is smaller than Dabo or Saban’s.
I respect that take KirbySmart.
So, we can most assuredly say that Saban is a Top 5 coach. would you say that the Tide has “skipped a beat” this year? I would say so, for sure. that doesn’t mean that he isn’t still a great coach, but that he had some attrition that affected the team. An 11-2 record is still really good and if LSU goes 11-2 next year, it would not mean that O isn’t a great coach.
It’s ok man, people will talk about Bama again next year. I’ve noticed how much this season is killing Bama fans that they are not the center of attention and can’t talk crap. I’ve seen every other fan base give credit to LSU after this season as I would do the same. I would be just as happy for any other SEC not named Bama so I guess maybe I understand.
Absolutely the Tide skipped a beat. I’m absolutely holding onto to the fact that Saban has found a way to get back to winning after a down year.
Saban has proven when everyone thinks Alabama is done, the run is over, the dynasty is gone, then he wins another one. It is foolish to expect otherwise.
We don’t know what the future holds.
Coach O is no doubt a great coach. He’ll been elite once he’s shown he can successfully weather coaching turnover on a consistent basis. Calling him elite at this point is a tad premature.
*He’ll be
Yeah I can agree with that. I wouldnt call him elite just yet. Im still impressed in what he’s been able to do in 3 years though. Les’ NC will forever be remembered as the one that was won with Saban’s players. I believe Coach O’s teams will have more dramatic hot and cold seasons depending on his staff.
Delusional Bummer fans think that O won the NC with Saban’s players.
Gotta agree with that. Luv me some coach O. But even as an LSU fan, I believe coach O must put up a few years more of consistency before we reference him as elite. With that said, I can see it very possibly come to fruition.
I agree. He’s not on the level of Saban or Swinney, but maybe one day he will. He has to sustain it first. But I feel confident, because he made all the right moves to get LSU to the top this year. As the article mentions, this isn’t luck.
…but it does take a little luck to run the gauntlet of the SEC-W
The greatest hinderance for our program the last decade has been the archaic offensive philosophy and the kindred implications (difficulty both attracting and developing good quarterback play). Even then, on shear talent alone, we’ve won 3 national championships in the past 20 years and not won less than 8 games a year. Nonetheless, it’s clear we’ve forged a new, bold offensive identity and that’s the key to moving forward. Replicating 2019, not only next year but any year, is perhaps wishful thinking, but finishing in the top ten consistently and often contending for conference and national championships is a reasonable expectation.
Given all the talent they are losing, it looks like “one and done” for LSU. Looking at their 2020 schedule, it is not inconceivable for them to lose at least three games next season.
Other teams fans love to use the term “one and done” as if LSU were some program without any past success that will disappear to never be heard from again. What is your definition of “one and done”? Does that mean they won’t win the NC next year? Does it mean they will never win another NC? Does it mean they will never make it back to the playoffs? Winning back to back rarely happens regardless of how many players and coaches come back following a NC. They are recruiting at a top 5 level so as long as that continues they aren’t falling off the map. Replicating last year is obviously not realistic. This was possibly the best offense in CFB history and one of the best seasons in history.
Agree.
I get it. Defend your team. Let’s see how he deals with what Saban has dealt with for years. Then we can call a spade a spade. Let’s see how 2020 goes.
Last time I checked pretty much everyone on here is defending their team. All I’m asking is for the definition of “one and done”. It is obviously meant as a derogatory term. So in your mind 2020 will define the program? LSU has dealt with more juniors leaving than Bama recently. I would argue that one of Saban’s biggest strengths is convincing juniors to stay. Bama has had more turnover of staff but LSU has had its fair share of staff turnover also.
The vast majority of the talent they lost was on the defensive side of the ball. the same people who are saying “one and done” are the say guys who said “LSU’s defense is trash”. Well, if they had a trash defense what does it matter of they lost 6 underclassman on defense. clearly offense wins championships now, right?
They will not be as good in 2020 as they were in 2019, but NOT team Ever has been that good, so…. LSU will still have an elite offense. They still have the best receiver in football and several really good WR’s with him. They still have 3 RBs who would start for almost every team in the country. They still have an elite 11 QB who has studied under JB for 2 years. They have the highest rated TE ever coming in. They still have a top-5 Db who will be a So next year. They still have a great D-line that will have more experience and will be stronger than ever.
really, the only two areas that are a concern with this year’s losses are the O-line (but they do have some experience coming back) and the LBs (that is an uncertainty for sure, but they have some talent on the squad that could fill the gaps there…see Jacoby Stevens)
Will they go 15-0 and win another Naty next year? probably not. Will they be a strong team and compete in the SEC? Most assuredly!
Very long post to show you are a LSU fan who either doesn’t know football or their team. Losing your Heisman winning QB and replacing him with an inexperienced QB is great! Lost 3 of 4 best receivers/TE but one is coming back and there is a true freshman. Lost the DC and the person who oversaw your offensive explosion. No problem. Everybody coming back is better than those we lost.
Lost 3 of 4 best receivers? Huh? Name them. Given that Chase and Marshall are returning, DarthA’s credibility is thin. LSUZach is posting with knowledge and facts.
Uhhh, Burrow and Brady are gone. I’d say that was a majority of the talent on the offensive side of the ball. To suggest that it’s all defense is absurd. Not to mention that replacing Burrow is not only extremely difficult, but you have only one option (Brennan) is also not good.
LSU fans don’t like hearing something they don’t agree with. It really messes with their minds. Better watch yourself.
Kinda like how you hate hearing all this talk about LSU and not Bama. It’s killing you huh? All you can talk about is, just wait until they fail, etc.
Talk about whoever you want to man. It is an Open Forum. When I created my account, I missed your rule book.
I don’t care about someone who discredits LSU with good points. Don’t care for those who bring up the ole miss job about Coach O. He obviously learned from his mistakes. And I also would like to see how he handles 2020, but i don’t agree that this is a “one and done” team.
We will see man. Everyone keeps skipping over that I’ve said I hope LSU is good next year. A Strong LSU is good for our division. And it makes November interesting.
Frankly I push for success in all SEC programs because it’s alot more enjoyable watching good competitive games than watching us dog walk San Bernidino Valley Community College.
Yes they could lose 3 games. Then again, who saw this last season coming? That’s why they play the games.
He and the team will be fine. We recruit well and more important than coaching is that the right culture is in place. The schedule looks promising as well for another double-digit win season.
I think duplication of success is necessary for use of the term “elite”. I mean, Auburn went 14-0 behind a generational quarterback, but no one ever considered Gene Chizik “elite”.
And that in no way diminishes the incredible season LSU had, nor my enormous admiration of it. I just think writers—or anyone with an opinion on the matter—sometimes tend to get caught up in the moment.
2 consecutive top-10 seasons is considered “duplication of success”, I would say.
But there was staff and roster continuity. The real test will be going forward.
And there is still roster and staff continuity. There will always be some continuity and some attrition. That is the way CFB is.
No all annual attrition is equal and continuity from one year to the next is always in flux. The turnover after 2019 is unprecedented in Coach O’s time as HC of LSU.
That’s true. Next year will be tougher. Lets see how it plays out.
It will be a wait and see game. Coach O had a great year but so did Gene Chizik and Jimbo Fisher. Losing an elite QB who improved a talented team is hard to replace.
“Even stubborn Jim Harbaugh turned complete control of the offense over to Josh Gattis. It’s about what works for a program.”
Lol, as if anything Jim Harbaugh has done “worked” for Michigan.
I lived in Ann Arbor for awhile recently. Jim Harbaugh walks on water there. They love everything about the man.
I think he’s a great coach. Hopefully he can find some good people to fill the voids in the coaching staff.
LSU fans are probably thinking, “Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated”. Mark Twain.
Almost every year The Bama vs LSU becomes “the game” to decide the West. Granted LSU success as not been great but in most years the teams are equal minus the QBs Tide has had (Tua and Hurts).
Alabama fans upset that the “Best Team Ever” has forever stolen the Bama shine…that started fading after getting hammered by Clemson
Right? It seems as if all the Bama fans are showing up on all the LSU articles trying to discredit this season by looking to the future hoping they fail going forward. Face it, LSU did what they couldn’t and the days of circling the Bama game as an almost definite loss are over with. Not saying we are going to win every one, but there is definitely a shift. I think it’s great for the division. Hell, Maybe Kiffin and Leach can shake things up even more going forward.
Curious how a few loud Bama fans equals ALL Bama fans. The Bama fan base doesn’t have a patent on obnoxiousness. Plenty of the posts here from LSU fans proves that. I for one like Coach O and respect his work. I for one have congratulated many LSU fans for their fantastic season.
That’s just the way it goes on here. One fan gets nominated to represent the entire fan base across the nation. UGA gets Corch, you get “this” guy. BTW, you don’t get a vote.
I appreciate the respect. Sometimes the few who speak the most tend to overshadow the silent majority. I enjoy the rivalry.
Thanks for the classy post. You’re right. I’ve always been impressed with Saban’s bama teams and have not been shy saying so. Just because I’m LSU doesn’t mean I can’t be objective. But it’s like you say with every fanbase – there’s always a few obnoxious fans from every fanbase that gives everyone a bad name. That said, the rest of us tend to refer to them in general. It’s because they’re so annoying.
Equal to Bama yet took nearly a decade to beat Bama once? And you think one championship for LSU has “forever stolen the Bama shine”? Wow, it doesn’t take much to get a delusional LSU fan. Laughable.
I don’t know about “forever stolen the Bama shine” but it was, as you said, delusional. However, last year Clemson did take a lot off that Bama shine, FWIW.
9 – 1…That’s Alabama’s record against LSU over the last 10 games they’ve played each other (including a 55-17 thrashing in 2020). And most of Bama’s wins during that stretch have been woodshed beatings, including 3 shutouts. You can include the lone win in the last 10 meetings, and Bama has still outscored LSU 289-131. That’s more than just winning. That’s ownership.
Let’s just see what next year brings before we name any stadiums after the guy. He had a great year. His QB had a great year. Cannot take that away. But LSU has not consistently been elite year in and year out for multiple years the way Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State have. They have Florida and Auburn on the road ( although Auburn only cares about beating Alabama LOL) and I think Alabama will want big time revenge on LSU. I see them with one loss and maybe two in the regular season next year.
Clemson and Ohio State don’t play in the SEC (If they did they wouldn’t be in the playoffs almost anually and neither has more nattys in the last 20 years than LSU. I don’t see how you can say they are better than LSU. Now Bama has had more success and is always our biggest roadblock. If not for bama we would have 1-2 more nattys. O still does have a few years to prove himself, but with the talent that LSU brings in I don’t doubt he will average around 10 wins a season with some more trips to the playoffs splashed in. Geaux Tigers!
You don’t see how Clemson, Ohio St and Bama can be considered better than LSU? It’s simple, those teams have been to multiple playoffs and LSU just reached its first. It’s all about repeating success. Any team can rise up and have a great year, but the true test is replicating it.
Actually I do believe those programs are ahead of LSU. It’s obvious.
It’s simple math… LSU has 3 national championships this millennium. Those other better programs only have 2.
Yes I do believe theyre ahead of LSU but Rhettro has a point we can all agree on. The SEC is a prestigious conference. TAMU held Clemson to 24-10. Just imagine them having to play TAMU, Bama, Auburn, SEC-E (Florida/UGA), and LSU every season! No way they would have been undefeated going through the SEC gauntlet.
It’s alot easier to recruit top players when your path to the NC is a cake walk. The Big 10 and ACC have not been close to comparable to our conference in years.
It’s comments like this that make so many people angry when it comes to the SEC. Clemson and OSU have been very good since the playoff began. And the SEC has put 8 teams in the playoffs, and Bama has 2 rings, and LSU has one ring. Clemson and Ohio State…you know, the two teams you so easily dismiss because they don’t play in the SEC…have 3 rings combined (with OSU about to get another one on Monday).
“ You don’t go 15-0 with arguably the best season of all-time with a head coach who is still figuring things out.”
Let me preface this by saying I don’t believe this is Ed O, but I have two words for you…..
Gene. Chizik.
Well, you made the comment I was going to make. Auburn with Cam Newton was 14-0. Under Gene Chizik. And Auburn had a least one #1 recruiting class after their NC, which is not unusual.
LSU has always recruited well and will continue to. But the tipping point that made this season different was Joe Burrow.
Orgeron is 56 wins and 36 loses as a coach. It is what it is. His history of success and failure is just as real as any other coach with the same record. Reasons could be different but reasons will be different in the future as well. For whatever reasons LSU has had their share of talent come and go. As much as their fans would like to hope, it’s not a prediction of the future. It’s humorous that so many football fans can’t get the basic idea that every football game has a loser. After all is said, it really is “how you play the game” that matters. Some programs and communities are better at this than others. It’s not fair to discount LSU success too much but it’s also painfully obvious that improvements need to be made. The latest embarrassment, in front of the biggest crowd possible, having money passed out to players, real money, or fake money, it’s a low rent look and there can be no NCAA or SEC if reaction to unacceptable behavior isn’t consistent. Also no program gets cited for bad behavior from fans than LSU. How is that something the game or the conference can just accept? Having said all that, we should be equally disgusted with Clemson having 3 players test positive for PEDs yet they get to keep an NCAA bowl trophy. So regardless if you are an LSU rival or homeboy. We wanted someone with associated with our conference’s goals and goals for better standards to beat those cheatin Clemsonites, thank Heaven LSU got that done.
Well, that was a mouthful, but clearly you look pretty deeply into this stuff. TBH, what OBJ did was completely unexpected, not approved of, there is at least one investigation that’s already started, and steps will be taken to prevent it in the future. OBJ is a diva looking for attention. He was not the only former LSU player/NFL star there, but the others showed class. No one wants to see something like that again, and don’t look to see OBJ at any more playoff games that LSU hopefully gets into.
OBJ acted like a clown at that game. He even went into the stands trying to hand cash to the band to play “Neck”. He even had the audacity to grab the megaphone from the band director to get the band to play Neck. He just needs to know his place before he ruins the experience for returning players at future games. Cutting Coach O off during his post game speech is so disrespectful and was nonsense.
When LSU goes 15 and 0 and Brennan wins the heisman I wont be shocked… the offense has the potential to be better this year.
Oh boy, the word ‘Fantasy’ appearing in your username is appropriate. How can you have any idea about Brennan being good at this point? And losing Brady doesn’t concern you at all?
Well one thing I do know is he wont be bad. He threw for 165 TD’s at the highest level of Mississippi football and has had a couple years to develop behind Burrow. We’re in alot better position than previous years.
Alright, I’ve changed my mind on LSU. I think they will win the SEC West, then the SECCG, and then three more National Championships.
Furthermore, Alabama will return to losing 4 to 5 games every year, and Nick will retire after 2020, and Lane Kiffen will be the next head coach.
Finally, a reasonable bammer.
Sarcasm
Good lord.
Meh. Replace “2020” with “2011” and this article could have been written about Gene Chizik.
NO. Orgeron is an elite coach. He does *not* have to prove he can do it without GOAT QB and assistants because he won 10 meaningless games in 2018. Do you even read our wonderful LSU posters here???
They are amazing captives of the moment aren’t they. To the moon.
UR DELLUSHUNAL.
Just came across this comment section. It’s interesting how delusional some of these LSU fans were. Especially considering the fact that LSU is 2-3 so far this season, and they’ll probably lose a few more if they don’t figure something out. Orgeron is looking more like Chizik at this point. Maybe he can turn it around, but doubt it.
I’ve read some pretty good stories from winning teams before. I’ve seen some players make changes for the betterment of themselves..When I read Coach O say ” the players started work on Jan 17th. This is a player driven program! The players decided to go to class instead of partying. They collectively decided that having class (attitude) was cool.” In addition to other minute factors that don’t show up during practice and on game day, it really made me smile for these guys.
Imagining each program adopting this attitude? The landacape of College Football would probably change dramatically. Coach O had a special team.. I’m no fan of labeling a team as “The Best Team Ever”, but I will say looking back on LSU’s entire season, it all makes sense now. Congrats again LSU!
You’re right about this. LSU players put in a ton of work on a daily basis, on their own time. Their attendance record for voluntary workouts was 100%, for the first time ever. They put in a lot of work with attention to detail, and it showed in their improvement. It was not all Burrow. The whole team improved. Hopefully that culture will continue.
I appreciate the kind words. I think alot of the reason some say this was the best team ever was not due to talent but more along the lines of the team itself playing so well together cohesively, made few mistakes, held each other accountable, and all around played like a team.
Coach O’s greatest accomplishment has been fostering an unbelievable culture that wins over moms. You win over moms, youre going to do well. He holds his players accountable and genuinely wants to grow these kids academically and talent wise. Even if he never wins another NC, I love the guy. It’s hard not to like someone so genuine.
Let’s just face it guys, we’ve always been and will always be second banana to Alermerbammer. Even if Coach O does prove to be elite, he’ll leave LSU and succeed Saban because it’s Alermerbammer’s God given right to have the best college FB coach and team on the face of the earth.
And it’s so kind of them to let us play in their conference with them. I mean with Auburn I can understand, they have to let them be in the SEC because they’re the little brother, but we’re just their ratty 2nd cousin.
Alermerbammer is so great and kind.
See, this post was required because it’s simply too hard to wait and see. Internet hot takes and declaring there’s a new normal is just too irresistible, so we have to get mad at everybody who isn’t doing it.
2020: Alermerbammer is 6-0.
LSU 2-3
Ouch.
Did you gumps not hear coach O at halftime of the lsu bama game?
The torch has been passed, the tide has rolled out, LSU now sits on top of the college football world and atop they will stay.
Cant wait to watch LSU beat Clemson in the 2021 national championship after Brennan wins the heisman.
2-3 so far this season. Hope this was you being funny and not delusions of grandeur.
I’m thinking there’s going to be a lot of disappointments in 2020!
You hit the nail on the head (3 losses for LSU so far, and it looks like more on the way). Do you have a time machine?
To all the LSU fans who thought last year was the beginning of some sort of dynasty: Perhaps a little humility could have served you well after last year. You know…enjoy what happened in 2019, and understand that seasons like that are very special, and don’t come around very often for most teams. Instead you got cocky and obnoxious, as if from 2019 on, everyone should just accept some silly notion that the Tigers were going to rule the college football world from now on. How does the crow taste? Does it go well with humble pie?