I’m so sorry he’s not here to see this. The team are hosting a press conference at 1pm ET to make an official announcement on the teams new Head Coach. “I do believe that nowadays you have to run the spread offense. Yes”, Mrs. Orgeron said. “He’s a guy who bleeds purple and gold and is very passionate about LSU and the state of Louisiana. What a proud day for my whole family”. In interviews after the game, players renewed their calls to keep Orgeron.
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Orgeron has gone 5-2 since taking over for Les Miles, who was sacked in late September after LSU started 2-2. Orgeron also said he is confident defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will remain with the team going forth, despite being heavily sought after.
Her son’s dream came true. He received his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Northwestern State in 1984.
“I mean I didn’t think he was bringing me in to tell me I didn’t have the job”, Orgeron joked. And, look, he did it!
“Last of all, I’d like to thank my mom and dad for all they’ve done”, he said, but couldn’t finish the sentence.
“We still want to be a physical football team”.
Just as he had done while replacing friend Lane Kiffin as USC’s interim coach in the middle of the 2013 season, Orgeron’s new approach proved to be just what LSU needed after getting off to a disappointing 2-2 start this season.
Orgeron went 5-2 after taking over for Miles, capping what amounted to an eight-week audition for the job with a 54-39 blasting of Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night in College Station, Texas. Although it wasn’t ideal (10-0 and 16-10 losses to Alabama and Florida hurt), LSU also picked up some very convincing wins in the middle of the season.
Reports indicate LSU AD Joe Alleva made the call to hire Orgeron after it was clear Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher and Houston’s Tom Herman were not coming to Baton Rouge. The Hurricanes won two national titles during Orgeron’s five-year stay at the school.
The spread offense is the way of the future, Orgeron said, although some teams are still running the pro-style, ground-and-pound type of offense. “Longhorn football has been – and always will be – a national power, winning and playing for national championships with great pride and passion, supported by an unbelievable fan base”. And is he powerful?
Derrius Guice #5 hugs head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers after a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Mrs. Orgeron paused again, exhaled and gathered herself.
Brennan said he and Orgeron had a close relationship before he was elevated to interim coach following the firing of Les Miles, but the relationship “grew tremendously throughout the months”.
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“I love it”, he said.
