LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron, affectionately dubbed Coach “O”, has given the Tigers the shot in the arm necessary to revitalize their dead in the water team, as it was headed with former coach Les Miles at the helm. The Alabama Crimson Tide are preparing to travel to Baton Rouge next week for the annual “Saban Bowl” where wins do not come in easy in Death Valley. If LSU were to ever upset the Tide, now is the time with Coach O running the ship.
Now, before anyone’s head explodes, let me be clear: Coach O will NOT be the head coach for LSU moving forward — or shall I say SHOULD not.
With that said, Coach O is your quintessential assistant coach who is fiery, passionate, and knows how to push the right buttons to get players to respond. He’s your quick fix to a broken situation that needs immediate attention. Plainly put, he’s the guy you call when your car breaks down who can get you up and running long enough to take it to the real mechanic. That’s no disrespect to Coach O, but he is who he is.
As for how this affects the Tide? LSU was highly favored in the preseason to be the team that would give Alabama its first loss, and contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The talent is unquestionably there, and did I mention the game is being played at Death Valley — at night? That’s right, games in this arena do not typically favor the visiting team. The last time these two met in the Valley, it seemingly took a miracle drive by Blake Sims, and the foot of Adam Griffith to allow the Tide to get to overtime and evenutually come out on top.
Jalen Hurts is no stranger to tough road environments. However, in his youth, he has yet to face the beast that awaits him in Death Valley. Photo by Cedric Mason – Touchdown Alabama Magazine
With Jalen Hurts going on the road to a place he’s never been, he’s in for a rude awakening. Sure, he’s been to Oxford, he’s been to Fayetteville, and he’s been to Knoxville — but he has not been to Death Valley — at night.
As for Coach O and his impact on this game — if there were ever a coach who were fit to come in for a game and be the Flava Flav hype man of inspiration — Orgeron is your guy. He may run your program into the ground — which we’ve seen at places like Ole Miss — but he’s been an assistant at the top programs in the country for a reason. The guy knows how to get it done.
I’m not saying LSU will come out the victors on next Saturday. I’m not even suggesting that this team is better with Coach O on the sidelines calling the shots. What I am saying though, is this team is more than good enough to beat Alabama. The team lacked inspiration, passion, confidence, and desire — all characteristics Coach O is able to bring and pull out of this group. He may not be the long-term answer, but for one game, for this game, he’s the guy that could do it.
