The message is easier said than done, but it can be achieved.
For Louisiana State University, the last time it defeated Alabama was in 2011 on a 9-6 effort inside Bryant-Denny Stadium during the regular season. Since then, the Tigers have gone winless versus the Crimson Tide in its last six tries – including a 21-0 defeat in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game off the 2011 season.
After the program cut ties with Les Miles in week four of the 2016 campaign, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron was named interim head coach. He guided LSU to a 6-2 finish after a 2-2 start, capping things off with a 29-9 win over No. 15-ranked Louisville in the Citrus Bowl. SEC Network radio host Paul Finebaum is interviewing conference coaches this week at the Hilton Beach Sandestin at Mirmar, Fla. In talking with Orgeron, Finebaum got right to the point in wanting to know how he plans to seize domination in recruiting for Louisiana.
“We are doing the best that we can,” Orgeron said. “Alabama has come in and taken some of my guys and my job is to stop them. They [Alabama] have done a great job in recruiting, but I think that more you win and the more you win championships, guys are going to stay home.”
Despite having schools take from it, LSU has grabbed talent from elsewhere.
“Out of the top six people in Texas, we have three of them,” Orgeron said. “Some people come in our border and take our guys and we go into their borders and take theirs. It’s just a chess game.”
When being asked if beating Alabama helps in recruiting, Orgeron said “No question.”
“And we know that,” he said. “All we can do is worry about LSU, but Alabama has beaten us six years in a row and that’s the benchmark. We have to overcome that hurdle and I believe we will.”
Head coach Nick Saban and the Tide beat LSU 10-0 at Tiger Stadium last season, en route to winning a Southeastern Conference championship and advance to the College Football Playoff national title game.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
