Two years ago, LSU believed it gave Alabama the beat down of a lifetime.
It was the Tigers’ first win over the Crimson Tide in eight years. Tua Tagovailoa made the game interesting, despite an ankle injury, and the Tide could have won. LSU emerged with a 46-41 victory; however, its fans felt like Coach Ed Orgeron drubbed Alabama by 20+ points.
The Tigers felt so good it did three things that Alabama’s student-athletes kept in the memory banks.
RELATED: Remembering the time Ed Orgeron brought his team to middle of Bryant-Denny Stadium and declared it as “our house
Four LSU players went to the student section and taunted Alabama’s 2020 recruits. They told players that they might want to reconsider flipping to the Tigers. Orgeron would then have his team celebrate at midfield, declaring Bryant-Denny Stadium as its “house from now one.” Afterward, he proceeded into the Alabama locker room and led a profanity-laced rant.
The rant, which went viral since then, ended with “Roll Tide what? F***U!” He mentioned how LSU would beat Alabama in recruiting, on the field, or anywhere both schools met up.
Despite winning a national title in 2019, Orgeron’s prophecies have not been accurate.
You may remember Marcel Brooks from this video telling Alabama recruits to go to LSU.
Now he’s transferring. pic.twitter.com/KkjwXpfZUS
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) June 27, 2020
LSU week officially starts today for the Tide. Here’s a reminder of Ed Orgeron’s post game message to his players.
“Roll Tide what? F–k you!”
Expect this to be played on repeat around the Alabama program. pic.twitter.com/2CAAgaw8Yx
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) November 8, 2020
As we break down Coach O’s rant, we start with recruiting.
Coach Nick Saban has six national championships at Alabama, starting with 2009.
After winning titles in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2020, the following spring (2012, 2013, 2016, 2021) earned the Tide a No. 1 recruiting class.
Orgeron did not produce the Tigers a top-ranked class in 2020 following a national championship. LSU had the No. 4 class in the nation, while Alabama had the No. 2 class.
Orgeron grabbed one player from the state of Alabama, 4-star defensive tackle Eric Taylor.
He played at Hewitt-Trussville High School. Saban got one player from the state of Louisiana, 3-star running back Kyle Edwards. He played at Destrehan High School.
LSU signed the No. 3 class nationally in 2021, while the Tide earned the top-ranked class.
RELATED: Nick Saban gives latest update on Drew Sanders leading into LSU week
Coach O got Armoni Goodwin, a four-star running back from Hewitt-Trussville High School. Coach Saban picked up Kaine Williams, a four-star defensive back from Louisiana.
Alabama is currently higher than LSU for the 2022 recruiting class.
The Tide is ranked No. 2 and has two hard commitments — Aaron Anderson, Walter Bob — from Louisiana natives.
LSU is ranked No. 12 and has no hard commitment from a player in the state of Alabama.
In recruiting, the Tigers have not beaten Alabama. Saban handed Orgeron an embarrassing loss in 2020 at Tiger Stadium.
Alabama’s trio of Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith terrorized LSU’s defense. The Tide routed the Tigers, 55-17, scoring the most points in the rivalry since 1985. Alabama blew out LSU by 38 points at its home venue. Smith cooked LSU’s Derek Stingley and won the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The loss humbled Orgeron’s prophesy of the Tigers beating Alabama every time it sees them. His rant has not helped him since 2019, and the Tide remembers what happened.
Saturday’s meeting looks to be a moment of vengeance for Alabama.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
