The LSU Tigers are coming off one of the greatest, if not the greatest, single season in College Football history. There is nothing that can be taken away from the 2019 Tigers. They had the star QB, the in-your-face coach, and the young wiz coordinator. Then, the Bayou Bombshell. LSU has not had a good start to their year, and it seems to get worse at each turn. There is not one event that makes up the Bayou Bombshell. It is a collection.
The Beginning
Winning is fun, there is no doubt about it. But Ed O was perhaps having too much fun. The always loud and seldom comprehendible coach did his fair share of talking. I am always a fan of trash talk as it adds an interesting wrinkle to the game. But there is trash talk, and then there is blatant disrespect. Orgeron chose to enact the later.
Upon beating Alabama for the first time in seven outings, including the previous year being shut out for the second straight time in your own home, Ed Orgeron was soaring. Instantly, the viral videos began. “Roll Tide what? F— You!” the LSU coach screamed. He didn’t stop there, he was sure to continue disrespecting tide players and the program.
In that night, fine, you earned it with a sensational performance for your team. But you painted a target on your back. Sure, one was there after the winning the title no doubt, but you put even more fuel on an already blazing rivalry.
Coach O’s boldness didn’t stop there. In fact, it was merely the beginning. After the year had finished and the confetti settled in Baton Rouge, the two top coordinators from the year before departed. This is no big deal, this happens all the time to top programs. A tough loss and one that would naturally warrant an extra loss on the schedule.
Oh No, Bo!
But not to Coach O. In fact, he played it like he had just cut dead weight. When Dave Aranda, the former DC left, the next hire was Bo Pelini. A move that certainly confused the football world. Not Ed O, he showed his superior intellect by proclaiming that the defense was already looking much better without Aranda. That Pelini had been the cure and the fix for modern offenses in the SEC. Fast forward to Saturday night and LSU had given up 45 points in a half, a receiver is on his way to 300 yards, and there is no end in sight.
Be happy that Saban called the dogs off Tiger fans. The Crimson Tide could have scored 70 points on LSU if they wanted. Ed O’s arrogance was a beacon of light in the debacle. But the deflections continued. In technicality, this was the first Bayou Bombshell in my opinion. A strange hire mixed with unbridled arrogance. Red flags were soaring.
Who Needs Brady?
That isn’t the only example of arrogance. When LSU hired Joe Brady and had their spring game, those of us in the know realized what a gem they had. He was generating some buzz as a young guy that could be the next big thing. If his tenure with LSU and Carolina are any indication, that looks to be spot on praise.
LSU brought Brady in to revamp the passing game. LSU’s offense had been terrible, it was one of the most basic and predictable in the SEC. Ed O did right in getting Brady, but when Brady left the arrogance flashed it’s head. Ed O went on to say that Steve Ensminger had been the one calling the majority of the plays. EVEN if that is true, they weren’t his plays. LSU’s offense had been terrible for years, and Ensminger was the play caller through the bad. Suddenly you get a new play caller, your offense changes completely, but it was still the old guy?
I think you can begin to see the pattern. Coach O was trying to lay the ground work that he meant more to the championship than anyone else. Perhaps the most laughable situation of all, to replace Brady the LSU tigers went and got Scott Linehan. Linehan, the former Dallas Cowboys play caller, was ousted from the league for being the most predictable, basic, offensive coordinator in the game.
Ed O Is Losing His Grip.
Fast forward to today. LSU is getting destroyed this season. Ed O proclaimed that they would beat Alabama in every facet, and by the looks of it this season is going to do more harm than good. In one instant, Ed O is on the verge of tearing down all progress made to catch up to Saban’s team. Why? His arrogance was astounding. Sure, losing a ton of talent to the draft and then opt outs warranted LSU having a down year. But Ed O tried to diminish old coordinators in favor of ones that everybody knew wouldn’t work.
But it doesn’t stop there. Right before the season began, when the racial justice movements and marches were sweeping the nation, Ed O found a new problem. As Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban marched with their players in a statement against racism, Ed O went to practice to find the majority of his team missing, only to get a call from the president of the University.
You see, the LSU Tigers football team had organized a walk and a peaceful protest. They had walked to the University President’s office together and then had a talk with the President. What they didn’t do, was include their head coach. They didn’t even tell him, and in fact they didn’t show up to practice just to be able to participate in the protest.
That may not sound like much, but that isn’t a good sign. His team didn’t trust him with information like that, and they don’t view him as someone to go to for that sort of issue. While other coaches were marching with their teams, Coach O’s team made the willing decision to march without him. In some ways, this could be the most damaging Bayou Bombshell of them all. This is where he started to lose the team.
The Bayou Bombshell
Now for the newest bombshell. There have been rumors and rumblings that some commits from LSU’s class are beginning to waiver. Not liking what they are seeing, or perhaps realizing that Coach O was not the guy they thought he was. What’s worse? The highest rated TE in the history of 247sports is rumored to be exploring the possibility of transferring per 247sports.
Freshmen tight end Arik Gilbert reportedly wants to be closer to home. This loss would be massive for the Puddle Kittens (you will earn the name Bayou Bengals back in due time). Gilbert hails from Marietta, Georgia, which would make either UGA or Alabama close options for home. While UGA looks to be the front runner, it is important to note that Alabama was considered to be the long time leader in his recruitment.
Eating Crow
It’s interesting to see how this offseason will go for LSU. I don’t think it will result in Ed O losing his job, but at the same time if Gilbert leaves that doesn’t help. He may be in big trouble if he loses the commitment of Sage Ryan, or if Saban is able to make up enough ground on Mason Smith. But no matter how you slice it, 2020 has not been kind to LSU. In fact, for all the talk Ed O did, he may be in line for College Football Donkey of the Year award.
It’s one thing to talk, but you have to be able to back it up. More importantly, to be great in the SEC as a head coach you have to understand what you don’t know as much as you understand what you do know. That is why I bring up arrogance. Ed O doesn’t get that, and he thinks that he can fake it till he makes it. It is going to be fascinating to watch the rest of the season play out for the puddle kittens. The year started bad, and ended with a Bayou Bombshell.
Be sure to check out all of our great content on Belly Up Sports ! You name it, we have you covered! Follow me on Twitter to see my degeneracy in rare form. Check out my YouTube channel where I upload film reviews and news breakdowns!
