Orgeron ‘for sure’ would consider an LSU return

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

By Hunt Palmer

(The quotes in this story are from Orgeron’s interview on UnSportsmanlike on ESPN Radio)

Ed Orgeron wants back in to college football.

Could that be in Baton Rouge where his successor was just fired? Orgeron was asked on ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike if he would consider it.

“I’d love to (be the head coach again),” Orgeron said with a chuckle. “Are you kidding me? I’m one phone call away. I just got to get in my truck. I’d be there today.”

The back and forth with host Evan Cohen was a tad tongue in cheek, but the follow up felt more sincere. Cohen asked Orgeron if he would consider an assistant coaching job in purple and gold, especially if one of his old colleagues got the job. It was easy to connect the dots to Lane Kiffin, who Orgeron has worked with at both USC and Tennessee. Kiffin was Orgeron’s rumored offensive coordinator choice when he took over the full time job in 2016, but Kiffin landed a head coaching position at Florida Atlantic instead.

“I’d consider it,” Orgeron said. “I love LSU. I’ve still got my home in Baton Rouge. I loved coaching with Coach Miles, being the defensive line coach. I love the Tigers. I’m getting back into coaching. For sure I’d consider it. No doubt.”

Kelly’s firing came less than 24 hours after a 49-25 loss at the hands of Texas A&M. The Aggies torched LSU 35-7 in the second half and spent the entire fourth quarter celebrating with its legion of fans around and emptying Tiger Stadium.

Orgeron was watching.

“What Texas A&M did to LSU at Tiger Stadium, at night and then what they did after was an embarrassment to me, the state of Louisiana,” Orgeron said. “I’m not blaming Brian Kelly. The whole thing has seemed to unravel and fall apart. I think that’s the reason (he was fired).”

Orgeron knows the expectation at LSU. He lived it on the way to the 2019 national title and in the fall afterward that lead to his 2021 firing.

“The expectation at LSU is to win a national championship,” Orgeron said. “And the pressure starts to rise around the third year. They give you time. They give you the facilities. They give you the money that you need, and if you don’t reach that, there’s going to be some rumblings.”