Tigers promote native son in Orgeron
BATON ROUGE, La. — Ed Orgeron, the burly, boisterous Cajun who energized LSU’s football program in the wake of coach Les Miles’ dismissal, briefly and uncharacteristically struggled to speak.
Orgeron, 55, from the small bayou town of Larose, La., was trying to publicly thank his mother and late father when his distinctive, raspy, baritone voice fell silent and he paused to keep from sobbing.
The significance of the moment had fully set in.
On Saturday, LSU formally named Orgeron the permanent coach of the flagship college football program in the state where he was raised before venturing out on a career that took him from coast-tocoast and back again.
“Growing up in the state of Louisiana, watching the Tigers play, we get it,” said Orgeron, who is only the third Louisiana native to coach the Tigers since LSU joined the Southeastern Conference in 1933. “We understand what you gave to us and the accountability that we have to the people of the state of Louisiana, to LSU, and everybody that played here.”
The announcement by athletic director Joe Alleva came two days after the No. 25 Tigers defeated No. 22 Texas A&M54-39 .
Following Thursday night’s game, players’ raucous chants of “Keep coach O” could be heard from LSU’s locker room.
“My plan is to take my time and assemble the best staff in America,” Orgeron said, adding that defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has committed to remaining at LSU. “I just know this: I’m trained, ready to do this. ... I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’m ready to build a championship program.”
Orgeron has gone 5-2 since taking over for Miles, who was fired Sept. 26 after LSU started the season 2-2.