What Orgeron should do for next act
Lame-duck LSU coach has much left in tank
LSU coach Ed Orgeron feels no sheepishness in how he exited Bryantdenny Stadium on Saturday night. Orgeron briefly stopped in the end zone as he departed the field following the Tigers’ 20-14 loss to No. 3 Alabama. He signaled an “L” with each hand toward the crowd to represent LSU and tapped his fists against his chest.
“This was Lsu-alabama. It’s a rivalry,” Orgeron said Wednesday. “We were hearing that they’re going to crush us, we didn’t have a chance. We went in there guns a-blazing, fake punts, all that stuff. We were ready, man.”
I see nothing objectionable in Orgeron having some fun as he departed a rival’s stadium for the final time as LSU’S coach. Moreover, I commend Orgeron’s efforts as a lame-duck coach who learned last month that he’ll be fired at season’s end. There’s no quit in this Cajun.
LSU announced Orgeron’s fate on Oct. 17 — one day after LSU’S most impressive performance of the season, a 49-42 victory over Florida. Many coaches in Orgeron’s situation wouldn’t finish the string. They’d get a jump on living the buyout life.
But there’s no quit in this Cajun. And judging by how LSU played against Alabama, the Tigers haven’t quit on their coach, either.
“It’s remarkable to be able to do that with the players knowing you’re not returning,” said Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, for whom Orgeron worked at Tennessee and Southern Cal. “They’ve had a lot of opt-outs, injuries, whatever, with a lot of great players. To rally the troops like he did and almost beat Alabama, … it’s really amazing.”
Orgeron has twice been an interim coach — first at USC after Kiffin was fired, then at LSU after Les Miles was fired. Those situations were different, because Orgeron was auditioning for the head coaching job. He went 1 for 2,
earning the job at LSU but not at USC. This isn’t an audition, but rather a final act.
“I think you have to be a great motivator, which he is, in that situation, because you’re motivating them without you being there long-term,” Kiffin said.
Orgeron, 60, should consider turning this into a pop-up business. Early and midseason firings are becoming the norm. Firings are sped up in part because of the December signing period instituted in 2017.
Orgeron could bounce to a new school each year, a short-term hired gun to finish the season while the school searches for a full-time replacement. With the rate at which SEC coaches are fired, Orgeron would never have to leave the South.
If you’re a fan of a team that fired its coach, what would you rather see: a milquetoast assistant serving as
interim for a few games before getting tossed overboard, or the tough-talking Orgeron, whose strategical acumen can be fairly questioned, but not his ability as a motivator?
The choice is obvious. Go with O.
Will Tennessee’s tempo affect Georgia?
No offense has threatened No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 7-0), but the Bulldogs will face a wrinkle on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) at Tennessee (5-4, 3-3).
The Vols operate at the fastest pace in the SEC, and Georgia coach Kirby Smart said that tempo is difficult to simulate in practice.
Tempo is worthless, though, if you can’t gain an initial first down to get the drive rolling.
That’s why the first few plays of UT’S drives will be critical, because tempo without first downs equates to warpspeed three-and-outs.
Bad ankle doesn’t sideline Matt Corral
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral offered a lesson in semantics and toughness when he said after the Rebels’ 27-14 victory over Liberty that he isn’t injured, just hurt.
Corral has dealt with an injured — er, hurt — ankle throughout the season but hasn’t missed a game. His presence gives No. 12 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2) a fair fight against No. 11 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2) on Saturday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN).
“Pretty powerful and pretty unique, nowadays,” Kiffin said of Corral playing despite not being 100%.
Mississippi State’s hunt for a kicker
Mississippi State coach Mike Leach caught some flak for announcing open tryouts for walk-on kickers after two Bulldogs combined to go 0-for-3 on field goals in a 31-28 loss to Arkansas.
Count me among those who thought Leach’s postgame news conference was neither the time nor the forum to announce tryouts and effectively belittle kickers Brandon Ruiz and Nolan Mccord.
But Leach has a track record for unearthing kickers through unconventional means.
In 2008, he added Matt Williams to Texas Tech’s roster as a walk-on after Williams had made a 30-yard field goal during an in-game promotion. Williams made 149 of 150 extra points and 22 of 28 field goals during three seasons for the Red Raiders.
Leach said Wednesday that about 40 students signed up for kicker tryouts. He expects tryouts to occur next week. Anyone joining the team would need to be cleared by the NCAA before playing.
“We haven’t seen them yet, so I’m sure (the candidates) will come in all shapes and sizes,” said Leach, whose Bulldogs (5-4, 3-3) will play at No. 20 Auburn (6-3, 3-2) on Saturday (11 a.m. CT, ESPN).
Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at Btoppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.