The Lane Kiffin era at LSU has certainly been filled with its fair share of twists and turns. After being hired as the new head coach, Kiffin wasted no time in overhauling the staff at LSU. He brought in some of his own people from Ole Miss while also retaining a few from the previous regime. However, the biggest rumor surrounding Kiffin’s arrival at LSU was his alleged plan to bring back one of his trusted associates, Ed Orgeron, to the Tigers’ coaching staff.
For those who may not know, Orgeron served as the defensive line coach at USC under Kiffin’s tenure as the head coach. The two have maintained a close relationship ever since, with Orgeron even serving as Kiffin’s interim successor at USC. So it’s no surprise that there were speculations about Orgeron reuniting with Kiffin at LSU.
The idea of Kiffin and Orgeron joining forces at LSU was met with mixed reactions from the fans. While some were excited at the prospect of having two big names in the coaching world leading the Tigers, others were skeptical about how the dynamic between the two would play out.
But before we could even find out, Orgeron himself put all the rumors to rest. In a recent interview, the former LSU head coach, who was fired after a disappointing 2020 season, revealed that there was never any truth to the rumors of him joining Kiffin’s staff at LSU.
Orgeron, who is set to receive a $9 million buyout from LSU, stated that he never had any discussions with Kiffin about joining the Tigers’ staff. He also added that he is not actively looking for another coaching job at the moment and is instead focusing on spending time with his family.
This statement from Orgeron has put an end to the speculation and has also shed light on the close relationship between him and Kiffin. Despite not being able to work together at LSU, the two coaches still share a strong bond and that speaks volumes about their mutual respect and admiration for each other.
But what if Orgeron had joined Kiffin at LSU? It would have certainly added another twist to the already dramatic saga surrounding the Tigers’ football program. The thought of having two experienced and successful coaches leading the team would have surely excited the fans and given them hope for a better future.
On the other hand, it could have also created a potential power struggle within the coaching staff. With both Kiffin and Orgeron being strong personalities, it’s hard to predict how their working relationship would have played out. It could have either been a match made in heaven or a recipe for disaster.
However, we will never know as Orgeron has made it clear that he will not be joining Kiffin’s staff at LSU. But that doesn’t mean we won’t see these two coaching geniuses working together in the future. With both of them still relatively young in their coaching careers, there is a high chance that their paths will cross again at some point.
For now, Kiffin will have to make do with the staff he has put together at LSU. And from the looks of it, he has assembled a strong and experienced group of coaches who are more than capable of leading the Tigers to success. With the likes of Jeff Lebby, DJ Durkin, and Blake Gideon joining the staff, Kiffin has certainly brought in a mix of fresh faces and proven talent to help him turn things around at LSU.
The fans may have missed out on the opportunity to see Kiffin and Orgeron working together, but they can still look forward to an exciting and promising era under Kiffin’s leadership. The new head coach has already made his mark with the staff overhaul and now it’s time for him to make his mark on the field.
In conclusion, the Lane Kiffin era at LSU has begun with a bang, and while the rumored reunion with Ed Orgeron may not have materialized, the two coaches will always share a strong bond. As for the Tigers, they can rest assured that they have a dynamic and talented head coach at the helm who is determined to bring glory back to the program. The future looks bright for LSU and its fans, and we can’t wait to see what Kiffin and his staff have in store for us.