Bebe Orgeron has been LSU's interim head coach and done a good job, not a great job but a very good job. LSU fired Les Miles early in the season and took a chance of Coach Orgeron to lead the Tigers through the remainder of the season. He certainly is a colorful man, a Louisiana native, and an experienced coach. He was a dismal failure at Ole Miss but came through at University of Southern California as an interim head coach.
He failed to best Bama this year and lost a tear jerker with Florida but he got the team's attention and they responded well. This time he was less of a screamer and more of an executive and leader. Did he scream, of course he did, but seemingly in the right manner. He used his staff and he did not do that at Ole Miss. He had learned his lessons well.
He can recruit and he will do a good job in that area. He has a first class talent in Coach Aranda and let's him do his thing. Now as a head coach he can hire some people that he knows well and perhaps change the style of the Tigers. The Tigers are a defensive minded team that likes to run the ball. That is not always the most effective way to win. He has great talent in quarterbacks and if he gets someone to really develop those young men, then look for LSU to start really throwing the ball.
With a wide open offense and great defense, he will have a most powerful and importantly, entertaining team.
I am sure Coach Herman would have been great too. But I think his cost would be high and frankly he did not look that good against Memphis Friday. Other coaches could do as well but they were not of the caliber LSU was looking for in the next few years. Coach Orgeron may not last more than two or three years but there will be change and now plenty of time to get the next great football coach.
Les Miles was and is a great coach. He just is hard headed and refused to change when change was needed. Coach Orgeron recognized the signs, took over and changed the entire processes. He could not easily side car the past of Miles and did use the running team talent that Miles developed. But he added more flash to the game and that made a big difference. He has seen and worked with West Coast offenses and understands the changes needed. Les Miles will go on and be a head coach somewhere - Baylor, Indiana, even maybe Norte Dame (unlikely in my mind). He too is a great recruiter. Time will tell but he is history now at LSU.
I am surprised that many of the news outlets, especially the big sports venues refer to LSU as one of the best places in the country. The alleged "storied" program that demands the best especially in football. That tickles me but I think it is a bit of hype. I would think it is a tough place to succeed.
Geaux Tigers!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment