Ed Orgeron details LSU exit in perfect Coach O fashion
Firing a head coach less than two full years removed from a national title is practically unthinkable in the modern era of college football, but that didn’t keep LSU from doing so last fall.
Ed Orgeron put together one of the best college football teams in history in 2019, but when the talent from that team departed, the Tigers’ play dropped off considerably over the next two seasons. Coach O was ultimately fired last fall midway through a 6-7 campaign.
Speaking at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, the former Tigers coach — who is still technically considered an LSU employee and must make annual public appearances for the Tigers, per the separation agreement — detailed the behind-the-scenes of his exit from Baton Rouge.
In a way that only Coach O can, of course.
“I’m so grateful of my time at LSU,” Orgeron said. “That was my opportunity. Coaches got a shelf, some coaches got 50 years, some coaches got 12, mine was six. Good!
“I’ll tell you, we had a meeting, they said, ‘Coach, things are not going well.’ No (expletive), Ray Charles can see that, brother. Scott Woodward is a friend of mine today, really a lot of respect for the way they handled me.”
Coach O on his time and exit from LSU . He was at the Little Rock Touchdown Club today. pic.twitter.com/n87SmTnXqW
— Steve Sullivan (@sully7777) September 6, 2022
The university owed Orgeron a hefty buyout after his dismissal, which certainly softened the blow a bit.
“They said, ‘Coach, you’ve got $17.1 million on your contract, we want to give it to you.’ I said, ‘What time do you want me to leave, and what door do you want me out of, brother,” Orgeron recounted.
It’s unclear what Orgeron’s next step will be or if he plans to return to coaching. He made several camp stops this offseason, including at Notre Dame, Miami and Louisiana. His sons Cody and Parker are currently assistants at the latter two programs, respectively.
For now, though, the 61-year-old seems to have a cheerful outlook on semi-retired life.
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