After LSU’s dreadful start, the Odyssey posted the following query on October 14th: Was Ed Orgeron a 2nd Edition Gene Chizik?
Given the mass exodus of Tigers from their rocking national championship team, we were initially inclined to give Coach O a pass on 2020. However, nobody envisioned their shockingly inept defense. The return of Bo Pelini to the D coordinator position seemed as out of date as hiring a blacksmith in 1920.
Black is an excellent adjective to characterize LSU’s start of the season. LSU single handedly and improbably made K.J Costello look like Dan Marino in their ill-fated opener. Another defensive fiasco at Missouri ensued. However, the Bayou Bengals became the beneficiary of several favorable breaks. Their game at The Swamp was postponed at a point when LSU was still in disarray. The rescheduling of the game to the week before Florida’s appearance in the SEC title game proved a God send.
The preoccupied Gators rested their nuclear tight end, Kyle Pitts. Florida was clearly looking forward to Saban’s Tide. Florida’s other Kyle, Trask, tossed some uncharacteristic picks. Still, when LSU was stopped on a key 3rd down with 2 minutes to go in a tie game, Florida seemingly had the upper hand to survive the scare. Until, Marco Wilson decided to throw a shoe 20 yards down the field. Personal foul! The drive continues. A miraculous 57-yard field goal in the mist gave LSU 37-34 salvation.
The following Saturday, LSU hosted another makeup game versus Ole Miss. In most years, LSU out-talents the Rebels. 2020 was not most years. However, Matt Corral, Ole Miss’ prolific but inconsistent QB, threw 5 picks to enable the Bayou Bengals to survive another thriller.
Coach O should thank his lucky stars that LSU wound up 5-5. The aftermath resulted in some predictable staff changes. Bo Pelini’s firing was a bit easier for the former Nebraska head coach to take as he will get several million dollars in severance.
2021 will be incredibly interesting on the Bayou. Did 2019 catch lightning in a bottle? The uber-strong SEC West is not getting any weaker as the mutts of the West (Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas) all made promising coaching hires before 2020.
LSU will be one of college football’s most interesting stories in 2021.
College Football Odyssey will take its usual hiatus until August. Till then, please stay healthy. Hopefully, the health issues of the USA will diminish to a point that we can see you in the stands come September.