Can Coach Ed Orgeron contend for the LSU head coaching job?

Since Coach Miles’ firing, many rumors arose as to who would become LSU’s next Head Coach. Of the names mentioned, very few people start or end their search with a candidate who’s right under their noses. If Ed Orgeron can work the same magic on the Bayou as he did while he was in Hollywood, he may well be the next head coach of the LSU Tigers.

Once again Coach O has been asked to fill in for a coach who was fired before the midway point of the season. The first came in 2013, when he was asked to replace Lane Kiffin as the Trojans’ Interim. Three years later, he has been asked to replace Les Miles in the same role.

USC asked him to salvage what he could of their season within their final 8 games. While doing so, they said that they would evaluate his performance in order to gauge his eligibility to become USC’s head coach moving forward. Coach O managed to finish with a 6-2 record, which helped the Trojans earn a spot in a bowl game. However the school made plans to pursue other options for its head coaching position – much to the dismay of its players.

It was presumed that USC chose to go in a different direction because Coach Orgeron was unable to finish out his magical run; with losses to bitter rivals in UCLA and Notre Dame. However, what gets lost in his brief tenure is the fact that he took down then #4 Stanford at home.

While it may only be a marginal sample size, it did demonstrate that Coach O is capable of coaching with the big boys.

Extrapolating that scenario, to one here in Baton Rouge, it would put Coach O with another 6-2 record to finish the season. However, his losses would have to come at the hands of both Alabama and Arkansas; but with a victory over Ole Miss and a 17th consecutive bowl bid. With his exuberant coaching style, the changes he’s made on offense, and a realistic scenario of 6-2, Coach Ed “Bebe” Orgeron could be next in line to be the Tigers next Head Ball Coach.