Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Godfrey of SB Nation recently sat down with LSU head coach Ed Orgeron to talk about how he landed his dream head coaching job with the Tigers.

Coach O also pulled back the curtain and explained what happen with the failed recruitment of Lane Kiffin to be the team's new offensive coordinator.
quote:

“I know probably — and I can’t blame them — I know that Alabama probably didn’t want him to come here,” Orgeron says. “I’m assuming they did everything they could to get him a head job. But he was honest with us. He said, ‘Coach, I’m coming to LSU unless I get a head job, and I want a head job.’

“We thought he had the Houston job. He woulda been dynamite there. Dynamite. Then we hear about Florida Atlantic, and we didn’t think he’d take that. But he calls and says, ‘Hey man, I’m coming. I’ve got one more meeting, and I’m just going to listen to them.’ Ended up, he took the job.”
LSU ended up hiring former Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada who arrived at LSU shortly after the Panthers bowl game this past season.
Filed Under: LSU Football

Comments

40 Comments
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Bum Phillips always said "your friends will get you fired!"
Reply73 months
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In the long run LSU is better off with Canada.
Reply73 months
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Seems pretty honest and candid.
Reply73 months
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I respect Coach O for being loyal to his friends but him not getting Kiffin was the best thing that could have happened to him. Guy is a narcissist and that does not change. Kiffin would have imploded or left after 1 year. I think Canada will be highly successful and LSU can likely keep him for at least 4 years.
Reply73 months
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He is a cancer. And we've learned the hard way that if you cant play or work for Saban, then you probably shouldn't come to LSU.
Reply73 months
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OweO
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Kiffin isn't that bad of a head college coach. He was actually steering Tennessee the right direction, but USC was his dream job, however; he made his decision based on what Pete Carroll told him, which was that there was nothing to worry about. Pete goes to Seattle, the NCAA comes down on USC and Kiffin was in the middle of it. He goes to Alabama and is successful as a OC. I actually think he does pretty good at FAU and will eventually get a bigger job.
Reply73 months
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Muffin is a cancer
Reply73 months
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I think we ended up better off
Reply73 months
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I think kiffin caught wind of the sting operation to take place as reggies. Decided to take his talents to south Florida.
Reply73 months
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I get the feeling that Kiffin working under Coach O would've been a dysfunctional relationship. Kiffin seems like the kind of guy who'd be a complete dick taking orders from anyone other than a massively respected alpha coach like Nick Saban. You simply don't talk back to someone like Nick Saban. Kiffin probably would've gone rogue on Day 1 working under O. His ego is just too big to have been a team player on that staff.
Reply73 months
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Well, he sure looked like he HATED taking orders from Saban, so there is that. He may have worked really well under O, but I am glad we won't soon find out.
73 months
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He wanted a head job ??????
Reply73 months
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Is a head case
73 months
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I think everything worked out great. Our HC was able to bring in a top OC in Canada, retain key coaches like Corey Raymond, and most importantly, Dave Aranda! I was honestly relieved that Kiffin took the FAU job. However, he is a good OC. He's just not a good HC! Is it September 2 yet?
Reply73 months
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He's an excellent play caller. Pretty terrible at all other aspects of coaching.
73 months
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Why would everyone assume that Canada doesn't want to be a head coach? Just saying!
Reply73 months
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He probably does. But he'll be a lot more professional about it than Kiffy.
73 months
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We dodged a bullet, he'd be constantly looking for a HC job along with his usual drama.
Reply73 months
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Kids are glad they don't have to compete with Joey Freshwater in tigerland too
73 months
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Guess them girls in Florida give better head jobs than Louisiana! Honestly can't believe no one capitalized on coach o saying Lane wanted a head job!
Reply73 months
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Who gives a shite now? We got an up and comer and someone who won't leave a shite stain on the program. I just don't understand why we're still asking these questions to coach O.
Reply73 months
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I wonder how much bama paid florida atlantic to pursue him away from LSU, ha ha ha ha A reckoning is coming in November. Canada is bama's worse nightmare.
Reply73 months
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S
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Thank God he didn't come. And this is another HUGE red flag on O. This was your master plan? Ugh...frick you alleva
Reply73 months
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what aspect of the Alabame offense the past 3 years while he was the OC would make you say this is a red flag? So being results oriented, not sure how you can justify this. Also, the OC that was brought in was one of the hottest candidates in the country. Again, a positive result. So don't understand the HUGE negative reaction.
73 months
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so....we were holding our breath for a pathological liar.
Reply73 months
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And just like that, Kiffin parlayed yet another head coaching gig. Crazy how this dude always seems to benefit from disaster!
Reply73 months
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Why the downvotes, did you MF's want him here??? Dude was a disaster everywhere he has been.
73 months
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"Dude was a disaster everywhere he has been." He has been lights out as an OC EVERYWHERE he's been. We weren't hiring him as a HC. Why is that so hard to understand.
73 months
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Matt Moscona has to be up there too.
73 months
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