"I'm Never Going To The Hospital. If I Die, I'm Dying On That Field" – Coach O, Who's Currently Battling Unspecified Health Issues, Is The Most Genuine Football Guy We Have Left
Football Guy™ gets thrown around all willy nilly these days. To the point that coaches and players at all levels have become self-aware of their own football guy actions. I often see somebody pull a Football Guy move, and think, "Well that seems a little performative."
But I've never felt that about Coach O. He seems to be as authentic as they come. Rarely do you hear a Coach O story that comes straight from Coach O himself. They always come from a colleague, or a player who experienced what it was like to play under him. And if it does come from Coach O, it's likely because some podcaster dug it out of him.
There are coaches in college football who wouldn't dream of barging into a locker room, ripping their shirt off, chugging Red Bulls, giving a pump up speechs on a live feed from a hospital bed in the press box, etc., unless they knew full well a camera was on them.
But that's how you know Coach O is the genuine article. Most of his Football Guy moments aren't documented in real time. They're stories passed down from generation to generation like some sort of mythical college football folk hero.
ESPN – "Coach O comes in to try to get us fired up. He's carrying two Red Bulls," Cushenberry said. "He rips his shirt off and shotguns both Red Bulls. Everybody was fired up after that." - Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU OL
Advertisement
Tuberville said the attention to detail carried over to the practice fields, where Orgeron would often line up against his own D-linemen -- Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, The Rock -- and run drills without any pads or protection. He'd come away bruised and bloodied. - Tommy Tuberville, Miami (FL)
The Tigers were practicing during the fall of Lawrence's freshman season in 2016. He wasn't playing much, and he was still getting a feel for Orgeron, who could be intense with his defensive linemen.
The details of what happened that day are a bit sketchy, but suffice it to say, defensive tackle Christian LaCouture accidentally clocked Orgeron in the face during a drill. Blood poured out of Orgeron's nose.
"He just wiped it off and kept going like nothing happened," Lawrence said. "Coach O, he can take a lick." - Rashard Lawrence, LSU DE
Which sadly (but also kind of beautifully) means when Lane Kiffin says Coach O told him he's going to die on the football field, I'm afraid I'm inclined to believe him.
Thankfully, it sounds like Coach O has sought medical help for whatever it is that's ailing him. Even if he believes deep down that gumbo spicy enough will cure anything, I don't imagine he's been away from his team just laying on his couch this whole time. LSU hasn't revealed what exactly Coach O's health issues are, but based on Lane Kiffin's tone in that interview, it sounds like they might have been serious. Sometimes the most Football Guy thing a man can do is swallow his pride and see doctor. Because as long as Coach O walks among us, college football is a better place.
But still… that's a pretty bad ass quote to have out there. It would be one hell of a poetic way for a true football guy to go out. Not yet though, Coach O. Football still needs you. LSU really still needs you. There's plenty of work to be done if you want to repair the damage Lane Kiffin has done to your school's reputation. Realistically, Coach O might be the only Football Guy on earth likable enough to do it.
Get well soon coach. Can't wait to see you back out there.