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When LSU fired Brian Kelly, it was both the beginning of something new and the end of a messy chapter in Baton Rouge. Weeks before the firing, Ed Orgeron, the man who guided the Tigers to a legendary 2019 national title, had said he would love to coach again in college. Forget LSU; Orgeron’s path to any sidelines appears a bit challenging right now. The 64-year-old “Coach O” has been openly teasing a return over the past months. When Oregon State got rid of Trent Bray after a 0-7 start (the worst since 1991), Ed Orgeron’s name popped up among potential candidates that the AD Scott Barnes may interview. However, ON3’s Pete Nakos has an update on the whole search, and it’s not looking good for Coach O. According to Nakos, interest in Orgeron’s name has cooled off over the last few weeks, and the program is currently considering other candidates. ADVERTISEMENT It’s pretty strange for the guy who once guided LSU’s 2019 juggernaut—Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Joe Burrow—to an unbeaten national championship season that felt like pure Louisiana magic. Orgeron has been a bit of a nomad in college football history since departing Baton Rouge with a huge buyout and an even heavier heart. He used to be the best players’ coach due to his fierce sideline attitude and “one team, one heartbeat” motto. But the sport may have evolved away from the raw old energy that made Coach O who he is in the current era of NIL and transfer portal chaos. So, when Oregon State’s job opened up, it felt to be the ideal redemption arc of a hardworking, blue-collar school in need of a motivator who could inject new life into a crumbling squad. With the Pac-12 now down to just two members after Oregon, Washington, and USC left for the Big Ten, Oregon State’s future feels quite uncertain. ADVERTISEMENT Orgeron’s dreams of a West Coast revival seem to be vanishing quickly as names like Paul Chryst, Bryan Harsin, and Brent Vigen surge to the top of the list. Perhaps his passion doesn’t align with what the athletic directors are seeking. In any case, the guy who once said he was “one phone call away” from coaching again may be realizing that, for the time being, the phone isn’t ringing. Meanwhile, Frank Wilson comes in as the new interim HC at LSU, cleaning up all the mess Brian Kelly left behind. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Wilson takes over amid locker room chaos Baton Rouge has been in a state of chaos straight out of a script for a sports drama. After a 25-49 loss to Texas A&M, Brian Kelly was asked to pack his bag. Not only did Kelly’s dismissal shake up the locker room, but it also shook a proud football town that has recently witnessed more than its fair share of headline-grabbing chaos. And now all eyes are on Frank Wilson, the interim head coach, who will be responsible for keeping the program together at least for the remainder of the season. And so far, he has managed it with the level of composure that LSU desperately needs. During his first team session, Wilson stated, “We have to live in this moment to take care of our business right now… It’s something that you would dream up, something that you don’t know if it would ever come true, but something you prepare yourself for.” ADVERTISEMENT
