LSU players want school to keep Ed Orgeron as coach

If it were up to LSU’s players, interim coach Ed Orgeron would be the school’s choice as its permanent head coach.

Players gave Orgeron a ringing endorsement Thursday night after the team’s 54-39 win over Texas A&M, with the strongest affirmation coming in an Instagram coach from linebacker Duke Riley that saw the locker room chant “Keep Coach O.”

The sentiment was found throughout the locker room.

“I think he did a tremendous job,” safety Jamal Adams said, via Sam Khan Jr. of ESPN. “I love Coach O. I pray that he’s the head coach for LSU.”

“He’s done a great job,” running back Derrius Guice agreed. “He’s a family guy. He keeps us close. He reminds us that it’s you fighting for your brothers. … We’re all one heartbeat. I want Coach O to stay. We need somebody like Coach O to lead us out there. Coach O has my vote all the way.”

It seems increasingly unlikely that the players will get their wish, with this prominent coach the latest to be strongly linked to the position. Orgeron never seemed like a permanent hire, and it does seem unlikely that he will be.