🏈 Jaw punches, Red Bull chugs and helmet snaps: What it's like to play for LSU's Ed Orgeron

[TerryP]

Eleven a.m. kickoffs stink. Tailgating becomes breakfast and player pregame routines are condensed into the time they'd rather be relaxing.​

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They're rare at LSU, famous for its night games. All but three were played in the evening last year with one 11 a.m. tucked in Nov. 11 against Arkansas. A handful of former Tigers recalled the locker room scene that preceded that brunch in Baton Rouge.​

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Ed Orgeron got primal before that morning game.​

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"He walked in there and said it's time to set your jaw," said former Tiger offensive lineman K.J. Malone. "And started punching himself in the jaw."​

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Astros pitcher Ken Giles recently went viral for smoking himself in the face. That was punitive.​

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Orgeron, LSU's 56-year old head coach, sacrificed for motivation.​

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"Punch yourself in the face in the morning if you're not ready," center Will Clapp remembered was the message.​

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Some coaches speak in hashtags. Orgeron lives them.​

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"It's a real serious punch," said Toby Weathersby, another ex-LSU offensive lineman who spoke with AL.com at the NFL combine. "Then he'll look at us and start growling. He'll give us a growl and you know what time it means. It's time to go win a ball game."​

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It left an impression.​

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"He was punching," Malone said. "I tried to do it. I thought, dang. He's probably one of the best coaches I've been around."​

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Oh! There's more...

Jaw punches, Red Bull chugs and helmet snaps: What it's like to play for LSU's Ed Orgeron

 

[BamaFan334]

I have zero issues with this and refuse to make fun of the guy for it. Football is a highly physical game, and some folks psych up different than others. I would most likely be jacked up like him.

 

[XXL TideFan]

If it works for him. Now all he has to do is ....win.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I have zero issues with this and refuse to make fun of the guy for it. Football is a highly physical game, and some folks psych up different than others. I would most likely be jacked up like him.

I could see that being endearing with the big boys on the team. He did coach them up at one time. But even then, that's not the lasting image I want when we need to make some serious adjustments at the half.

 

[#80]

Ed O is on borrowed time.

 

[utstnx]

"He's something else, that's for sure," said former LSU quarterback Danny Etling, a transfer who came from Purdue after growing up in Indiana. "There's almost a language barrier."
Each former Tiger who recalled their favorite Orgeron stories did so with a smile.
"Before one of the games," Etling said, "he'll come down and drink a whole Red Bull, smashes it on his head, lifts off his shirt and he's punching himself in the jaw getting us ready, pumped up to play. That's Coach O for you."
:rolf::shock:

 

[planomateo]

I wouldn't buy a car from the guy...

 

[BamaFan334]

I have zero issues with this and refuse to make fun of the guy for it. Football is a highly physical game, and some folks psych up different than others. I would most likely be jacked up like him.

I could see that being endearing with the big boys on the team. He did coach them up at one time. But even then, that's not the lasting image I want when we need to make some serious adjustments at the half.

Getting psyched before the game, an 11AM game at that, is a complete different deal than halftime. I doubt he's doing much of that at halftime, but coaching up his guys.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Getting psyched before the game, an 11AM game at that, is a complete different deal than halftime. I doubt he's doing much of that at halftime, but coaching up his guys.

That was my point. Halftime adjustments are when the red bull season is officially over. Crushing cans has never been his weak spot.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Wonder why it didnt work at Ole Miss....maybe it did...
On borrowed time...but maybe wrong...all it will take is one big win...
And we all know who that would be

 

[jdpas29]

But did he recycle the can after smashing it on his head? That’s what we should be asking, guys.

 

[TerryP]

 

[TUSKtimes]

I knew a guy that would bite the heads off of snakes as a demonstration of toughness. As far as I know, he still does request. Believe me, it never gets old.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I knew a guy that would bite the heads off of snakes as a demonstration of toughness. As far as I know, he still does request. Believe me, it never gets old.

Bet its not good for the snakes disposition