This week marked the beginning of the end of the LSU head coach search. The media is now involved and reporting on candidates who are favored by boosters, have their representatives talking to Joe Alleva, and who are being considered openly by Alleva and big money donors. We are hearing names like Oklahoma State’s Mullet wearing head coach Mike Gundy, top coaching prospect Tom Herman at Houston, and of course former LSU offensive coordinator and current Florida State head honcho, Jimbo Fisher. The word is the job is Jimbo’s if he wants it but many donors and boosters are cozying up to the thought of leaving Ed Orgeron in the driver’s seat in Baton Rouge. With only two regular season games remaining, it is time to stop cozying up to that idea and start accepting it as the best option LSU has.
Ultimately the decision is Joe Alleva’s. This is either him making his biggest and best hire ever or this is him digging his own grave. Whichever way it goes for Joe, this is the hire he will be remembered for. The fans and the media will not criticize Alleva if he picks Coach Oeaux. Orgeron is a great homegrown story about a well traveled coaching veteran who returned home, lessons learned, and focused on bringing state pride and a new attitude to a stale program. That shtick will at least work for three or four years. Alleva picks Coach Oeaux and LSU keeps mastermind Dave Aranda, the crown jewel of the coaching staff right now, and he saves money! You cannot stress how important that is because the difference in dollars between hiring Orgeron versus a Jimbo Fisher is astronomical.
If Alleva hires Jimbo Fisher, he is forking out buyout money plus a lengthy guaranteed contract worth top three coaching money. In the end, that will be close to $40 million to get a coach who has won a National Championship, but a guy who is also going to potential blow up the current staff (bye bye Aranda) and who statistically speaking, is not jumping off the page in terms of offensive numbers. Jimbo is being heralded as an offensive genius but when you take the time to look at his offenses over the years, including his time at LSU, you will find out that a Jimbo offense is not worth breaking the bank for.
So to the rich donors in Joe Alleva’s ear; I know you have a ton of money and you don’t know about giving to LSU if they are going to hire a caricature head coach. You love Louisiana but you think Coach Oeaux is TOO homegrown. You have trepidation because of his time at Ole Miss. You worry that he might be TOO honest. Forget about all that and remember what the goal is: winning! Coach Oeaux gives you as good of a chance at winning as Jimbo, Herman, or any other coaching candidate. Joe Alleva knows Orgeron is the right choice. It makes too much financial sense. Stop thinking Jimbo is some coaching messiah and allow Alleva to make a sound hire. And if Coach Oeaux doesn’t work out and LSU loses or he is caught streaking in Tiger Stadium at three in the morning, you can always say “I told you so” and have Alleva fired. You’re going to do it anyway.
– Alan Michael