Lane Kiffin channeled Ed Orgeron after arriving at LSU

Lane Kiffin said he could feel the “power” of LSU as soon as he arrived in Baton Rouge on Sunday night, to the point he was “channeling” former coach Ed Orgeron as they drove by Tiger Stadium.

Kiffin described being blown away by everything after he arrived at LSU’s campus following officially announcing that he would be taking over as head coach of the football program, and departing Ole Miss after six seasons. 

He was so amped up that spirit of the colorful ex-LSU coach overtook him. 

“We were going by Tiger Stadium and I called one person. I called Ed Orgeron,” Kiffin said. “I said, ‘Hey man, all I can do is, this place just makes me want to talk like you right now.’ I did. We were in the car and the kids were in there and the coaches, they were like, ‘What are you doing?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know, I’m like channeling Ed right now.’ I was like I’m feeling him. I rolled down the window and I was like, “Go Tigers!” to the fans. 

“I called Ed, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m feeling you right now.” 

Kiffin continued that Orgeron told him that he was “at the best place in America.” 

Orgeron’s affinity for Baton Rouge is no secret, nor has the fact been that he has a desire to get back into college football.

There had been reports that suggested that LSU is open to putting Orgeron on Kiffin’s staff and the two, obviously, have a relationship. 

Aside from helping to lead LSU to an undefeated season as head coach in 2019, Kiffin and Orgeron worked together during Kiffin’s time at Tennessee and USC. 

In late October, Orgeron told ESPN Radio that he would “consider it” when asked if he’d join a Kiffin staff as an assistant.