Ed Orgeron reflects on 2019 win over Florida: 'I will never forget that'

Ahead of LSU and Florida’s matchup on Saturday, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron reflected on the Tigers’ 42-28 win over Florida in 2019 on the way to an undefeated national championship.

“I remember at the end when our crowd was doing the gator chomp I’ll never forget that. I will never forget that moment, that was a wonderful moment. But Florida gave us everything that we wanted. It was a tough game. I think it was 28-28 and then we went up a score. Then Stingley had that fumble—no—interception. And then we went back and Ja’Marr made the big play, made it something like 42-28. But was ticky tack the whole game and our crowd was a big factor, no question.”

On the way to an undefeated national championship run in 2019, LSU pulled away from Florida late 42-28 in Death Valley. In the win, Joe Burrow threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson had 127 yards and 123 yards receiving apiece.

LSU hosts Florida once again on Saturday under much different circumstances. Sitting at 3-3 on the season, LSU is looking to win three straight games against the Gators, after upsetting the then-No. 6 ranked Gators.

Orgeron landed the LSU head coaching job in 2016. The Tigers went 8-4 and won the Citrus Bowl in his first season. LSU then went 9-4 and 10-3 over the next two seasons, winning the Fiesta Bowl in 2018. Then, LSU and Orgeron were perfect in an undefeated, 15-0 national championship winning season.

Then, the wheels fell off, on and off the field, prompting pressing discussion on Orgeron’s future. LSU lost tons of talent to the NFL Draft after its national championship and went 5-5 in the 2020 season. This season, the situation is only getting worse as LSU is 3-3 with losses to UCLA, Auburn and Kentucky. It seems like a matter of when, not if, LSU will make the decision to fire Orgeron in his sixth season.

For Florida, things could ‘get weird’ in Gainesville for head coach Dan Mullen if Florida loses to LSU on Saturday, at least that’s what The Athletic’s Andy Staples thinks. Florida is currently 4-2 on the season while LSU is 3-3. 

“It’ll get weird in Gainesville,” Staples said on what would happen if LSU won. “I’ll tell you that right now because the fan base got really mad at Dan Mullen after the Kentucky game. I don’t quite understand the fury of the backlash because that’s one of those that, first of all, you knew Florida was probably going to take a step back from last season. Because they were, I mean offensively, at least they were historically good. And then they didn’t bring in a bunch of five star talent that suddenly was going to change everything.”

Florida will be looking for their fifth win of the season while Orgeron and the Tigers look for their fourth on Saturday. The game will kick off in Tiger Stadium at noon ET.