LSU hoping for smooth time on Rocky Top

Published 7:00 pm Saturday, November 18, 2017

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Given his long, extensive résumé, it’s hard for LSU coach Ed Orgeron to drop in on an opposing venue without some knowledge and memories of it.

Tennessee’s famed Neyland Stadium will be no different when the No. 21 Tigers (7-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) take the field tonight against the swooning Volunteers (4-6, 0-6).

Orgeron did a year’s hitch here for the 2009 season under good friend and then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

He has fond memories.

“Great place to play,” he said. “I thought it was a wonderful time.”

He even learned to appreciate the 25-30 takes per game of the fight song “Rocky Top,” which most of the SEC rates just a notch below Mississippi State’s cowbells on the annoyance meter.

But Orgeron left after just the one year, following Kiffin when the latter bolted for the Southern Cal head coaching job, a controversial move that left Tennessee and its fans hurt, confused and some angry to the point of burning Kiffin in effigy.

Also, looking for a new coach.

Two head coaches later, not much will have changed in Rocky Top for Orgeron’s return tonight.

The Vols, again searching for a new coach, will be under the command of interim head coach Brady Hoke, who’s been scrambling to keep things together after Butch Jones was fired from the job last Sunday.

“I don’t understand what happened,” Orgeron said. “I don’t pay much attention to it.”

Of course he knows Hoke — that extensive résumé gets you in touch with most of the coaching fraternity eventually — and “I know he’ll have his team ready.

“We’re expected a pumped-up team. They’re going to play their best.”

Hoke went on his call-in radio show Wednesday to urge Tennessee fans, many of whom have been avoiding Neyland Stadium for the last month, to get out to support the Vols.

“It’s not like they’ve laid down,” Hoke said. “It’s not like they haven’t practiced hard. It’s not like they haven’t stayed together.” 

At any rate, Orgeron said, that’s Tennessee’s issue.

“It’s not going to be about them,” he said. “It’s going to be about us.”

Not so long ago, it looked as if LSU could be in the same boat.

Following a 2-0 start, the Vols went into a tailspin after losing their SEC opener at Florida on a Hail Mary and three of their five SEC losses since have been by 37 or more points.

LSU’s fork in the road came after an embarrassing loss to Troy in late September, but the Tigers rebounded with a road at win at Florida the next week and have won four of their last five games. The lone loss was a competitive outing at No. 1 Alabama.

Tennessee has an outside chance to get bowl eligible with wins in its last two games. LSU has a chance to run the table for a 10-win season.

The Tigers will be a tad short-handed for tonight, especially on defense where star rush linebacker Arden Key and middle linebacker Donnie Alexander — who didn’t practice all week — didn’t make the trip to Knoxville.

Both would be replaced by true freshmen — K’Lavon Chaisson for Key and Tyler Taylor for Alexander.

“They’ve played before,” Orgeron said. “We’ve started them before and those guys have done a good job. They’re young … They’ve gotten better, but obviously there’s some things we’re going to have to fix during the game.

“They’re still going to make mistakes. You’ve got to be patient with them.”