LSU’s Ed Orgeron reveals initial response to Brian Kelly’s Southern accent

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Former LSU Tigers head football coach Ed Orgeron is back in the Bayou.

Earlier this week, new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin hired “Coach O” as a special assistant focused on defense and recruiting.

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LSU fired Orgeron during the 2021 season after he led the Tigers to the 2019 national championship. His replacement, Brian Kelly, took over to start the 2022 campaign.

During a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast, Orgeron shared his reaction to a famous moment from Kelly’s early days at LSU.

Kelly employed what many described as a fake Southern accent while addressing fans at an LSU basketball game. On3 shared Orgeron’s response.

“It’s over,” Orgeron said. “You ain’t got a chance, man. Not only do the fans see it, the players see that. … You guys know this, man. Players gotta trust you. You gotta be who you are. If you try to be somebody you ain’t, they gonna smell it right away.”

Orgeron knows Louisiana

No one questions Orgeron’s Louisiana bona fides. He was born and raised in Larose, Louisiana, and has a raspy Southern drawl clearly born in the Bayou. When he says “Geaux Tigers” at the end of every interview, it rings true.

Meanwhile, Kelly is from Massachusetts. Before heading to LSU, his Southernmost coaching job was with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Kelly finished his LSU tenure 34-14. Though he turned in a pair of 10-win seasons, Kelly never fit in. The school fired him after eight games during the 2025 season.

“You can’t disassociate yourself from these people,” Orgeron said, “because this is their life.”

Orgeron’s stint as LSU head coach ended with a 51-20 record. The 2019 squad — it featured Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase — rolled through a 15-0 season on the way to the Tigers’ fourth national championship.

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