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Ed Orgeron On Players Skipping Bowl Games: Im Old-Fashioned, I Think The Team Comes First

by Staff Reporter

December 11, 201841 Comments

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The trend of College Football players skipping their teams' bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft is something that has become and more and more common over the past few years.

As many already know, LSU starting cornerback and potential top-10 draft pick Greedy Williams has decided to skip the Fiesta Bowl as he prepares for the NFL.

On Tuesday, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron met with the media and was asked about Williams' decision.

"I’m old-fashioned," Orgeron said. "I think the team comes first but I understand. He’s a father already and it was a family decision. I didn’t go against it.”

“It has to be in your heart and you have to want to be here. If you don’t want to be here, I really don’t want you to be around,” Orgeron added. “If a guy is done, I like him to tell me and I’ll honor that. I’m not mad at him, do I agree with it, not necessarily.”

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Originally published on TigerDroppings.com

41 Comments

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SEC Grapevine•65 months

Devin White and Williams' teammates made it Crystal Clear "Stop": They understand. But 2 weeks later the HC, instead of touting GWill_29's accomplishments, is spinning something of great value in a negative way. Williams going top 1-10 in the Draft and getting paid is worth a lot to LSU in DBU recruiting value. His NFL success is worth more #LSUFOLIFE. He made a prudent decision. The Avg career in the NFL is 3.5 yrs, less than the free agency clock, and 80% go bankrupt in 3 yrs after leaving. LF skipped the Bowl and should have never played most of his last year injured. Due to injuries, his durability in question, there is talk of trading him. So no one should ask a Top 10 player to risk doing anything for free.

tigerburningbright75•65 months

That's a bunch of garbage. LSU's been touting itself for years about being DBU. What good as it done them?

sidvicous•65 months

Does any head or assistant coach go to the players when they take stepping stone jobs and leave? Greedy doesn't owe LSU or Coach O anything. At the end of the day, taking care of your family comes first. Devin White playing good ole boy , think scouts will be impress, Scouts don't give a rat arse about he decision to play in the bowl game. They just care if he is good enough to help their team on Sunday. If Devin gets hurt, no LSU alum or Coach O will secure his family and future financially. Secure the Bag. These are good kids and a chance of a lifetime awaits. 3 yrs is a lot of time they give to the LSU program. Only so many days to play at a high level. Forget a bowl game that only pays the University.

lil 7thward•65 months

Well said, sidvicous.

SEC Grapevine•65 months

"Does any head or assistant coach go to the players when they take stepping stone jobs and leave?" Well, no and the recruits are left questioning their "honor & integrity" as 'cra_cra Bebe' posited in his 'classless' excoriation of Williams. For example, Adam Henry wooed #1 WR Tyron Johnson in 2015 and bolted a few days later for SF. Getting Johnson was described by local media as 'one of the oddest phenomena in recruiting' how a run first team had so many top WRs. TJ transferred the next year along with 5 other WRs.

PortHudsonPlaya•65 months

Don’t blame Greedy one bit. NCAA football is the closest thing this country has to modern day slavery.

SoulGlo•65 months

Spot on, coach... but it's not "old fashioned." It's just right.

voodooidotwo•65 months

I agree with coach 100%. The only thing that bothers me is he said “I’m old fashion, I think the team should come first”. When did it become “old fashion to show dedication? These young kids see money and run for the hills. They will learn chasing the dollar will destroy you

justustm2•65 months

Do you think if another school like USC or Miami offered Coach O double his salary and a 10 years contract to take their head coaching job now before the bowl game he wouldn't bolt. And that is with him making millions right now. Greedy and the players are making zilch in a billion dollar game. Everyone gets paid but them.

BayouCowboy•65 months

I think the issue is that Greedy did not talk to O before announcing his decision. O asked for a sit down and was blindsided instead. You want to be a man and go make the big money then man up and go talk to your coach.

justustm2•65 months

Greedy and his family did talk to O. They just did not get back to O before announcing his decision. Do you believe O would discuss with the players whether he should take another, better job if offered? Or before accepting?

eugene1928LSU•65 months

Right on Coach, right on.

LUS Tiger in FL•65 months

Did the team come first about hiring the best OC

eugene1928LSU•65 months

Shut up

Stud Bud•65 months

Fair point

cra_cra•65 months

It's about honor and integrity... which is slowly evaporating out of our society. LSU helped Greedy with his education... with his development as a player, etc. His teammates also invested in him. To walk out on your coaches and team is just classless. End of story.

earl keese•65 months

"It's about honor and integrity" I agree with you cra_cra. "To walk out on your coaches and team is just classless" I agree with this as well. Now explain to me why the same standard shouldn't be held to a coach that leaves his coaches and team before a bowl game. Like o did to the USC Trojans during the 2013 season.

justustm2•65 months

What do you call someone who calls another person classless when they do not know that person, nor have any inside information on that person's decision? What is old fashioned is to not judge others when we have not walked in their shoes. Also to not negatively paint others based on our own personal desires and personal prejudices.

Buckeye Jeaux•65 months

Their choice to leave the team early as a business decision. But hate seeing them get the rock star treatment on the sidelines at bowl games. Let them buy a ticket in the stands. Get their your own plane ticket and hotel room. Send the bill to their NFL agent.

Eriq Killmonger•65 months

Did he put the team first when he left LSU because he was home sick?! Then end up even farther away at NSU. I am not an O basher but he needs to stfu. But he is old fashioned Get the frick outta here with that bullshite.

cra_cra•65 months

trying to parallel these situations shows how absolutely dumb frick stupid you are. congrats!

nastytaco4•65 months

God this is so bad you just have to laugh! This is O bashing to the extreme. You like like a complete idiot big dawg.

eugene1928LSU•65 months

shut up idiot

KING NOLA•65 months

I guarantee every coach in the country feels the same way even some strongly disagreeing with the move but a lot of them won't admit it. One thing you can say about Coach O he says what's on his mind and is brutally honest. He doesn't agree with Greedy's decision but he respects it.

bradwieser•65 months

Says the guy who quit the LSU football team as a player in his first year.

BayouBengal99•65 months

Stfu arse... I'm sure he doesn't look at his decision as the best one back then either and he went on to finish his FB career at another school. Finished is the key word. He didn't quit when his team needed him. He was on a practice squad. Quite the difference.

earl keese•65 months

Once a quitter, always a quitter. Don't forget 2013 USC football team.

eugene1928LSU•65 months

bradweener, just shut up

Show 1 last reply in this conversation

tigerfoot•65 months

O is exactly right.

BTRDD•65 months

There should be an insurance policy for bowl games. Each player should receive this via the Bowl itself.

LSUintheNW•65 months

I believe only 1 player has ever been paid so that's not exactly a full proof plan.

Solo Cam•65 months

I wish he would have played but I will never, ever blame a man for doing something that he believes is best for his family.

cra_cra•65 months

how is in ANY way, best for his family??? Name one player that lost "millions" playing in a bowl game. I'll hang up and listen.

Bayou_Tiger_225•65 months

Jaylon Smith did @cra_cra

justustm2•65 months

Cra Cra is Cra Cra. Enough said.

ChewyDante•65 months

Perfect reaction, honestly. Couldn't agree with him more.

TigerAlum93•65 months

Agree.

SammyTiger•65 months

Unless you’re homesick, ay Ed?

BayouBengal99•65 months

You O bashers are pathetic human beings. Really pathetic. He just said he supports what he's doing and doesn't want players playing when their hearts not in it. He just doesn't agree with it but understands. Unlike many of you but that's typical of you people, I wouldn't expect much more from haters.

eugene1928LSU•65 months

sammy tiggger, shut up and go away, like forever nega tiger