Ed Orgeron: “I know we’re going to bounce back”

By CODY WORSHAM | Tiger Rag Editor

In past seasons, LSU’s season has all but ended after defeat at the hands of Alabama. The Tigers are a combined 3-4 since 2014 after losing the first game of November to the Tide,  and two of those losses have come to this week’s opponent, Bret Bielema’s Arkansas Razorbacks.

No more, says Ed Orgeron.

“It’s going to be a challenging week, to get over our first loss of the new season,” he said. “But we must respond.

“I think we’re just getting started.”

The Tigers (5-3, 3-2) are all but eliminated from contention in the SEC West after Saturday’s loss to Alabama. LSU’s defense was valiant, holding Alabama 34 points below its season average, but the offense mustered just six first downs all night — 25 yards in the second half in total — in failing to score a single point. The loss, like it has every year since Jan. 9, 2012, was a painful one in the LSU football ops building.

“We all felt it yesterday,” Orgeron said. “All of us had to deal with some kind of emotional letdown. We all had hurt in our belly.”

Orgeron’s goal, though, is to turn the page on Monday — correction, Tell the Truth Monday. LSU will head to Fayetteville for a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Razorbacks, who are coming off a 31-10 win over Florida. Orgeron said his team has already turned the page ahead of its first road game since a September loss at Auburn.

“This is probably the most significant Monday we’ve had all season,” he said. “There’s no question: I know we’re going to bounce back. We’re not going to let game four affect game five.”

More from Coach O’s Monday presser:

• On if Danny Etling was nervous vs. Alabama: “It seemed like it. It was totally out of his character. It seemed like he was nervous or anticipating getting hit.”
• On Brandon Harris: “In order for us to take out Danny, we’d have to think Brandon can go out there and do a better job. He has to show us that in practice. Right now, we don’t believe that.”
• On Cam Robinson: “The one who’s at left tackle for Alabama should be here.”