Ed Orgeron has seen a lot of things in his nearly four-decade football coaching career, but one text message he received this week marked a new first.
That message, of course, came from Ed's son Cody Orgeron. He needed more tickets for the weekend's game. It was, unsurprisingly, the first time Ed had ever gotten such a request from an opposing quarterback.
"[Cody's] always wanted to come play in Death Valley," Orgeron said this week. "So it’s going to be a tremendous night for both of us. It’s going to be tough to be going against my son, but hey, we’re there to win."
Cody's wish will come true on Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The question: Is it father or son that leaves with a victory?
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SUPPORT, NOT SCOUTING
When McNeese State arrives in Baton Rouge, it won't be the first time Ed sees the Cowboys in person, despite never facing them as a head coach. He's spent plenty of time watching McNeese State football in support of both his sons.
Cody's twin brother, Parker, was a wide receiver for McNeese State until 2018 and is now an offensive analyst at LSU.
Will that give the Tigers a bit of an edge game planning for this weekend's matchup? It's possible, Cody said, but unlikely. His father wasn't watching McNeese to study for a game he couldn't have known would be scheduled. He was simply there as a "normal dad." It was a scenario not unlike what LSU sees with Super Bowl champion Brad Johnson in the stands to support his son, Max. Or what it will see when current NFL assistant coach Doug Nussmeier inevitably arrives to support his son, Garrett, now serving as LSU's backup.
"He’s the best dad a kid could ask for," Cody said. "He was definitely just coming here to watch his son."
Each member of the Orgeron family is locked in for this week. That number also includes Tyler Spotts-Orgeron, another of LSU's offensive analysts. They all communicate regularly, and about more than simply ticket requests. LSU's coach said he was going over film from McNeese State's first game of the season, a 42-36 shootout loss to West Florida, and shared his positive reviews of the performance with his son.
Cody also said he and his brothers got in some good trash talk during a recent trip to Cancun, and openly discussed the prospect of a future career as an LSU assistant coach. But as the game has drawn closer the friendly banter has gradually slowed. The Orgerons' focus has turned more to the business at hand.
But first, two important questions, who will mom be pulling for? "Hopefully [McNeese], but probably 50-50," Cody said. "A house divided, so we’ll see."
What about grandma, Coco Orgeron? "I guarantee she's pulling for Cody," Ed said. "I can tell you that right now."
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AN ORGERON GAMEPLAN?
What's been made clear along with that underlying support: No punches will be pulled.
Cody Orgeron would like nothing better than to walk out of Tiger Stadium as the architect of one of the more stunning upsets of his father's career. Ed Orgeron has no interest in seeing that happen, particularly following a deflating loss to UCLA in the Tigers' season-opener.
LSU spent 8 hours on Sunday going over the film from that opening loss, Orgeron said, and the team spent more time than they typically would revisiting trouble points before turning attention to McNeese and moving forward.
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Even with his dad's feedback, Cody knows he probably didn't get all the notes from his father's viewing of McNeese's opener. That's just the way it is.
"I’m sure he’s not going to tell me all of my weaknesses, he’s going to try to expose them a little bit," Cody said. "But I’m going to try to do the same as well, so it’s gonna be fun.”
McNeese State coach Frank Wilson seemed aware of that fact when asked about the father-son showdown. The New Orleans native spent 5 years as an assistant coach with LSU, and was also on Ed Orgeron's staff during his tenure at Ole Miss.
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With that history in mind, Wilson joked that he might phone in a request of his own to his former boss.
“I’m thinking about calling him and asking him to hold off the blitz and give us a little time there," he said. "I don’t think he would abide by it, but it may be worth it.”
Game on.
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Follow Jeff Nowak on Twitter @Jeff_Nowak or contact him by email at jeffrey.nowak@audacy.com