From the moment he was named LSU's interim head coach on Sept. 25 of last year, every move Ed Orgeron made was with the goal of gaining the full-time job in mind. Orgeron spent the next two months on his quote-unquote best behavior, uniting the entire LSU community behind what he believed would become an Orgeron administration.
As we now know, that plan worked. Orgeron signed a 5-year contract in November, but that approach hasn't stopped. LSU is Orgeron's dream job, a position he clearly appreciates after a decades-long struggle, and he clearly plans to keep it as long as possible.
Case in point:
It's a small gesture, sure, and no one believes Orgeron himself typed out each of these letters. But, still, it worked. Ryan felt moved enough by the gesture to show it to a member of the media.
A hundred small gestures like that, quick pats on the back to everyone who contributes to the LSU football program, will combine to create a united movement behind Orgeron and the Tigers' program.
Coach O didn't understand that before. But he does now.