Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush admit to being terrified of Ed Orgeron at USC (Video)
Matt Leinart’s first impression of Ed Orgeron at USC was fear.
Normally, it’s defensive linemen who strike fear into the hearts of quarterbacks. For former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, it was the defensive line coach.
Between his bulk and gravely voice, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron can certainly strike an imposing figure. That hasn’t changed since the early 2000s when he was coaching with Pete Carroll at USC.
“I was so scared of him,” Leinart said on FOX Big Noon Kickoff. “The first couple of years, he would just get into the quarterbacks. I’d see him in the hallway and I’d just go the other way. He scared the crap out of me.”
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1304810637441236992?s=20
USC legends Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush were awfully intimidated by Ed Orgeron when he was a coach with the Trojans
Leinart described Orgeron as “one of those guys who shake your hand but they really look deep into your eyes.”
Reggie Bush, another USC alumni on the set of Big Noon Kickoff, confirmed that Leinart wasn’t alone.
“I was petrified of Coach Orgeron,” Bush said.
The former running back told a story of how Orgeron’s presence was so intimidating during a high school recruiting visit that he thought twice about his commitment.
“I had never met a human being that passionate about football that it scared me,” Bush explained.
Now older and wiser, both former Trojans were able to share a laugh with Orgeron while interviewing him for the FOX show.
Leinart and Bush have come a long way since their USC days. So has Orgeron. The once-failed Ole Miss head coach and overlooked assistant Trojan assistant is now a national title winner with LSU.
Future recruiting visits will still include that same passion for the game, but also a snazzy new championship ring.
Orgeron will begin his national championship defense next Saturday against Mississippi State in Baton Rouge.
50 best college football teams of all time. dark. Next
For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.