3. Trusting in Burrow
It’s not every season that a transfer quarterback enters the SEC and plays well. It happens even less that a transfer will join a new team and conference, get the keys from the head coach, and go on to lead an undefeated campaign and win the Heisman Trophy. But that’s exactly what happened with Orgeron and quarterback Joe Burrow.
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His story is well-documented by now, but the Ohio State-transfer is everything the Tigers’ football program has lacked in recent memory. Burrow stands 6-foot-4, making him big enough to see everything in the pocket. And while his arm is great, he’s capable of making plays with his feet. He passed for 4,715 yards and 48 touchdowns this season, while also adding 289 yards and three scores on the ground. He’s not going to set any rushing records, but his ability to move the chains and keep plays alive is something that’ll make his pro career a long one.
Orgeron made this happen. He could’ve chosen somebody else to run the show. He could’ve moved on from Burrow after last season, which didn’t exactly live up to much. How many times have the Tigers been a great team, but the quarterback position struggled? That didn’t happen with Burrow’s excellence, but that opportunity was presented to him by Orgeron.