Football
Ed Orgeron confronts Alabama fan over “Roll Tide” greeting in viral video
Apparently rivalry between Tigers and Crimson Tide still runs deep for former coach in encounter on beach
Ed Orgeron, the larger-than-life former LSU football coach, is no stranger to passionate college football fans.
But even for a man who’s become a cult hero in Baton Rouge and beyond, there are still boundaries and the deep-seated LSU-Alabama rivalry remains one of them.
A video posted on social media this week shows Orgeron, affectionately known as “Coach O,” posing for a photo with an Alabama fan.
What started as a friendly encounter quickly turned awkward when the fan capped off their interaction with a hearty “Roll Tide.” Orgeron, never one to mince words, confronted the fan with a mix of seriousness and his signature Cajun charm.
“Now, really?” Orgeron asked, his tone shifting. “I wouldn’t say ‘Go Tigers’ to you after taking a photo. Have a good day, man … Just some respect. I mean, what the f*? If you were from LSU, you wouldn’t go to Nick Saban and say ‘Go Tigers,’ would you?”
The video, shared by Nick Perkins on , quickly went viral, prompting laughter and debate throughout the college football world.
Some viewers admired Orgeron’s candor and loyalty to LSU, while others saw it as a reminder of how intense SEC rivalries can get, even off the field.
For Orgeron, the Alabama game has always been personal. As LSU’s head coach from 2016 to 2021, he faced Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide six times, managing just one win. That victory, however, remains a high point in recent LSU history.
In 2019, when LSU defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Orgeron made headlines for his own locker room outburst. “Roll Tide, what? F* you,” he shouted, capturing the exhilaration—and animosity—that has long characterized this matchup.
Orgeron’s fiery personality and quotable moments have made him a beloved figure, even after LSU parted ways with him in 2021.
Since then, he’s stayed mostly out of the coaching spotlight, occasionally surfacing as a speaker or simply enjoying retirement. But the recent video shows that, for Coach O, rivalries don’t retire.
The LSU-Alabama rivalry is among the most storied in college football, defined by dramatic games and larger-than-life personalities.
Nick Saban, who led LSU to a national championship before building a dynasty at Alabama, is a central figure in the rivalry’s modern era. Orgeron’s lone win against Saban in 2019 helped catapult LSU to a national title and cemented his legacy in Baton Rouge.
“That 2019 team had swagger, and Orgeron was the perfect coach for them at the time,” ESPN’s Chris Low once said.
Alabama fans, for their part, are known for their unwavering pride. “Roll Tide” is more than a phrase.
It’s a greeting, a sign-off, and a rallying cry. But as Orgeron’s reaction made clear, college football traditions are sometimes best kept among friends.
The exchange also speaks to the broader culture of Southern football, where rivalries are fierce but often come with a sense of mutual respect.
SEC fans know the boundaries, and Orgeron’s response was less about animosity and more about etiquette. As one LSU fan commented online, “Coach O just wants people to respect the rivalry. You don’t say ‘Roll Tide’ to an LSU legend.”
If history is any guide, this won’t be the last time Orgeron’s quick wit makes headlines.
For now, though, his message to fans is simple: enjoy the game, but remember where your loyalties lie—and maybe think twice before dropping a “Roll Tide” in front of an LSU icon.
