Link Gumbo 12/28/17: Canada Out, Bowl Prep Continues

LSU will head to Orlando today to prepare to take on Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl on Monday. The hoops team will face Memphis tonight in what is their first true road game of the season and the ladies got a solid win over Sam Houston State last night. Also, a big report on Matt Canada broke yesterday evening so let's round up all the news.

Last night, multiple reports broke saying Ed Orgeron is going to replace the offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. There have been rumors about Canada’s departure for quite some time now. Ross Dellenger of The Advocate is reporting that LSU officials have been trying to reach a settlement with the representatives of Canada in recent days. The riff in Canada and Orgeron’s relationship is expected to have begun sometime before the Troy game. After the A&M game, Coach O hinted at Canada possibly leaving. Orgeron praised Canada at his press conference yesterday.

Reaction regarding Canada’s departure was mixed from LSU Twitter. I personally think Canada did a solid job with the LSU offense. I think a lot of fan disappointment stems from the fact LSU fans had such high expectations for what Canada was going to do with this LSU offense. It was unreasonable to think Canada would step in right away and start hanging 35 a game on opposing defenses. Especially with the depleted and young offensive line and the inexperienced receivers LSU had. Scott Rabalais revealed his thoughts in a story for The Advocate last night.

ATVS’ own PodKATT thought the feud between Orgeron and Canada was fabricated to be more than what it really was.

It will be interesting to see if Canada shows up at the press conference the Citrus Bowl holds for coordinators on Friday morning. This situation might remind you of what took place before and after the Music City Bowl in 2014 with John Chavis. Hopefully, LSU gets a different result this game then they did in the Music City Bowl which was also against Notre Dame.

Ross Dellenger had a great piece for The Advocate that looked back at the 2014 bowl game against the Irish. The story takes a look back at Fournette’s breakout, the Chavis’ drama, and what we all know was a Kragthorpe touchdown.

Coach O had his final press conference yesterday before leaving for Orlando today. Ed O mentioned a few things worth noting including that LSU only has four spots left in this years signing class. LSU tried to get the graduate transfer, Cole Tracy, to not count with the 25 but the SEC said Tracy is indeed a part of the 25. Orgeron also mentioned how the LSU staff balanced bowl prep with recruiting saying him and assistants went on the road while the coordinators stayed put to game-plan. Also of note, Corey Thompson and Arden Key are no longer around the LSU program. This presumably to prepare for the NFL draft. Orgeron was asked about Key’s future, and while he said he doesn’t know for sure, he can make an “educated guess” at what Key will do. Coach O also mentioned how thrilled he was that Terrace Marshall will be a Tiger.

Derrius Guice returned to practice Monday and Tuesday. Other injuries news was that receiver Stephen Sullivan was in a gold non-contact jersey and Ed Ingram was a no-show at practice on Tuesday.

LSU released a depth chart yesterday for the Citrus Bowl. I said on Tuesday that Ray Thornton could possibly get the start in place of Thompson, it now looks like Mike Divinity will start at the field linebacker spot opposite of Chaisson.

In a story for The Advocate, Mike Gegenheimer profiled the Notre Dame O-Line and the challenges LSU will face. I personally think the LSU defense’s ability to eat up the double teams will be a big problem for the Notre Dame offensive line. If Rashard Lawrence can stand in there against the left side of that Irish line, LSU should be in good shape.

LSU Basketball will take on Memphis tonight in what is their first true road test this season. Coach Wade made it clear yesterday he expects playing Memphis on the road to be a tough task much like the challenges they will face playing SEC opponents. LSU will try to carry a momentum from a win tonight into conference play beginning in early January.

LSU Women's Basketball got a win over Sam Houston State last night. Like the men's game at Memphis tonight, this was the women’s final game before conference play starts.

To close things out, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards spent his Monday afternoon getting some work in with the LSU Football team. It sounds like the Governor had an impressive 75% completion percentage. He did have a drop so maybe he needs some work with the WRs.