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NEW ORLEANS - A dense fog enveloped the Crescent City Monday which brought about thoughts of things emerging from the poor visibility like the ghost of Marie LeVeau or Jean Lafitte.
What did emerge, however, was a College Football Playoff National Championship for the Fightin’ Tigers of LSU after dethroning the reigning national champion Clemson Tigers, 42-25.
“Well, I want to thank our great fans for being here,” said LSU head coach Ed Orgeron. “We left the hotel today, what a phenomenal group we had. They gave us energy all night, and they’ve been with us all year.
“Give the credit to our players. Those guys fought. We started working last year on January 17. They’ve worked their tails off with Tommy Moffitt. They did the right things, character, grit, determination.”
He continued, “We’ve got to give the credit to our coaching staff, Jack Marucci, Tommy Moffitt, all the trainers, and just a tremendous night for the LSU Tigers, tremendous night for the purple and gold, tremendous night for the state of Louisiana. We are so proud to represent them.”
Tiger linebacker Patrick Queen was Defensive Player of the Game.
“At the end of the first half,” he said, “Coach O sat us down, calmed us down. We were really anxious being out there, so we just all gathered together and played team defense.
“We always knew this was Joe (Burrow)’s team from the day he came in. He was competing in the sprints. So, for Joe to be that kind of person to come out on day one and give us the best he can, we already knew this was his team.”
Burrow broke another record in the game by throwing his 59th touchdown of the season on his way to being named Offensive Player of the Game.
“I think what we did tonight can’t be taken away from us,” he said. “I know this National Championship will be remembered for a long time in Louisiana. To do it in New Orleans is even more special. This is going to be remembered for a long time.”
For another LSU player, this victory was special not only for himself, but his native Mamou in Evangeline Parish.
“Shout out to Mamou,” said offensive lineman Austin Deculus. “This is for Mamou. After every game this season, I told my dad I wanted to represent Mamou and I wanted to represent something bigger than me. That’s why I changed my bio because I just wanted to represent them, and I hope I made them proud.”