BATON ROUGE, LA – LSU assistant coach Ed Orgeron is reportedly using a new method to evaluate linebacker recruits, determining their future on the football field based largely on whether they can finish an entire muffuletta from Anthony’s Italian Deli on Government Street.
According to multiple inside sources familiar with the recruiting process, prospects visiting Baton Rouge are taken to Anthony’s where coach O observes not only whether the recruit finishes the sandwich, but how quickly and confidently they do it.
“Anybody can run a 40 yard dash,” Coach O told a Sadvocate reporter. “I wanna know whether dat baw can finish an entire muffuletta from Antnee’s and then hit someone.”
Recruiting insiders say the evaluation includes several key metrics, including time until sandwich completion, amount of olive salad that falls out, and whether the recruit buys a pack of cannolis before leaving.
LSU officials have denied that Anthony’s plays any role in player evaluations, though several recruits noted they spent considerably more time discussing Anthony’s muffs than defensive schemes during their visits.
Recruiting analysts say the system remains surprisingly effective, noting that everybody who finished an entire muff has ended up with a starting position on the team.
