Drew Brees said before Zion Williamson was drafted No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans that “If you love the city of New Orleans, it will love you right back.” The same can be said for the entire state of Louisiana, and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is getting the full experience of that love.
The Ohio-native and Ohio State graduate transfer catapulted from solid quarterback in 2018 to Heisman winner in 2019. On top of that, he’s the first LSU quarterback to defeat Alabama since Jordan Jefferson in 2011.
He got a small taste of the Louisiana lifestyle the summer he decided to transfer from Ohio State.
“I’m glad we went to Mike Anderson’s and ate crawfish that night and he decided to come (to LSU),” Orgeron said at Monday’s weekly luncheon.
Burrow got a Lil Boosie Instagram shoutout after the defeat of Alabama. Three days later he was even Facetiming with the iconic Baton Rouge-based rapper and Boosie has been active in support of Burrow on social media throughout LSU’s postseason run.
After the initial Facetime, WVLA sports director and anchor Brian Holland tweeted that Burrow’s adoption by the state of Louisiana was now official.
And that’s true. Burrow was embraced by the LSU locker room early last season, especially after facilitating a game-winning drive on The Plains against Auburn. He’s became a clear part of the family.
Burrow even admitted at player media availability after the Alabama win that he didn’t realize how much the Alabama win meant to Louisiana until the team landed in Baton Rouge Saturday night.
“It was pretty special,” Burrow said. “I was surprised to see it. I just wanted to do anything I could to embrace those people who came out.”
“It’s hard to take a step back and reflect on it, you can’t really do it during the season, but I’m starting to realize how much that game meant to people.”
Burrow has rewritten the LSU record books. He’s was LSU’s first Heisman winner since Billy Cannon in 1959 and led the Tigers to their first national championship since 2007. But most of all, he’s become part of the family. He even trucked a referee during LSU’s win over Arkansas, something many Louisiana sports fans wish they could’ve done themselves.
“I thought I would be on this stage, I didn’t think I would be in this jersey though,” Burrow said on the CBS broadcast following the win over Alabama. “It’s been a bumpy road, it’s been a long one, but I couldn’t be in a better place.”
Holland was right, the adoption is official.
“I think it’s magical, I really do,” Burrow said after the national championship win.
