Opinion: Americans need inspiration in coronavirus fight. We need LSU coach Ed Orgeron.

Josh Peter | USA TODAY

We’ve been robbed of March Madness, Opening Day and a slew of sporting contests that feed our soul. The coronavirus pandemic has also sidelined coaches who inspire their teams the way our country might need to be inspired.

We’re talking about Mike Krzyzewski, Tara VanDerveer and Geno Auriemma.

We’re talking about Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers.

We’re talking about Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon and … Ed Orgeron?

Yes, we’re talking about Ed Orgeron, the football coach who led the Louisiana State University Tigers to the national championship in January and, during this escalating national crisis, has potentially emerged as America’s coach.

Now it might take time to get used to his gravelly voice and that Cajun drawl. But his heart is as big as his barrel-shaped chest, and it was on display during a recent news conference in Louisiana.

When Orgeron stepped behind the lectern, he might as well have stepped into America’s living room.

“It’s gonna get tough next two weeks," said Orgeron, affectionately known as Coach O. “C’mon, we tough. Bring it on.”

So maybe it sounded a tad hokey, but the sentiment felt authentic and uplifting and was reminiscent of two of the great coaches in sports history.

"This is not the time to be selfish": Coach O tells Louisiana residents to help each other, make smart choices during coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/lfdOArai1e pic.twitter.com/jnkm3iPdLD — WBRZ News (@WBRZ) March 18, 2020

Like Knute Rockne’s “Win One For the Gipper" speech that inspired the Notre Dame football team to victory.

And Vince Lombardi’s famous quote — “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing" — that epitomized his Green Bay Packers teams that won the NFL’s first two Super Bowls.

Of course, there will be no victory here. Throughout the world, thousands of lives have already been lost and more will die. Society will be crippled. Yet, as Orgeron reminded us, it’s no time to surrender.

His work started with a public service announcement that aired Sunday.

“For every winning team, a key to success is to learn the playbook,’’ he said. “That’s true in football and that’s also true as we take on the coronavirus."

Cover your cough with your elbow, he said while demonstrating. Wash your hands thoroughly, for a full 20 seconds, he instructed. If you are sick, stay home, he ordered.

Then came the news conference Tuesday.

“Look, we all know we’re from Louisiana, we tough," Orgeron said. “We’re resilient. I encourage you to follow the game plan, just like I ask the Tigers, man.

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“We put 11 men on the field and we fight like Tigers. It’s about execution. It’s about one team, one heartbeat. Everybody pulling together."

Indeed, it’s time to pull together, America, just like Coach O says.