Like a crisply thrown pass from his glory days, LSU legend Bert Jones delivered a strong endorsement of head coach Ed Orgeron.

Jones was part of a small gathering of LSU supporters and high school coaches who came together in Monroe, La., on Tuesday night to talk football.

Orgeron was there as speak and mingle as part of his ongoing grassroots campaign. Seated in the back of the room, Jones stood up during the question and answer segment to speak to everyone in the room.

“I have played the game at all levels, high school, college and pro,” Jones said. “I’ve had the opportunity to go down and watch (LSU) practice. I’m telling you, you feel his energy in here. But you see the energy on the football field.”

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer continued, saying, “Every player on that team is having fun, every player is hustling his butt off. I’ve never seen anything like it. It reminds me of playing in the back yard, organized. It’s the finest thing I’ve ever seen at any level, whether pro, college or high school. All you high school coaches, you need to go watch how they do it. They have a great time, but they work their butts off.”

A product of Ruston High School and nicknamed “The Ruston Rifle”, Jones played on LSU’s 1970 SEC championship team and finished fourth in the 1972 Heisman Trophy race as a senior. He spent 10 years in the NFL, primarily with the Baltimore Colts and was the league’s Most Valuable player in 1976.