The Ortego Factor

It’s really a thing.  The Ortego Factor.  Beginning more than a dozen years ago, Ortego siblings and cousins stepped into the ranks of their chosen college schoolmates, thereby bringing phenomenal success to their football teams.  How is that possible, you ask?  Did they suit up?  Did they coach?  Did they drive the bus?  No, they did none of those things; all completely unnecessary.   Merely stepping on campus did the trick.  In the following historical record, there is one constant that prevails: the mysterious, glorious, passion and intensity of the Ortego Factor.  Just one Ortego seems to bring tectonic power and influence, but just look at what happens when it’s doubled.  

Let’s review:

             

            2001:   First Ortego registers as LSU student

2001:   SEC Champion LSU wins Sugar Bowl

2003:  Second Ortego registers as LSU student, Ortego Factor doubled

2003:  LSU wins BCS National Championship

2004:  Undefeated Auburn wins Sugar Bowl in mere anticipation of Ortego Factor coming to the Plains.

2005:  Third Ortego registers as Auburn student

2005:  Auburn /LSU co-champs of SEC

2007: Ortego Factor doubled again with two Ortego’s on LSU campus

2007:  LSU wins BCS National Championship

2009: Ortego Factor doubles once again, fourth Ortego registers as Auburn 
            student

2010:    Undefeated, Untied Auburn wins BCS National Championship

2011:    SEC Champion LSU returns to BCS National Championship Game on   strength of one Ortego (Roussell)

2013:   SEC Champion Auburn returns to BCS National Championship Game on strength of one Ortego

2014:   ????     Final season for current Ortego Factor era   ????

What’s their secret you ask?  No one really knows for sure.  Some say they’ve bottled the essence of Mike’s roar and War Eagle’s flight.  Some point to superior parenting, but modesty prohibits comment.  Some point to crippling good looks and charm.  Who can argue?  One cringes a bit at the future absence of the Ortego Factor but scholars have postulated that “Once in Motion – Always in Motion”  may well apply to this phenomenon.  Both “campi” eagerly anticipate the footfall of the next generation of Ortego’s to continue “The Factor”.  And yes, since you asked, the Factor does encompass life everywhere an Ortego strides, and that, it seems,  as easily as a Les Mis childhood!