It’s going to be a GOOD year! At least defensively, LSU is looking like Championship form.
After surviving the “Lee” chinese water torture of the first week of College Football season, I had six wins on the annual deClouet Football pool. Just pacing myself…I’ll take 60% at the end of the season.
Oh, and for the record…LSU was voted the LOUDEST College Football stadium in America by The Sporting News. But, we knew that, right?
To quote the LATE, great Bear Bryant, “Tiger Stadium was the worst place in the world to be a visiting team. It’s like being inside a drum.”
Death Valley welcomes Northwestern State on Saturday.
Les “Fear the Hat” Miles lead the Bayou Bengals to an ass-whippin’ over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl last night, 41-24. The Aggies quick-tempo offense had the Tigers off balance for the 1st quarter, but the LSU speed, agility, and pure strength simply overwhelmed the puny Aggies. The LSU OFFENSE (Who knew?)
dominated the Aggie “Wrecking Crew” Defense.
The Mad Hatter's autograph on the Visitors' Wall at Cowboy Stadium
While our coach may not appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, he’s the only LSU coach to have FOUR 11 win seasons (in 6 years). Even the great Nick Saban doesn’t have that in his pocket. So, Coach, go ahead and mangle your words, eat Tiger Stadium grass, and keep going for it on 4th down — just keep winning and you’ll be a bigger Louisiana legend than Edwin Edwards!
My dear, old Daddy used to always say, “The smartest thing you can do is to let people think you are stupid and then prove them wrong.” Keep proving them wrong, Coach.
Last year, during football season, I tried to explain the LSU/Alabama drama, via a post entitled The Jilted Lover. Imagine my surprise this past week when I opened up the USA Today after a grueling day on the road to find Glenn Guilbeau’s piece entitled, Saban’s Homecoming Inspires Emotion from LSU Faithful. Here’s the opening paragragh:
Like jilted lovers, LSU fans will be waiting Saturday night at Tiger Stadium for former coach Nick Saban’s arrival. He will have a new love in his arm wearing vivid red and adorned with the No. 1 ranking LSU had in January.
Coincidink? I doubt it. I still get a fair number of hits daily on this post and Mr. Guilbeau has evidently been to Music Maven before. I have to admit, it is a good analogy. So, I want to roll just a little bit further with it.
So yesterday, the ex-girlfriend (Saban) came back to the hometown with slick, Big Al on her arm. I have to admit that I still can’t stand either of them, but I’m pretty content with my own big wedding last year (National Championship) and my own new beau (Les Miles). While I’d still like to be Belle of the Ball and in the spotlight right now, I know that my new marriage is just going through the growing pains of starting out a life together (and an inexperienced Redshirt Freshman QB).
Does it hurt to see them together? Yes. Do I wish that both would fall flat on their faces? Yes. But all I can control is my situation and I have to admit, it’s a pretty good one. As we came face to face on Saturday, I felt mocked and put down. I felt the anger rise and I wanted nothing more than to see them both humiliated and knocked off their perch. And then, after a while it began not to matter. I felt very disconnected from this person who I was once at one with. This Ex was but a stranger to me now and my affection for my new love deepened. Through good times and tough times, she’s been loyal, loving and committed to our relationship, constantly trying to please me. We are now, truly, like peas and carrots.
So, Big Al and the Ex may be on to their own “big dance” and I wish them well. Our meeting proved that I’m not the pushover they thought I was. Even though I didn’t win the fight, I gave them a run for their money, showing that I’ve still got what it takes.
At the request of some readers, I’ve elected to take my football musings off the front page and I have created another blog (or a sub-blog) to address my LSU/Louisiana pride.
Tonight. January 7th, 2008. 7:00 p.m., CST. Fox-TV, live from the New Orleans Superdome.
ESPN illustration
The LSU Tigers take on the Slow-hio Buckeyes for the BCS National Championship.
Now, for obvious reasons, this is an IMPORTANT game. However, what many sports analysts and College Football watchers across the country don’t understand is the real importance of this game for Louisiana. You can analyze and compare the differences in the offensive and defensive lines, the kicking game, team speed, and key personnel in the hopes of predicting a victor, but the one “intangible” that many are not factoring in is LSU’s need to win one for IT’S home team — the people of Louisiana.
You see, for way too long, Louisiana has been under-estimated and the butt of many jokes. Most people don’t understand the uniqueness of the culture and the wonderful work ethic and creative intelligence that thrives in Louisiana. Sadly, Louisiana’s biggest notoriety has come from its renowned political Romper Room and most recently, the spectacle of tragedy via Hurricane Katrina.
What’s lost or not recognized is the vibrancy of the state, and of the Gulf Coast in general. From East Texas all the way to Key West, Florida, the states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico are a critical part of the United States’ infrastructure, providing food, fuel, utilities, and manufacturing to the rest of the country. In addition, the area is a veritable paradise for tourists, providing a sanctuary away from the frigid cold temperatures of Northern winters. We have swamps, beaches, lakes, and rivers that provide ample opportunity for vacationers to enjoy the outdoors year ’round. On top of all that, our hospitality and “joie de vivre” is unmatched. But, I digress….
Back to LSU vs. Ohio State. You see, the Tigers are made up primarily of boys from Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Boys from Louisiana towns like New Iberia, Eunice, Shreveport, Carencro, West Monroe and Amite. Boys from Gulf Coast towns like Mobile, AL; Pascagoula, MS; Lakeland, FL; and Spring, TX. These boys have something to prove. These sons of the South deserve to be touted up there with the football elites like USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame, and they are out to show the rest of the country just how much.
Louisiana and the Gulf Coast are united around this proud LSU Tiger team. If LSU wins, so does the SEC and so does the Gulf Coast. I will take great glee in seeing these Tigers dismantle the Buckeyes. You see, twenty years ago, I was on a flight to Baton Rouge coming home from a business trip. The Ohio State Buckeyes just happened to be on their way to play LSU at Tiger Stadium and were on the same flight. I listened to these arrogant interlopers degrade Louisiana and ridicule the South for over three hours. I got off that plane with a burning yearning for them to get their asses handed to them on that Saturday. Alas, it ended in a 13-13 tie with no real resolution of my need to see this self-important bunch of morons eat crow.
So, tonight the Tigers will avenge that mocking and stereotyping, on the biggest of stages. They’ll be playing for Louisiana, for the pride of the South and for the National Championship. They are faster, deeper and more talented. While I’m sure that Ohio St. will be prepared, I think that a healthy LSU with an impassioned and Buckeye-despising Les Miles wins by 14. Besides, we’ve got Poo-Poo on our side.
Up until last Friday, I somewhat chose my words carefully on this blog as to never have my opinions or thoughts adversely affect my employer if some internet nut ever connected the dots between me and my job and decided on some inane act of revenge. (Don’t laugh….I’ve seen it happen to a good friend.) While I’m not in the CIA or anything like that, I take my responsibilities to the folks who pay me very seriously and would never want to jeopardize their business or reputation by someone hiding behind a keyboard in dark room somewhere looking to settle a score for something I said on this blog.
However….last Friday was my last day of employment with my employer. I still love them all dearly but it was just time for a change. I’ll eventually be working in an independent roll for another company, but for the next few weeks I am unemployed. Unemployment provides me with the opportunity to say a few things that I have been biting my tongue about. So, allow me this rant. Just for today. And, maybe tomorrow.
Today’s rant is about delusional people.
I am so sick of reading and hearing the opines of delusional people. While some are harmless, like Alabama’s fans thinking that Nick Saban is the re-incarnation of The Bear; other “theories” can and do cause irreparable damage to people’s reputations, careers and lives. Take the Les Miles to Michigan situation. On the morning of the SEC Championship, before the game, Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN quotes a “reputable source” and says that it’s a done deal. Les Miles is leaving LSU for Michigan and the announcement would be made before Monday.
Now…I have to question…why? Why make that announcement before the guy is going out to coach a bunch of young men who don’t need to be hearing that their coach is leaving? And, as it turns out….it WASN’T TRUE. However, Herbstreit’s bogus announcement caused Miles to have to distract himself from his pre-game preparation, call an impromptu press conference and effectively take himself out of the running for the Michigan coaching job (his alma mater and dream job), even before getting to discuss an offer with the Michigan administration. Of course, there has been no apology from ESPN or Herbstreit for breaking a FALSE story and potentially jeopardizing a team’s shot a National Championship. I can promise you this….if LSU had lost to Tennessee, there would have been hell to pay at ESPN for that move.
As if that wasn’t enough, even after Les Miles signs his contract extension with LSU, the ESPN minions continued to call him a liar and lump him in with all of the scruple-less coaches who have lied about staying when they were actually going. **cough**Nick Saban**cough**. Matter of fact, right up until the Michigan announcement that integrity deficient Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia would be stalking the sidelines in Maize and Blue next year, ESPN was still berating Les Miles and saying, point blank, that Les Miles was going to be coaching at Michigan next year. Are they trying to affect LSU’s preparation to play Herbstreit’s alma mater, Ohio St.? One has to wonder. Maybe there’s no “motive”, just stupidity or a wanting for there to be a story so bad that you’ll make one up just to have it.
With the proliferation of the internet, in particular, people just say what they want even though there is no basis of truth to their assertions. One such preposterous claim is that these are not the same woman:
You tell me….
For those of you who are not enlightened, this is Caroline Lyders — the girlfriend of Taylor Hicks. However, there’s a faction of fandom that is proclaiming that the woman on the left — who happened to accompany Mr. Hicks to Hawaii in May and is currently in Asia with him — is an impostor. As the theory goes, Ms. Lyders was “hired” by Taylor Hicks to pose as his girlfriend to hide the identity of the chick on the beach. Why? Dunno. Makes no sense to me, but there are folks out there hell-bent on “exposing the sham”. They are determined that these two are not the same person. I’m like WTF? Unless that’s her identical twin, it’s her. But nooooooo, they say (among other very nasty things about this girl).
I’m a black & white kinda girl. Logical to a fault. That “conspiracy” defies logic. But, these folks go right along printing fairy tales and trying to get legs underneath the “story”. Despite the rationalization of “part of the sham” each time Taylor is seen with Ms. Lyders, will it ever be true that this lady is, in fact, involved with Taylor Hicks for these folks?
Maybe, like Les Miles, when something happens that is irrefutable proof that what they are doing is really what they are doing, people will just “Let it Be”, no? Sorry, I just had to work The Beatles in — this is a music blog, after all.
As for me, I hope that I can get as much satisfaction in Taylor and Caroline’s happily ever after as I’ve received from Rich Rodriguez’s move to Michigan. Taylor’s looking pretty happy to me…..
ETA: LSU wins the SEC Championship and in another whacky college football Saturday, both #1 Mizzou and #2 W. Virginia lose to let everyone back into the party. It appears that LSU may slip in to that #2 spot to play Ohio St. in New Orleans for the National Championship.
What a day…..
While it’s not the last Championship that LSU was hoping to hoist at the end of the season, today they take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Atlanta, GA for the SEC Conference Championship. Any other year, this would be HUGE, but this year it’s a let down as this team and these fans were expecting to be playing for the National Championship.
Given that Les “Fear the Hat” Miles will be departing for Meechigan next week, and Defensive Coordinator Bo Pellini will be Nebraska’s next head coach, I’m concerned that LSU is done for. Add some key injuries to Glenn Dorsey on defense and QB Matt Flynn on offense and this game could be really close.
However, we’ve been here before. Back in 2001, in the aftermath of 9-11, LSU snuck into the SEC Championship much like Tennessee has done this year. Starting QB Rohan Davey was injured and understudy Matt Mauck came in to lead the Tigers over heavily-favored Tennessee, 31-20.
It was a beautiful thing. All Tennessee needed was a win over LSU to go to the National Championship Rose Bowl game and LSU served them a trip to play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. It sure was fun walking through the sea of dead roses on the ground after the game. I know….Mr. D., Mini-DD and I were there.
At Centennial Park Fountain in Atlanta – SEC Championship 2001
Mini-Tiger, Mini-DD at the game
Mini-DD was only ten, but he (and we) had a ball. As the tide turned and LSU began to win, the small LSU crowd was ecstatic. After hearing Rocky Top, non-stop for four hours, the quiet of the stunned Volunteer crowd was soothing to my ears.
Rocky Top
So, here’s to today and hoping that the Tigers can get focused and secure the SEC Championship. A win could possibly put them back in the title hunt (about 1% possible), but would put them in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. A loss will undoubtedly make LSU the biggest disappointment story of the year. Regardless of coaching changes, injuries, rivalries, bad calls, etc., sometimes you’ve just got to “man up”.
As for next year….LSU is loaded with talent once again and will be coached by a new sheriff. My choice? The one who strikes fear in the hearts of men:
The Ole Ball Coach – Steve Spurrier
NEWSFLASH: Approximately 20 minutes after I posted this, Les Miles changed his mind and agreed to stay at LSU.
Well, that’s the way it goes. The Boot goes to Arkansas and LSU is relegated to an “also ran” again. Too bad. However, it was theirs to lose and they couldn’t convert….in triple overtime….at home. If you can’t secure an inferior opponent at home, you don’t deserve a shot at the National Championship. I still love the Tigers, but don’t think they are deserving of a National Title shot.
10-1. #1 Ranking. Favored to take it all. Today, 25 Seniors at LSU — the last of Nick Saban’s recruits — will make their final walk down Victory Hill and into Tiger Stadium to take on a mediocre Arkansas Razorback team. While these Seniors have played every game of their storied college careers as ranked opponents, none of them were part of the team when Arkansas last beat LSU.
It was 2002, in Little Rock when the traditional meeting was held on “Black Friday”, when all between LSU and a consecutive SEC Championship Game appearance were the underdog Hogs. I vividly recall this game as I had to run to the restroom and puke after this:
Last year, the Hogs (due to a soft schedule) had sewn up the SEC West before the LSU meeting. LSU beat the Razorbacks in a tough game in Little Rock, 31-26, securing a Sugar Bowl birth but no SEC Championship shot. While LSU didn’t represent the West in the SEC title game, they did end up beating the snot out of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to secure a final #3 ranking. The West “champion” ended up losing to Florida in the Championship game, 38-28 and to Wisconsin in the Capitol One Bowl, 17-14 and ended up with a #15 ranking.
Today, the Tigers have sewn up the West title and will play in Atlanta in a couple of weeks. The Razorbacks come to Baton Rouge unranked and 3-4 in league play. Their coach, Houston Nutt, is likely on his way out. But, he’s a crafty little devil and there’s nothing more fierce than a wounded animal, so LSU needs to stay on task and finish this thing up right.
Their quest is bigger than just the SEC — it’s for the National Title. There can be no more losses — particularly, not Arkansas at home.
Forget the Miles to Michigan talk and if they’ll play Tennessee or Georgia in Atlanta. Today is about pounding the Hogs…for “The Boot”, for the SEC West, for the SEC, and for the National Championship.
Hopefully, these 25 talented Seniors will provide the leadership and focus needed to secure this victory and march on to Atlanta for the next leg in the Championship journey. Perhaps, a little We Readywould be appropriate for the lockeroom….
Music Maven 
