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.
Mucho Congrats to the 2009 National Baseball Champion — the LSU Tigers!
The Freshman from Lafayette, Mikie Mahtook, turned the tide with a run-scoring double in the 6th and the Tigers never looked back, beating powerhouse Texas 11-4. Mahtook’s father, Mike, and his uncle, Robbie, both played football for LSU, creating a great legacy for the young Mahtook….particularly since Mike Mahtook died from a heart attack at 32, when Mikie was four and his twin sisters were only 2. No doubt, Big Mike was an angel in the outfield last night.
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.
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.
