In what was one of the biggest choke jobs in LSU history, the Tigers blew a 21 point half time lead and a 17 point fourth quarter lead Monday night. LSU mustered a measly 44 yards of offense in the second half as the Vols passed the Tigers silly on their way to a critical overtime win.
Let's play the blame game. Our first contestant: Les Miles.
I don't want excuses about the hurricanes and cancellations and players blowing coverages. This game was in hand and pitifully thrown away. The offense went into run out the clock mode as soon as the second half began. LSU repeatedly ran into a very stiff UT defensive line while Russell only threw 9 passes in the second half, two of those being intercepted. The lack of aggressiveness permeated the entire team and ultimately killed the Tigers hopes for victory. Most telling was the decision to play for overtime with two minutes left on the clock. This tells the offense, "I don't have confidence in you to win this game." Many have blamed Jimbo Fisher for the offensive play calling. I disagree. Miles is the head coach, and such a drastic change in offensive philosophy probably came from him. The offensive play calling in the second half was dubious at best. Of the first 13 plays of the second half, 11 were running plays. In overtime, the Tigers had 1st and 10 at the 15 in overtime and ran the fullback up the middle? Then on second down they try a throwback pass to the fullback that fools no one?
Where was the killer instinct? Where was the kill shot to end the game? Where the hell was a play action pass amongst those 13 plays the Tigers ran in the third quarter?
Our second contestant: Bo Pelini
The defense is giving up 5 points a game before halftime, and 25 points a game after the half. You seeing a trend here? The pass defense is now ranked 116 out of 117 division I-A teams. Let's also not forget that USC dismantled Pelini's Oklahoma defense last season in the National Title Game. (Which LSU will not get within sniffing distance of this season.) Clausen did a great job of dinking and dunking down the field as he lead the Vols to a great comeback. But LSU made it easier on him. There was no pass rush and the Tigers couldn't get to him when blitzing. He shoved it right in LSU's face and the defense is going to have to get used to it unless significant changes are made. I don't know if there is a drop off in talent on the defensive side of the ball or the scheme is not being picked up yet, but the defense didn't show the kind of improvement I would have hoped for. Lou Tepper proved that playing soft zone will get you run out of the SEC in a hurry.
Both sides of the ball are responsible for losing this game, the offense couldn't stay on the field and put up any points in the second half while the defense couldn't get off the field or make a play to win the game.
And our final contestant: Jamie Howard
What idiot called him up? Who would invite to the home opener the orchestrator of the most monumental meltdown in the history of LSU football? Next thing you know we will have Josh Booty out there before the game. (If that ever happens, the loud booing will be coming from me!)
Saban lost some heartbreakers, but never like this. I know the doomsayers will be out en masse calling for heads to roll and predicting a losing season, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. A fairer assessment will come after October 15 when the Tigers play the Mighty Gators. LSU will have played 5 games by that point and we can make conclusions based on half a season, not just two games against top 15 opponents. Miles will right the ship and make changes or get run out of town.
As for this weekend, the Tigers are favored by two touchdowns over Mississippi State. LSU scored 51 on the Bulldogs last year. I expect a lot less on Saturday. This game is huge for Miles, something I never would have thought before the season started.
LSU 31 - MSU 20.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Good...Bad: Lost in Lincoln Edition
With LSU off this week, I was able to plop down on the couch, turn on my 4 TV’s and watch about 20 games this weekend. Some may say this is insane sensory overload; I like to think that I am beefing up my college football IQ to bring some perspective and insight to this little spot in cyberspace.
So without further ado…
Good…Nice job by the Wolverines beating Eastern Michigan.
Bad…where was this intensity last week?
Good…USC is the real deal. I know a lot of folks around here hate the men of Troy, but they CRUSHED the helpless Hogs. Less than six minutes had passed in the game and they were up 21-0.
Bad…Unless USC’s entire team comes down with food poisoning, the Trojans are on the way to 12-0.
Good…I have railed on the Noles all season, but they have a National Championship caliber defense. Now, if that offense could stay off the field, “Free Shoes University” could do some special things this season.
Bad…Down by 11, ball on the 2 yard line, 3 minutes left in the game and you have all your timeouts. Tough situation, but BC was very much in the game. That is until the BC brain trust ran 7 plays from the 2, burned two timeouts and…came away with ZERO points. NICE!! Keep running into the line jackass. (The best was the 4th down call, a QB sneak from the 2 after pounding the ball with the fullback 4 times for no gain. Brilliant!)
Good…I play this little game on the internet where you pick some games and win some “fake” money you can exchange for prizes. I picked Nebraska over Pitt and the Cornholers won 7-6.
Bad…I actually had to watch the game. I am convinced that former Raider coach Bill Callahan and former Bears and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt are fairly clueless. It appears that both of these guys are more interested in “running their systems” than actually, you know, winning football games. Callahan insists on running the west coast offense when his quarterbacks couldn’t hit my grandma as she shuffled across the floor. Yo! Bill! Nebraska is still a running team. Try running the ball a few times and sprinkle in a few passes here and there. Wannstedt is even worse. He repeatedly ran into the boundary on third and short. He was repeatedly stopped by a very good Nebraska defense. He has basically wrecked Tyler Palko’s confidence and eliminated any semblance of a passing game. Wannstedt sucked in the pros and if nothing else he has been consistent.
Good…The Mighty Spartans. I said John L. Smith was a great hire and I am sticking to it. At least until he loses next week to Ron Zook and the Illini.
Bad…Historic failures. After beating a top-10 team, Michigan State is 0-7 in its next game during the same season since 1997:
1997: Beat No. 4 Penn State, 49-14; lost to Washington, 51-23
1998: Beat No. 10 Notre Dame, 45-23; lost to Michigan, 29-17
1998: Beat No. 1 Ohio State, 28-24; lost to Purdue, 25-24
1999: Beat No. 3 Michigan, 34-31; Lost to Purdue, 52-28.
2000: Beat No. 9 Purdue, 30-10; Lost to Penn State, 42-23.
2001: Beat No. 6 Michigan, 26-24; lost to Indiana, 37-28
2004: Beat No. 4 Wisconsin, 49-14; lost to Penn State, 37-13
2005: Beat No. 10 Notre Dame, 44-41 (OT); Saturday at Illinois
Good…Clemson v. Miami was a DANDY game.
Bad…Florida v. Tennessee was actually pretty dull. Neither team could move the ball but it didn’t have the feel of a great defensive struggle.
Good…VANDY BABY!!! 3-0 and leading the SEC EAST!!
Bad…Ole Piss. Tell me again why Cutcliffe was fired.
Good…Penn State is quietly 3-0, average score 35-13.
Bad…The Big Eleven slate is brutal for JoePa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan State are a combined 15-2.
Good…Contenders: USC, Texas, LSU, VaTech, Florida, The Criminoles, Georgia, Louisville, Purdue, California, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Texas Tech, Alabama, Iowa State, Virginia, UCLA, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Vandy, Nebraska and Penn State.
Bad…Poser Material.
Good…UVA v. the Cuse was another exciting game. Plus Al Groh referenced a great line from Risky Business.
Bad…The Carrier Dome is basically an oversized garage.
The BEST…Family.
The WORST…Going into the home you grew up in and seeing complete and utter devastation. My folks’ next remodeling project will be to bulldoze and start fresh.
So without further ado…
Good…Nice job by the Wolverines beating Eastern Michigan.
Bad…where was this intensity last week?
Good…USC is the real deal. I know a lot of folks around here hate the men of Troy, but they CRUSHED the helpless Hogs. Less than six minutes had passed in the game and they were up 21-0.
Bad…Unless USC’s entire team comes down with food poisoning, the Trojans are on the way to 12-0.
Good…I have railed on the Noles all season, but they have a National Championship caliber defense. Now, if that offense could stay off the field, “Free Shoes University” could do some special things this season.
Bad…Down by 11, ball on the 2 yard line, 3 minutes left in the game and you have all your timeouts. Tough situation, but BC was very much in the game. That is until the BC brain trust ran 7 plays from the 2, burned two timeouts and…came away with ZERO points. NICE!! Keep running into the line jackass. (The best was the 4th down call, a QB sneak from the 2 after pounding the ball with the fullback 4 times for no gain. Brilliant!)
Good…I play this little game on the internet where you pick some games and win some “fake” money you can exchange for prizes. I picked Nebraska over Pitt and the Cornholers won 7-6.
Bad…I actually had to watch the game. I am convinced that former Raider coach Bill Callahan and former Bears and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt are fairly clueless. It appears that both of these guys are more interested in “running their systems” than actually, you know, winning football games. Callahan insists on running the west coast offense when his quarterbacks couldn’t hit my grandma as she shuffled across the floor. Yo! Bill! Nebraska is still a running team. Try running the ball a few times and sprinkle in a few passes here and there. Wannstedt is even worse. He repeatedly ran into the boundary on third and short. He was repeatedly stopped by a very good Nebraska defense. He has basically wrecked Tyler Palko’s confidence and eliminated any semblance of a passing game. Wannstedt sucked in the pros and if nothing else he has been consistent.
Good…The Mighty Spartans. I said John L. Smith was a great hire and I am sticking to it. At least until he loses next week to Ron Zook and the Illini.Bad…Historic failures. After beating a top-10 team, Michigan State is 0-7 in its next game during the same season since 1997:
1997: Beat No. 4 Penn State, 49-14; lost to Washington, 51-23
1998: Beat No. 10 Notre Dame, 45-23; lost to Michigan, 29-17
1998: Beat No. 1 Ohio State, 28-24; lost to Purdue, 25-24
1999: Beat No. 3 Michigan, 34-31; Lost to Purdue, 52-28.
2000: Beat No. 9 Purdue, 30-10; Lost to Penn State, 42-23.
2001: Beat No. 6 Michigan, 26-24; lost to Indiana, 37-28
2004: Beat No. 4 Wisconsin, 49-14; lost to Penn State, 37-13
2005: Beat No. 10 Notre Dame, 44-41 (OT); Saturday at Illinois
Good…Clemson v. Miami was a DANDY game.
Bad…Florida v. Tennessee was actually pretty dull. Neither team could move the ball but it didn’t have the feel of a great defensive struggle.
Good…VANDY BABY!!! 3-0 and leading the SEC EAST!!
Bad…Ole Piss. Tell me again why Cutcliffe was fired.
Good…Penn State is quietly 3-0, average score 35-13.
Bad…The Big Eleven slate is brutal for JoePa, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan State are a combined 15-2.
Good…Contenders: USC, Texas, LSU, VaTech, Florida, The Criminoles, Georgia, Louisville, Purdue, California, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Texas Tech, Alabama, Iowa State, Virginia, UCLA, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Vandy, Nebraska and Penn State.
Bad…Poser Material.
Good…UVA v. the Cuse was another exciting game. Plus Al Groh referenced a great line from Risky Business.
Bad…The Carrier Dome is basically an oversized garage.
The BEST…Family.
The WORST…Going into the home you grew up in and seeing complete and utter devastation. My folks’ next remodeling project will be to bulldoze and start fresh.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Wild West Shootout
“I don’t believe what I just saw!” - Jack Buck
Long after I had given up hope, the LSU Tigers showed the resiliency that has made them successful under Nick Saban. As in so many games over the last five years, the Tigers refused to quit and ultimately triumphed in dramatic fashion. In a game for the ages, LSU scored with 73 seconds left to go ahead for good in a wild shootout in Tempe, Arizona.
For three quarters, my fears concerning LSU’s opening game became a reality. LSU looked sloppy and distracted, bumbling their way to only 7 points as the Sun Devils looked to score with only a few minutes left in the 3rd quarter. But then LSU found a reprieve when ASU fumbled inside LSU’s 10. The Tiger’s eventually punted, but instead of going down 24-7, the Tigers turned the tables on ASU, scoring four 4th quarter touchdowns.
The single most important thing that came out of that game was LSU got a much deserved WIN. Despite all the mistakes and poor play, LSU beat a Top 15 team on the road. While I am going to hammer the Tigers for the bevy of miscues this week, remember, WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.
On the plus side of the ledger was the play of JaMarcus Russell. Outside of the fumble I’d have to give him very high marks. He made good decisions all evening and he was on the money with almost every pass. If not for the numerous drops and penalties, he would have had over 300 yards passing. Joseph Addai was his usual dependable self. He had 16 carries for 106 yards and two TD’s and caught three passes. The uncharacteristic fumble was the only blemish on the evening.
Special teams was fantastic and ultimately propelled LSU to the victory. Two blocked kicks returned for touchdowns is astounding. I look for more great things from the kicking game, including making all our extra points. Colt David was 5 for 5 in that department. BRAVO!!
Before you think this is some love fest, let’s talk about the ugly side of Saturday night’s game.
* 11 penalties
* 2 fumbles
* Too many dropped passes to count
* 560 yards of total offense for the Sun Devils
The secondary needs a lot of work as the Tigers gave up 461 yards to Sam Keller. The pass rush was MIA and when the Tigers did blitz, it was with limited effectiveness. Lou Tepper….er…Bo Pelini has a LOT of work to do to get the Tiger defense into championship form. I think it is unfair to draw too many conclusions from one game, but I think we can all agree that there is plenty of room for improvement.
Chase Pittman played substantially at DE but had ZERO stats. Basically he was out there taking up space but wasn’t involved in a SINGLE play. I think this highlights some of the struggles we can expect on the defensive side of the ball. Over the past 2 years, LSU has lost three defensive linemen to the NFL, Chad Lavalais, Marquise Hill and Marcus Spears. While Kyle Williams is an excellent DT, Pittman, Wroten and Oliver are merely solid players. None of those guys can dominate like the three departed players.
The secondary lost both starting CB’s to the NFL and no one is going to confuse Ronnie Prude for Webster or Daniels. I think with time, players will develop and become more comfortable in Pelini’s system, but patience will be the key. By mid season we will know if the ASU game was an aberration or indicative of flaws in Pelini’s defensive philosophy. Saban built his defense on tight man coverage and as complicated a blitz package as there was in college football. It takes time to completely integrate a defensive scheme, so Pelini gets a pass…for now.
All the dropped passes made me nuts. The WR’s just weren’t there mentally and it showed for a big part of the game. However, as a group they collected themselves and ultimately made plays highlighted by Early Doucet’s game winning touchdown catch. Up to that point, most Tiger fans were ready to pull his scholarship and sending him packing. Fortunately he remained confident and made the type of play justifying all the praise heaped on him coming out of high school.
The Tigers are off this weekend. They have two weeks to work on the many deficiencies apparent Saturday night. Savor this one because even though the Tigers are 1-0, many struggles remain ahead.
Long after I had given up hope, the LSU Tigers showed the resiliency that has made them successful under Nick Saban. As in so many games over the last five years, the Tigers refused to quit and ultimately triumphed in dramatic fashion. In a game for the ages, LSU scored with 73 seconds left to go ahead for good in a wild shootout in Tempe, Arizona.
For three quarters, my fears concerning LSU’s opening game became a reality. LSU looked sloppy and distracted, bumbling their way to only 7 points as the Sun Devils looked to score with only a few minutes left in the 3rd quarter. But then LSU found a reprieve when ASU fumbled inside LSU’s 10. The Tiger’s eventually punted, but instead of going down 24-7, the Tigers turned the tables on ASU, scoring four 4th quarter touchdowns.
The single most important thing that came out of that game was LSU got a much deserved WIN. Despite all the mistakes and poor play, LSU beat a Top 15 team on the road. While I am going to hammer the Tigers for the bevy of miscues this week, remember, WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.
On the plus side of the ledger was the play of JaMarcus Russell. Outside of the fumble I’d have to give him very high marks. He made good decisions all evening and he was on the money with almost every pass. If not for the numerous drops and penalties, he would have had over 300 yards passing. Joseph Addai was his usual dependable self. He had 16 carries for 106 yards and two TD’s and caught three passes. The uncharacteristic fumble was the only blemish on the evening.
Special teams was fantastic and ultimately propelled LSU to the victory. Two blocked kicks returned for touchdowns is astounding. I look for more great things from the kicking game, including making all our extra points. Colt David was 5 for 5 in that department. BRAVO!!
Before you think this is some love fest, let’s talk about the ugly side of Saturday night’s game.
* 11 penalties
* 2 fumbles
* Too many dropped passes to count
* 560 yards of total offense for the Sun Devils
The secondary needs a lot of work as the Tigers gave up 461 yards to Sam Keller. The pass rush was MIA and when the Tigers did blitz, it was with limited effectiveness. Lou Tepper….er…Bo Pelini has a LOT of work to do to get the Tiger defense into championship form. I think it is unfair to draw too many conclusions from one game, but I think we can all agree that there is plenty of room for improvement.
Chase Pittman played substantially at DE but had ZERO stats. Basically he was out there taking up space but wasn’t involved in a SINGLE play. I think this highlights some of the struggles we can expect on the defensive side of the ball. Over the past 2 years, LSU has lost three defensive linemen to the NFL, Chad Lavalais, Marquise Hill and Marcus Spears. While Kyle Williams is an excellent DT, Pittman, Wroten and Oliver are merely solid players. None of those guys can dominate like the three departed players.
The secondary lost both starting CB’s to the NFL and no one is going to confuse Ronnie Prude for Webster or Daniels. I think with time, players will develop and become more comfortable in Pelini’s system, but patience will be the key. By mid season we will know if the ASU game was an aberration or indicative of flaws in Pelini’s defensive philosophy. Saban built his defense on tight man coverage and as complicated a blitz package as there was in college football. It takes time to completely integrate a defensive scheme, so Pelini gets a pass…for now.
All the dropped passes made me nuts. The WR’s just weren’t there mentally and it showed for a big part of the game. However, as a group they collected themselves and ultimately made plays highlighted by Early Doucet’s game winning touchdown catch. Up to that point, most Tiger fans were ready to pull his scholarship and sending him packing. Fortunately he remained confident and made the type of play justifying all the praise heaped on him coming out of high school.
The Tigers are off this weekend. They have two weeks to work on the many deficiencies apparent Saturday night. Savor this one because even though the Tigers are 1-0, many struggles remain ahead.
Good...Bad
Good…Road Warriors – Notre Shame, Texas and LSU all went on the road and won against Top 15 teams.
Bad…The Big 11 - Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa all went down on Saturday.
Good…Vandy is 2-0 baby!! Tied for 1st in the SEC East!! The Commodores scored 15 points in the 4th quarter capped by a 6 yard TD pass with 26 seconds to go. Vandy gets Ole Piss at home next week. A 3-0 start would be the story of the season so far in the SEC.
Bad…The Hogs. Houston Nutt and company were probably looking ahead to next week’s game at USC. Look for Arkansas to play better but end up with the same result. (Just think, Nutt was being considered for the LSU job. Ugh!)
Good…little babies.
Bad…little babies’ dirty diapers.
Good…Adrian Peterson – Oklahoma’s best player had 220 yards and 3 TD’s in a win over Tulsa.
Bad…The Sooners needed all 220 yards to beat the Golden Hurricanes at home. OU will struggle to score all year.
Good…Despite my dire predictions, Nick Saban may do well this season. Miami is off to a 1-0 start.
Bad…Saban took his fantastic defense with him when he left Baton Rouge.
Good…Perennial powers USC, Penn State, Alabama and Notre Shame are a combined 7-0.
Bad…The Sunbelt Conference is a combined 3-12 to start the season. Ouch.
Good…The Mighty Spartans pound Hawaii after getting jobbed in the islands last season.
Bad…TCU, after knocking off OU in Norman last week, the Corned Frogs lost to…SMU? Say what? (Big props to SMU head man Phil Bennett.)
THE BEST…Hurricane relief efforts by the people of south Louisiana and the rest of the United States.
THE ABSOLUTE WORST SINCE I STARTED THIS PAGE…Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. In a time of crisis, people in authority will rise to meet the challenge or crumble under the weight of the situation. Blanco collapsed, completely overwhelmed by the duties and decisions before her. Being governor is a not a game. It is not a stepping or a line on a resume’. Her inability to act decisively probably cost people their lives. Why wasn’t the National Guard, fully under her control, sent into New Orleans in full force? Why was the Red Cross barred from bringing supplies to the Superdome? Why did she need 24 hours to consider the President's offer to send assistance? She needs to be removed from office if for no other reason than gross incompetence. I am looking forward to this commission investigating the disaster relief, I think the truth will show a good deal of the blames lies at the feet of our worthless Governor.
Bad…The Big 11 - Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa all went down on Saturday.Good…Vandy is 2-0 baby!! Tied for 1st in the SEC East!! The Commodores scored 15 points in the 4th quarter capped by a 6 yard TD pass with 26 seconds to go. Vandy gets Ole Piss at home next week. A 3-0 start would be the story of the season so far in the SEC.
Bad…The Hogs. Houston Nutt and company were probably looking ahead to next week’s game at USC. Look for Arkansas to play better but end up with the same result. (Just think, Nutt was being considered for the LSU job. Ugh!)
Good…little babies.
Bad…little babies’ dirty diapers.
Good…Adrian Peterson – Oklahoma’s best player had 220 yards and 3 TD’s in a win over Tulsa.
Bad…The Sooners needed all 220 yards to beat the Golden Hurricanes at home. OU will struggle to score all year.
Good…Despite my dire predictions, Nick Saban may do well this season. Miami is off to a 1-0 start.Bad…Saban took his fantastic defense with him when he left Baton Rouge.
Good…Perennial powers USC, Penn State, Alabama and Notre Shame are a combined 7-0.
Bad…The Sunbelt Conference is a combined 3-12 to start the season. Ouch.
Good…The Mighty Spartans pound Hawaii after getting jobbed in the islands last season.
Bad…TCU, after knocking off OU in Norman last week, the Corned Frogs lost to…SMU? Say what? (Big props to SMU head man Phil Bennett.)
THE BEST…Hurricane relief efforts by the people of south Louisiana and the rest of the United States.
THE ABSOLUTE WORST SINCE I STARTED THIS PAGE…Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. In a time of crisis, people in authority will rise to meet the challenge or crumble under the weight of the situation. Blanco collapsed, completely overwhelmed by the duties and decisions before her. Being governor is a not a game. It is not a stepping or a line on a resume’. Her inability to act decisively probably cost people their lives. Why wasn’t the National Guard, fully under her control, sent into New Orleans in full force? Why was the Red Cross barred from bringing supplies to the Superdome? Why did she need 24 hours to consider the President's offer to send assistance? She needs to be removed from office if for no other reason than gross incompetence. I am looking forward to this commission investigating the disaster relief, I think the truth will show a good deal of the blames lies at the feet of our worthless Governor.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Into Indian Country
While it won’t resonate through the years like Princess Leia’s, “Help us Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re our only hope,” John Albano’s desperate plea for rescue will remain embedded in my memories forever.
On September 1, 2005 at about 8:30 p.m. I got a disturbing voice mail from a family friend stuck in New Orleans. “Jeff…It’s John. Please come and get us! We are at East Jefferson Hospital and the situation is becoming really desperate.” Now, it is one thing to confront a murderer in court and try to convince a group of 12 strangers to send him to Angola for the rest of his life. Armed with a sharp mind and quick wit I can move comfortably and with confidence toward completing my very important mission. It is completely different to venture into “Indian Country” with only those same quick wits and an SUV at my disposal.
After telling my dad about the call, he looked at me and said, “What are we going to do?” My dad had evacuated before the storm hit and was grateful to have escaped the city of New Orleans which had slowly devolved into hell as the days passed. I finished tying my boots and looked up at him and said, “we’re going to go get them.”
We hopped into his SUV and made our way down to New Orleans.
All sorts of things were going thru my head at the time. All the reports out of the city painted a grim picture bordering on anarchy. For the last three and one half years I had seen the worst of humanity that Baton Rouge had to offer. As murderers, rapists, thieves, pedophiles and the other undesirables of our community made their way thru my courtroom, I did my best to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty. But every encounter was a home game for me. We were on my turf and we played by my rules. The bad guys came in the courtroom in shackles. Deputies maintained control and provided me and other court personnel with a sense of security.
My dad and I had none of that as we made the lonely trip into New Orleans. My anxiety grew as the miles passed. For those unfamiliar with the trip between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, it is a long stretch thru the woods, marsh and swampland. There were only a few vehicles on the road. About half way to New Orleans a military convoy of Humvees slowly passed us. Were we going home to the city I grew up in, or some post apocalyptic war zone?
We arrived at the base of the spillway and slowed to a stop at the State Police checkpoint. I got my credentials out as my dad looked over at me and said, “You’re doing all the talking.” I had to smile as I rolled down the window and was greeted by a pretty female State Trooper. I was a little nervous. Were they going to let us in? Was it even a good idea to let us in?
She stepped forward as I showed her my credentials. “We’re heading to East Jefferson Hospital to scoop up 6 guys,” I quickly blurted out. She smiled and said, “good luck,” and waived us thru.
At that point it hit me, we are actually going in there. Holy crap. My dad sped up as we made our way across the spillway. While you could usually see the city completely lit up while on the spillway at night, this evening was unlike any anyone could remember. My anxiety level kept rising. Were there roving bands of gangs on the interstate? Did the police have control of the situation?
We made it into Metairie fairly quickly. It was eerie to say the least. For most of the trip into New Orleans, our only illumination was our own headlights. The Kenner police station was lit up bright as day, but that was the exception. Looking off the interstate was pointless. The neighborhoods of Kenner and Metairie were swallowed up by the darkness. We made it to the Clearview exit without incident where we were greeted by another set of State Troopers. I told them our plans and they quickly waived us thru. We rode down a few side streets before finding the hospital which was well lit. We drove up to the front entrance and I hopped out and walked up to an armed security guard displaying my credentials in front of me. I told him about the six people we were here to pick up. At that same moment, four National Guardsmen walked up. They were fully dressed in fatigues and all were armed with machine guns in the ready position. They pointed me to the “six civilians” and I hopped back into the SUV as we moved to another location at the hospital.
We rounded the corner and made our way to the emergency entrance. Bingo. I saw our six refugees sitting out on the sidewalk with a shotgun toting Sheriff’s Deputy standing guard. We pulled up and discovered we were rescuing four men, two women, three big dogs and a cat. I greeted John with an outstreched hand. He grabbed my dad and I in a big bear hug as he fought back tears. “Thank God you made it.”
Amazingly we were able to pile everyone into the back of the SUV. As the loading was in progress, my dad gathered what information he could from the Sheriff’s Deputy. He told us to get out of town ASAP. Don’t slow down for anyone. Our guests smelled wretched. We rolled down the windows to air out the stench.
As we left the hospital I advocated heading back to the interstate along the exact same route. I was out voted and we tried to make it back by a more direct route. We were doing fine until a huge tree blocked the entire street and forced us to back track. I wanted to be in harm’s way for a little as possible and driving around trying to find a new route out didn’t fit with my plans so I again urged an exact back track of our path. This time I won out and we were on the interstate on ramp in minutes. As we made the slow turn on the ramp, I spotted the first natives out in the night. They triad flagging us down but my dad gunned the SUV and we swung wide, hoping that none of them had guns.
We broke free and headed to safety, all hands present and accounted for.
Mission Accomplished.
PS…I want to give credit to a dear friend who we affectionately call “O.M.A.C.” for giving me the idea for the title. As a former Coast Guard chopper pilot we all owe a debt of gratitude to him for his years of dedicated service.
On September 1, 2005 at about 8:30 p.m. I got a disturbing voice mail from a family friend stuck in New Orleans. “Jeff…It’s John. Please come and get us! We are at East Jefferson Hospital and the situation is becoming really desperate.” Now, it is one thing to confront a murderer in court and try to convince a group of 12 strangers to send him to Angola for the rest of his life. Armed with a sharp mind and quick wit I can move comfortably and with confidence toward completing my very important mission. It is completely different to venture into “Indian Country” with only those same quick wits and an SUV at my disposal.
After telling my dad about the call, he looked at me and said, “What are we going to do?” My dad had evacuated before the storm hit and was grateful to have escaped the city of New Orleans which had slowly devolved into hell as the days passed. I finished tying my boots and looked up at him and said, “we’re going to go get them.”
We hopped into his SUV and made our way down to New Orleans.
All sorts of things were going thru my head at the time. All the reports out of the city painted a grim picture bordering on anarchy. For the last three and one half years I had seen the worst of humanity that Baton Rouge had to offer. As murderers, rapists, thieves, pedophiles and the other undesirables of our community made their way thru my courtroom, I did my best to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty. But every encounter was a home game for me. We were on my turf and we played by my rules. The bad guys came in the courtroom in shackles. Deputies maintained control and provided me and other court personnel with a sense of security.
My dad and I had none of that as we made the lonely trip into New Orleans. My anxiety grew as the miles passed. For those unfamiliar with the trip between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, it is a long stretch thru the woods, marsh and swampland. There were only a few vehicles on the road. About half way to New Orleans a military convoy of Humvees slowly passed us. Were we going home to the city I grew up in, or some post apocalyptic war zone?
We arrived at the base of the spillway and slowed to a stop at the State Police checkpoint. I got my credentials out as my dad looked over at me and said, “You’re doing all the talking.” I had to smile as I rolled down the window and was greeted by a pretty female State Trooper. I was a little nervous. Were they going to let us in? Was it even a good idea to let us in?
She stepped forward as I showed her my credentials. “We’re heading to East Jefferson Hospital to scoop up 6 guys,” I quickly blurted out. She smiled and said, “good luck,” and waived us thru.
At that point it hit me, we are actually going in there. Holy crap. My dad sped up as we made our way across the spillway. While you could usually see the city completely lit up while on the spillway at night, this evening was unlike any anyone could remember. My anxiety level kept rising. Were there roving bands of gangs on the interstate? Did the police have control of the situation?
We made it into Metairie fairly quickly. It was eerie to say the least. For most of the trip into New Orleans, our only illumination was our own headlights. The Kenner police station was lit up bright as day, but that was the exception. Looking off the interstate was pointless. The neighborhoods of Kenner and Metairie were swallowed up by the darkness. We made it to the Clearview exit without incident where we were greeted by another set of State Troopers. I told them our plans and they quickly waived us thru. We rode down a few side streets before finding the hospital which was well lit. We drove up to the front entrance and I hopped out and walked up to an armed security guard displaying my credentials in front of me. I told him about the six people we were here to pick up. At that same moment, four National Guardsmen walked up. They were fully dressed in fatigues and all were armed with machine guns in the ready position. They pointed me to the “six civilians” and I hopped back into the SUV as we moved to another location at the hospital.
We rounded the corner and made our way to the emergency entrance. Bingo. I saw our six refugees sitting out on the sidewalk with a shotgun toting Sheriff’s Deputy standing guard. We pulled up and discovered we were rescuing four men, two women, three big dogs and a cat. I greeted John with an outstreched hand. He grabbed my dad and I in a big bear hug as he fought back tears. “Thank God you made it.”
Amazingly we were able to pile everyone into the back of the SUV. As the loading was in progress, my dad gathered what information he could from the Sheriff’s Deputy. He told us to get out of town ASAP. Don’t slow down for anyone. Our guests smelled wretched. We rolled down the windows to air out the stench.
As we left the hospital I advocated heading back to the interstate along the exact same route. I was out voted and we tried to make it back by a more direct route. We were doing fine until a huge tree blocked the entire street and forced us to back track. I wanted to be in harm’s way for a little as possible and driving around trying to find a new route out didn’t fit with my plans so I again urged an exact back track of our path. This time I won out and we were on the interstate on ramp in minutes. As we made the slow turn on the ramp, I spotted the first natives out in the night. They triad flagging us down but my dad gunned the SUV and we swung wide, hoping that none of them had guns.
We broke free and headed to safety, all hands present and accounted for.
Mission Accomplished.
PS…I want to give credit to a dear friend who we affectionately call “O.M.A.C.” for giving me the idea for the title. As a former Coast Guard chopper pilot we all owe a debt of gratitude to him for his years of dedicated service.
Week 1
LSU’s opener last week was cancelled. There was no way that game could have been played in Tiger Stadium with the human tragedy being played out on TV all week. I don’t know if the players were in any shape to focus on a game which was suddenly placed in its appropriate context. Could the Tigers have played at North Texas? Sure. Would they have won? Probably. Would this have been appropriate? I think each of us must answer that for ourselves.
This weekend’s upcoming game with Arizona State was also to be played in Tiger Stadium. However, it has been moved to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. While I think most folks would agree with the administration’s decision regarding North Texas, I think the feelings are mixed for this weekend’s game. It was reported that the game could have been played in Oxford on Ole Miss’ campus. That seemed to be a great solution to the problem facing the LSU decision makers. The game will go on, LSU fans could drive to Oxford and Ole Miss staff and support people would be in a great position to handle the logistics. LSU would lose home field advantage, but at least a large contingent of LSU fans would be present.
Instead we now have a road game at ASU. Plus we have the idiotic LSU chancellor encouraging people to head to Tempe for the game. Say what? Am I supposed to get plane tickets and a hotel room wrapped up in four days and head out for the weekend while my house is full of folks from New Orleans? At least the drive to Oxford would allow fans to leave early Saturday, play the game at 2:30 p.m., and then drive back to Louisiana. The chancellor’s plea for a big LSU turnout is asinine. But hey, at least he is hooking up his good buddy, the chancellor over ASU.
On top of everything else, LSU STILL has to travel to Tempe in 2008. I’m calling b---s--- on the entire deal.
As for the game itself, I have no idea what will happen. If LSU can collect itself and focus on the task at hand, the Tigers can make a BIG statement this weekend. But if the adversity proves to difficult to overcome, expect a sloppy, poorly played game marked by numerous mental errors. The Sun Devils have the advantages of playing at home and one game already under their belt. The Tigers are more talented and as of yet, unscouted. Who knows what new wrinkles Les Miles has brought to the Bayou Bengals?
LSU must run the ball to have any offensive success. Russell is not to the level where he can carry the offense. If the defense can get after ASU's new QB, Sam Keller, LSU can keep the game close and rely on that nasty offensive line to carry the day in the fourth quarter.
Of course I will be screaming at the TV Saturday night for the Tigers, but I can’t shake the feeling that all the distractions will be too much for LSU.
Arizona State – 24 LSU – 20.
This weekend’s upcoming game with Arizona State was also to be played in Tiger Stadium. However, it has been moved to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. While I think most folks would agree with the administration’s decision regarding North Texas, I think the feelings are mixed for this weekend’s game. It was reported that the game could have been played in Oxford on Ole Miss’ campus. That seemed to be a great solution to the problem facing the LSU decision makers. The game will go on, LSU fans could drive to Oxford and Ole Miss staff and support people would be in a great position to handle the logistics. LSU would lose home field advantage, but at least a large contingent of LSU fans would be present.
Instead we now have a road game at ASU. Plus we have the idiotic LSU chancellor encouraging people to head to Tempe for the game. Say what? Am I supposed to get plane tickets and a hotel room wrapped up in four days and head out for the weekend while my house is full of folks from New Orleans? At least the drive to Oxford would allow fans to leave early Saturday, play the game at 2:30 p.m., and then drive back to Louisiana. The chancellor’s plea for a big LSU turnout is asinine. But hey, at least he is hooking up his good buddy, the chancellor over ASU.
On top of everything else, LSU STILL has to travel to Tempe in 2008. I’m calling b---s--- on the entire deal.
As for the game itself, I have no idea what will happen. If LSU can collect itself and focus on the task at hand, the Tigers can make a BIG statement this weekend. But if the adversity proves to difficult to overcome, expect a sloppy, poorly played game marked by numerous mental errors. The Sun Devils have the advantages of playing at home and one game already under their belt. The Tigers are more talented and as of yet, unscouted. Who knows what new wrinkles Les Miles has brought to the Bayou Bengals?
LSU must run the ball to have any offensive success. Russell is not to the level where he can carry the offense. If the defense can get after ASU's new QB, Sam Keller, LSU can keep the game close and rely on that nasty offensive line to carry the day in the fourth quarter.
Of course I will be screaming at the TV Saturday night for the Tigers, but I can’t shake the feeling that all the distractions will be too much for LSU.
Arizona State – 24 LSU – 20.
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