Plenty to Play for...

I wasn’t going to blog this week but my loyal readers have been clamoring for more of my BS. So here are a few thoughts from this season.

If I had the task of creating a “goal pyramid” for the 2006 LSU Tigers, it would look something thin like this.

National Championship
Playing in the BCS Championship Game
Winning a BCS Bowl Game
Playing in a BCS Bowl Game
Winning the SEC
Winning the SEC West
Go Undefeated on the Road
Go Undefeated at Home
Have a winning season
Becoming bowl eligible
Play hard every game

Only the top of the pyramid is out of LSU’s reach, no Crystal Football for LSU this season. All but one of the other goals are attainable. Winning the West and thus playing in the SEC Championship game are long shots, but anything can happen. LSU won this weekend upping their mark to 6-2. Obviously going undefeated on the road is unattainable. But the Tigers have two opportunities to make amends. The Tennessee game looms VERY large on November 4th. If the Tigers can get their act together, a BCS Bowl is definitely in the cards.

Urban Meyer was dead on when he said the SEC is “one tough ass league.” No other conference can match up with Auburn, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. That doesn’t even include Georgia and South Carolina who will go bowling this season. Going on the road and winning at the top schools is a tall task for any SEC team. LSU has looked incredible at home and mediocre on the road.

Every now and again I listen to the idiots on talk radio and the new favorite saying begins like this, “well, when Nick Saban was here…” Let me be very clear, Saban did great things at LSU, but he wasn’t God. Saban suffered a few loses on the road including losing at Florida in 2000, at Tennessee in 2001, at Georgia in 2004, at Auburn in 2000, 2002 and 2004, at Arkansas in 2000 and 2002 and at Virginia Tech in 2002.

So my suggestion is to give Miles a break. He’s won at Arizona State, and at Alabama and has the opportunity to beat UT and the Hogs away from Tiger Stadium this season. While at Oklahoma State he won games at Oklahoma, at Texas A&M and at UCLA. A little patience and perspective will go a long way.

Check back next week for the Tennessee preview and other random foolishness.

Back from the Dead...

“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him”…On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days…Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days”…Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands wrapped with strips of cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Gospel of John 11:14-44


Bet you didn’t know that the “L” in John L. Smith stands for “Lazarus” did you?

Now I’ve never seen a coach actually get fired. I’m talking about the conversation which includes the phrase, “we’re going in a new direction” or “we need a fresh start” or simply, “clean out your office, you’re fired.” I am sure these things happen in the privacy of the athletic director’s office or some other such secluded place. But I have seen plenty of games that ended with the final thought, “that dude just got fired.”

I couldn’t help but draw that conclusion as Northwestern went up on Michigan State 38-3 with 9:54 left in the third quarter. “Poor John L, he’s so fired.” Just has Lazarus laid in the tomb for four days, the Spartans looked dead for four weeks losing to Notre Shame, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio State. And just like a decaying body, Michigan State stunk of the foulest football odors.

But just like Lazarus, Smith rose from the dead and spurred the suddenly Mighty Spartans to 38 straight points and the biggest comeback in the history of Division-I football. Would you expect anything less from Michigan State football?

What have we learned by this dramatic reversal of fortune?

1. The Good Book is as important as ever; and

2. John L“azarus” Smith has been resurrected from certain termination, at least until next week.

Paper Tigers

Paper Tiger: (noun) One that is seemingly dangerous and powerful but is in fact timid and weak.

-The American Heritage Dictionary

LSU imploded in the Swamp Saturday losing to Florida 23-10. The Tigers killed themselves with five turnovers, a missed FG, a blocked punt and a fumble, which resulted in a safety. Even with all the miscues, the Tigers had the ball on the Florida 20 with a little over three minutes left after blocking a Florida punt. But on first down, Russell threw behind Bowe and suffered his third interception of the game.

Fairly or unfairly, QB’s are judged by their performances in the big games, and this season, Russell has come up lacking in two road losses to Auburn and Florida. While his completion percentage (58%) and yardage (494) are solid, the three INT’s and one TD leave fans wishing for more.

A big reason for Russell’s road struggles start with the lack of a running game. LSU has rushed for a grand total of 132 yards on 48 attempts versus Auburn and Florida. Overall, LSU is ranked 60th in the nation in rushing. The other problem is Russell’s decision making. I would love to sit in the upcoming film sessions because I’ve got to believe Jimbo had a laundry list of poor reads by Russell. As a fourth year player I had hoped Russell would be further along in his development. But he continues to be a work in progress. And poor performances in big games will beg the question, what if Matt Flynn was selected the starter back in August? I don’t know if he would have beaten Auburn or Florida, but LSU wouldn’t be any worse than 4-2. I am not suggesting a change, but the question is worth asking.

Special teams were a disaster. Jackson muffed a punt in the first quarter that led to Florida’s first TD. Then LSU proceeded to fumble the opening kickoff of the second half which led to a safety. LSU then had a punt blocked and missed a FG. Chris Jackson pinned a punt on the one only to have it called back for illegal procedure. His next kick went out of bounds near the 30. Special teams are not LSU’s strong suit as evidenced by the Tigers being ranked 104th in the country in KO returns and 82nd in punt returns. I think it may be time for Trindon Holliday to be given another chance returning punts. With the great returners LSU has had in the past, Eddie Kennison, Kevin Faulk, Dom Davis and Skyler Green, I can’t believe LSU can’t do better at the position.

Danny McCray may end up having a great career at LSU, but his first visit to the Swamp was brutal. #44 is a true freshman safety from Houston, Texas and was rated with 3 stars by rivals.com. The injury to Daniel Francis forced him into the game and he struggled. On Tebow’s second TD pass, the receiver was McCray’s man. As McCray looked in the backfield, Louis Murphy ran right past him and was WIDE open. On LSU’s blocked punt, McCray allowed a Florida rusher to get past him to the inside resulting in a blocked punt. Hopefully better days are ahead for this guy.

I actually liked the play calling in the game. Jimbo had a few nice wrinkles with direct snaps to Doucet and hand-offs from the shotgun. The receivers did a nice job catching the ball and Jacob Hester continues to be a reliable workhorse and ended the game with 14 touches for 68 total yards. Some will say Miles and his staff were out coached, but I disagree. Jackson’s fumble gave Florida seven points. Russell then fumbled at the Florida one which gave away seven points. With three minutes left in the half, Russell throws his first pick of the game on first down when he had open receivers underneath. Florida converts that turnover into seven points. Then to open the second half, Doucet fumbles the kickoff, boom…a safety and the score becomes 16-7. McCray gets beat for the final TD and Florida ends up with 23 points. No, this one is on the players. I am waiting to see a clip of Saban’s famous “Brook trout” tirade.

Finally, I must address the officiating.

1. Tim Tebow’s “jump pass” should have been called back. At least two if not three of the Florida offensive linemen were in the endzone when the pass was made, thus a penalty for illegal man down field. This was an easy call and the refs totally blew it.

2. A few plays earlier, LSU was flagged for “a blow to the head” on Leak. The LSU D-linemen didn’t even get close to Leak’s helmet. Phantom call.

3. Before LSU’s fumble on the one, the refs killed LSU with bogus calls. First they flagged the Tigers for holding downfield as Davis scored. Horrible call.

4. Then Hester scored but refs ruled him down at the one. Replay CLEARLY shows the ball across the line when his elbow hits. Bad call…where the hell is the replay?

5. Craig Davis is called out on a great catch in the second half. No review. Turns out upon watching the tape, he was in.

6. The refs missed a bad personal foul facemask on Ray McDonald. See photo here.

I don’t know if these calls changed the ultimate outcome of the game, but they were killers and came at crucial moments. As a side note, I believe this was the same crew that did the LSU v. Auburn game. I don’t think it is a conspiracy; I think they just suck.

The Tigers get the Wildcats in Tiger Stadium next. Kentucky will be the best team to visit Baton Rouge but I expect another solid beating by the home team. Although the chances are slim, LSU can still win the West, win the SEC and play in the Sugar Bowl. Don’t forget about 2001. LSU started out 4-3 and went on a six game winning streak to finish the season. With Auburn losing and the Hogs still on LSU’s schedule, anything can happen.

LSU 38 – Kentucky 7