Let me preface my remarks by saying I am no means a L.S.U. fan. In fact, I have a deep rooted negative feeling regarding their football program. It was L.S.U. that refused to continue the Tulane rivalry, even though, it is common knowledge that L.S.U. would not lose one cent by keeping the rivalry alive. Of course Nick Sabin, brought L.S.U. back to its glory only to realize the serious recruiting problem that exits. So he departed. Look at the QB who led L.S.U. to the National Championship for the first time in years, with Sabin as coach. Before that, and since, no class act at QB. Why? You have to go way back to the days of Coach Paul Dietzel, to find a well recruited set of good quarterbacks, who could manage a game.
Here is a mild list of quarterbacks that L.S.U. had no excuse for not recruiting, who actually wanted to attend L.S.U.
1. Joe Ferguson - born in Louisiana and played high school football and led his team to a State Championship. Went to Arkansas. Said publicly he wanted to go to L.S.U.
2. Norris Weese - born in Louisiana and played high school football for four years in Louisiana. Played well at Ole Miss but said publicly his first choice was L.S.U.
3. Peyton Manning - who told his dad Archie he wanted no part of Ole Miss and he wanted his own identity. Played high school football four years in New Orleans, and expressed interest in L.S.U., but was told they were not interested. Vols got lucky.
I can go on, but we have to go way back to Y.A. Title, who played for the NY football Giants, and Alvin Dark, who played for the Giants in MLB, who both started at L.S.U. at QB, to really find two that somehow landed at L.S.U. miraculously.
I had the priviledge of talking to ex Ole Miss Coach, the great Johnny Vaught, who in the eyes of Bear Bryant, was one of the best football coaches in college football history. Coach Vaught, a true gentleman, before his death, told me in Biloxi, Mississippi, where we drank coffee in the mornings regularly, that while he was blessed to have great quarterbacks like, Jake Gibbs, who ended up playng MLB for the Yankees, and others, he never had the widespread talent that L.S.U. had. Yet L.S.U. never won the National Championship (their first) with their best teams. Despite the poor coaching and pathetic recruiting, they still wee capable of beating anyone on any given day.
So here we go again! Another talented Tiger team, another pathetic northern coach who simply does not have the skill or ability to recruit in the south, leads his Tigers into this season, with a QB who while a great athlete, is subject to "do anything" at anytime, that might cost L.S.U. a game. Despite all this, I'm not sure L.S.U. won't overcome all this, and possibly have a great season, and maybe, just maybe even a shot at the National Championship.
In closing, when Sabin departed, any hope of a long term football program of success went with him. Despite all of the above, yes, they will beat Oregon soundly. This prediction is more about how bad I think Oregon will play, as opposed to how well L.S.U. will play. If L.S.U. just merely does not turn the ball over, they will cover. The only thing L.S.U. better start worrying about covering, is their position of Head Football Coach. Simply put, Les Myles, is no recruiter, and secondly he has no clue once they lose enough games, how fast these L.S.U. donars and influencial diehards will send him on his way. Last chance Les, or else, start looking for another position somewhere up north where its cold and there are plenty of pictures Of "Bo" around.
Here is a mild list of quarterbacks that L.S.U. had no excuse for not recruiting, who actually wanted to attend L.S.U.
1. Joe Ferguson - born in Louisiana and played high school football and led his team to a State Championship. Went to Arkansas. Said publicly he wanted to go to L.S.U.
2. Norris Weese - born in Louisiana and played high school football for four years in Louisiana. Played well at Ole Miss but said publicly his first choice was L.S.U.
3. Peyton Manning - who told his dad Archie he wanted no part of Ole Miss and he wanted his own identity. Played high school football four years in New Orleans, and expressed interest in L.S.U., but was told they were not interested. Vols got lucky.
I can go on, but we have to go way back to Y.A. Title, who played for the NY football Giants, and Alvin Dark, who played for the Giants in MLB, who both started at L.S.U. at QB, to really find two that somehow landed at L.S.U. miraculously.
I had the priviledge of talking to ex Ole Miss Coach, the great Johnny Vaught, who in the eyes of Bear Bryant, was one of the best football coaches in college football history. Coach Vaught, a true gentleman, before his death, told me in Biloxi, Mississippi, where we drank coffee in the mornings regularly, that while he was blessed to have great quarterbacks like, Jake Gibbs, who ended up playng MLB for the Yankees, and others, he never had the widespread talent that L.S.U. had. Yet L.S.U. never won the National Championship (their first) with their best teams. Despite the poor coaching and pathetic recruiting, they still wee capable of beating anyone on any given day.
So here we go again! Another talented Tiger team, another pathetic northern coach who simply does not have the skill or ability to recruit in the south, leads his Tigers into this season, with a QB who while a great athlete, is subject to "do anything" at anytime, that might cost L.S.U. a game. Despite all this, I'm not sure L.S.U. won't overcome all this, and possibly have a great season, and maybe, just maybe even a shot at the National Championship.
In closing, when Sabin departed, any hope of a long term football program of success went with him. Despite all of the above, yes, they will beat Oregon soundly. This prediction is more about how bad I think Oregon will play, as opposed to how well L.S.U. will play. If L.S.U. just merely does not turn the ball over, they will cover. The only thing L.S.U. better start worrying about covering, is their position of Head Football Coach. Simply put, Les Myles, is no recruiter, and secondly he has no clue once they lose enough games, how fast these L.S.U. donars and influencial diehards will send him on his way. Last chance Les, or else, start looking for another position somewhere up north where its cold and there are plenty of pictures Of "Bo" around.
