Wednesday, June 21, 2006
LSU Tigers: Kings of Saturday night
Have Saturday nights ever been better? Nope.
Thank you, Nick Saban. But credit Les Miles. He coaches 'em, and he's recruiting 'em, too.
Pass the gumbo and enjoy the ride.
It could be a long one this season for a team that SN ranks No. 4 in the nation. The problem? A rugged schedule that includes games at Auburn, at Florida and at Tennessee. And visits from Arizona, Fresno State and Alabama also could be problematic.
Where's Emeril? I need a few "BAMS!" dropped in here. Hell, I'll settle for Justin Wilson saying "I garnotee" those will be tough games.
But wait until after LSU's game on the Plains before asking the Tigers
"How y'all are?" That Tale of the Tigers will be the SEC game of the year. Heck, it even may be the NATIONAL game of the year.
Pardon my French (and hyperbole), Auburn, but LSU is abso-flipping-lutely loaded.
Don't be alarmed if Mike the Tiger takes all of this news laying down. He sees it every week while getting pushed around the field in that cage. Here's what he sees at quarterback: JaMarcus Russell is a stud who should be healthy. The big fella even may be a first-round draft choice.
Matt Flynn figures to play in the league, too. Ryan Perrilloux? Well, if he shuts up and listens, he could be good, too.
Not to dash Tabasco on the victory party, but the lines need to be re-worked, and the running backs have to avoid the injury bug.
Not worried? Yeah, I'm not, either. I wouldn't be even if my name was
Tom Dienhartaux and I lived in Thibodaux. The receiving corps drips with talent, and the secondary is the best in the SEC. And I love Miles' two lieutenants: offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. In fact, I think they are the SEC's best set of coordinators this side of Auburn's brainy duo of offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
Wait! I think I just heard Mike roar. Is it Saturday night yet?
Thank you, Nick Saban. But credit Les Miles. He coaches 'em, and he's recruiting 'em, too.
Pass the gumbo and enjoy the ride.
It could be a long one this season for a team that SN ranks No. 4 in the nation. The problem? A rugged schedule that includes games at Auburn, at Florida and at Tennessee. And visits from Arizona, Fresno State and Alabama also could be problematic.
Where's Emeril? I need a few "BAMS!" dropped in here. Hell, I'll settle for Justin Wilson saying "I garnotee" those will be tough games.
But wait until after LSU's game on the Plains before asking the Tigers
"How y'all are?" That Tale of the Tigers will be the SEC game of the year. Heck, it even may be the NATIONAL game of the year.
Pardon my French (and hyperbole), Auburn, but LSU is abso-flipping-lutely loaded.
Don't be alarmed if Mike the Tiger takes all of this news laying down. He sees it every week while getting pushed around the field in that cage. Here's what he sees at quarterback: JaMarcus Russell is a stud who should be healthy. The big fella even may be a first-round draft choice.
Matt Flynn figures to play in the league, too. Ryan Perrilloux? Well, if he shuts up and listens, he could be good, too.
Not to dash Tabasco on the victory party, but the lines need to be re-worked, and the running backs have to avoid the injury bug.
Not worried? Yeah, I'm not, either. I wouldn't be even if my name was
Tom Dienhartaux and I lived in Thibodaux. The receiving corps drips with talent, and the secondary is the best in the SEC. And I love Miles' two lieutenants: offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. In fact, I think they are the SEC's best set of coordinators this side of Auburn's brainy duo of offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
Wait! I think I just heard Mike roar. Is it Saturday night yet?
LSU Tigers must elevate game in SEC tournament
Reverse worked for the LSU baseball team as far as getting into the Southeastern Conference Tournament that starts today, but it may have to shift to reach the NCAA Tournament next week.
"Yeah, we kind of backed into the tournament, but we're in," LSU senior catcher Matt Liuzza said Tuesday. "Somewhere along the way, we deserved to get in. It might not have been this last weekend, but somewhere along the way we got the wins."
The Tigers (34-22, 13-17 SEC) lost two of three to the SEC's worst team over the weekend at Florida, which ended up rising from last to 11th with its first league series victory since the opening weekend of SEC play. The Gators did not make the SEC Tournament. "They were a team having a worse season than us," said LSU pitcher Clay Dirks, who will start tonight against No. 1 seed Alabama (39-17, 20-10) in a game scheduled for 5 p.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
LSU got the last parking spot as the eighth seed thanks to Ole Miss hanging on to beat Mississippi State 13-11 on Saturday. Had State won, it would be here and playing SEC co-champion Alabama instead of LSU. The Bulldogs finished 12-17 - a half game behind LSU.
"Yeah, we kind of backed into the tournament, but we're in," LSU senior catcher Matt Liuzza said Tuesday. "Somewhere along the way, we deserved to get in. It might not have been this last weekend, but somewhere along the way we got the wins."
The Tigers (34-22, 13-17 SEC) lost two of three to the SEC's worst team over the weekend at Florida, which ended up rising from last to 11th with its first league series victory since the opening weekend of SEC play. The Gators did not make the SEC Tournament. "They were a team having a worse season than us," said LSU pitcher Clay Dirks, who will start tonight against No. 1 seed Alabama (39-17, 20-10) in a game scheduled for 5 p.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
LSU got the last parking spot as the eighth seed thanks to Ole Miss hanging on to beat Mississippi State 13-11 on Saturday. Had State won, it would be here and playing SEC co-champion Alabama instead of LSU. The Bulldogs finished 12-17 - a half game behind LSU.
