LSU Rumors + 2012 Recruits + News + LSU Blog: Tigers football / basketball

2011-02-07T20:08:00.001-08:00

The Three Major Sports

2010-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write a quick blog on the three major LSU sports. I'm sorry if I did not include the other athletic excellence of LSU, but I am very aware of it. Track, Women's Softball, Women's Basketball, Swimming... But my title is the three major sports, as in attendance, coverage, and money.

The LSU Baseball Team is the #1 team in the country. They are undefeated after their first series and sweep and they are the national champions until another team proves otherwise. We have the majority of our talent back from last year. The same clutch power hitters like Blake Dean, Micah Gibbs, and Matt Gaudet. We lost our second pitcher Louis Coleman but we still have Anthony Ranaudo, who is most probably the best pitcher in the country. We have our talent everywhere. In fact, Anthony Raunado, first baseman Blake Dean, catcher Micah Gibbs, and outfielder Leon Landry were all named on the Golden Spikes Award Watch List by USA Baseball.

The LSU Basketball Team is last in the SEC and has not won a game yet in their conference. I thought better of Trent Johnson, but one can only say, "he doesn't have the players" for so long. Where is the coaching he is known to do? We can already say, "let's wait until next year." Sorry, nothing positive to say about a winless conference record. If we finish winless in the SEC; that will be the first time in LSU Basketball history.

The LSU Football Team begins Spring Practice on February 26th. Their Spring game is a month from then on Saturday March 27th. I firmly believe that Billy Gonzales, the Offensive Passing Coordinator from Florida and Frank Wilson, the receivers and running backs coach from Tennessee, will both be great helps to this disappointing offense from a year ago. If these two credible offensive coaches cannot make a noticeable difference with all of the talent that LSU has on their football team, then I will drive to Gary Crowton's house and slash his tires so he cannot make another trip to LSU campus. That is just another way of saying that you must blame him. But I do think, to give Les Dimwit MIles a little credit, Miles acquired these two offensive coaches to more than simply support Crowton. I think they will have more "hands on coaching" than one may think.

2010 should be fun for LSU Baseball and Football fans. Even though the next basketball season starts sometime in the winter, I can't safely say anything of them yet.

LSU Football Signing Day Summary

2010-02-03T14:05:00.001-08:00

I know you all can read the signees and their info in many sites. But I want to just get to the point.

LSU has 27 commitments while Florida has 28, Alabama has 26, and Auburn has 32. These three teams are ahead of LSU in recruiting rankings.

For all that it matters - LSU is ranked #7 on espn.com and #6 on both scout.com and rivals.com

According to espn.com, LSU signed 0 five star players, 12 four star players, 15 three star players, and 2 listed as "others." LSU has 7 ESPNU 150 signings. That's the top 150 rated high school players in the country by ESPN.

Compare this to Florida with 4 five star players, 15 four star players, 7 three star players, and 2 "others." 17 ESPNU 150 signings.

Compare this to Alabama with 0 five star players, 12 four star players, 12 three star players, and 2 "others." 9 ESPNU 150 signings.

Compare this to Auburn with 1 five star player, 10 four star players, 13 three star players, and 8 "others." 7 ESPNU 150 signings.

LSU's top rated player is Travis Dickson who is a TE from Ocean Springs, Miss.

LSU has 1 QB from Texas, 2 OLs (1 from GA and 1 from LA), 3 RBs (1 from FL, 1 from OH, and 1 from LA), 1 FB from GA, 4 WRs (1 from FL and 3 from LA), 3 LBs (1 from TX, 1 from TN, and 1 from LA), 2 DEs (1 from AL and 1 from LA), 4 DBs All from LA, 1 Punter from LA, 1 DL from MD, 1 ATH from AL.

The positions that consist of our 7 top ESPNU 150 signees are 1 TE, 1 WR, 1 OT, 1 DE, 1 DT, and 2 Safeties.

I know it's 8 months early, but here's LSU 2010 Football Schedule in chronological order (I'm a bit obsessed):

North Carolina in Atlanta
Vanderbilt at Home
Miss. St. at Home
West Virginia at Home
Tennessee at Home
At Florida
Mcneese St. at Home
At Auburn
Alabama at Home
Louisiana-Monroe at Home
Ole Miss at Home
At Arkansas

As you all can see we have a favorable schedule since we play 3 games at someone else's house and 1 at a neutral site. You'd think if Dimwit Miles can save any face that he will have learned a thing or two after the last two years. Because, to throw in a baseball quip, "3 strikes and you're out, Dimwit!"

Les Miles' Luck Has Expired

2010-02-01T23:15:00.000-08:00

I think everyone who knows anything about football can safely say that the 2010 LSU Football Season should be Les Miles’ last year as head coach. I say it again, “…everyone who knows anything about football…” The LSU fans who don’t know; were the ones who were calling into the last Les Miles’ radio show before the Capital One bowl. They would say, “I’m so glad that you are our coach and I have every bit of faith in his week’s bowl matchup.” I heard a dozen people call and give Miles sentiments like that while they asked no questions. These sentiments are the ones that give Miles any impression that he is doing a good job. Les Miles’ luck has expired.

I say that because he won the national championship three years ago with two losses and an unprecedented season ending crash of the top ranked teams to allow us room to enter the championship. Since then…what has he done? Miles has gone 8-5 and 9-4. The first of those two years LSU had a terrible defense rated last in the SEC and far behind in the country. I’m sorry I don’t remember the national ranking. Though I do know that the 2009 season we had a very good defensive coordinator, John Chavis, who did a lot in his first year. But we still had Gary Crowton as the moronic offensive coordinator. Our offense last year was last in the SEC. And I do remember the national ranking of our offense in 2009. 107th!

The 9-4 season was the season after LSU was ranked #1 in the nation’s recruiting by scouts.com and espn.com. I am still asking, “how often did we use our star players? How effective did we use our star players? How well coached were our young, future star players?” Between a disorganized “no-huddle offense,” a pushover offensive line, Jordan Jefferson making the same mistakes week in and week out, and rarely ever seeing Russell Sheppard and Rueben Randle, I think the answers to all of my questions are, “rarely, rarely, and terribly.”

Does anyone wonder why we are in the dark with national signing day in less than one week? We are currently ranked #8 in national recruiting by espn.com. Regarding the same poll, we are ranked behind Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn. Obviously, that makes us fifth best in our conference for new talent. If I was a star high school player; what would make me want to go to LSU after watching them for the last two years? I would see how they would get great players in recruiting but I would never see the players on the field.

Here are the facts: There are 18 five-star recruits who haven’t signed with any college football program yet and LSU is not considered by any one of them. Four top prospected recruits have de-committed from LSU in the last couple of weeks. Gary Crowton is still the offensive coordinator with getting a raise last year. Greg Studrawa is still the offensive line coach with getting a raise last year. LSU football ticket prices are going up. Les Miles’ luck has expired.

So I leave you with one question: How long must we watch our football program decline into a new decade before we stop congratulating our coach and start demanding answers?

Will Blanke 2/2/10

Trent Johnson Is Not Les Miles

2010-02-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

I know LSU’s basketball season is becoming the worst in the SEC this year.

Trent Johnson is a 53 year-old calm and confident coach. Johnson can spot talent

where it needs to be placed and coach them once they are in their place. Trent

Johnson is not Les Miles. This year’s basketball team is young and experiencing

leads falling away from them.

Let us look at Trent Johnson’s record as head coach and see how you need

to be patient. Johnson was head coach at University of Nevada from 1999-2004.

Johnson’s record was 9-20 in his first year and gets better with 10-18, 17-13, 18-14,

and 25-9. Johnson’s last year brought Nevada to the Sweet Sixteen. The former

mark was the first time Nevada reached the NCAA tournament since 1985. Nevada

prolonged their tournament visits three consecutive years after he left for another

head coaching job.

Johnson left for Stanford and stayed there until 2008. Johnson brought

Stanford to the NCAA tournament in each of his four years and to the Sweet Sixteen

in his last year. Trent Johnson is not Les Miles. Johnson’s first year at LSU won them

the SEC and a trip to the final 32 teams in the NCAA tournament.

Johnson surrounds himself with coaches who he has alliances with for years

at different schools. Trent Johnson is not Les Miles. Johnson is a smart coach who

was recognized by LSU’s athletic director, Joe Alleva. Joe Alleva had many years of

experience with Duke University as their athletic director until a few years ago. You

may have heard of Duke’s basketball program.

Johnson will not disappoint us even if we have to go through some

sophomore slumps. Johnson has brains, an eye for talent, dedication to his players,

and loyalty from assistant coaches. Do not expect our basketball program to head in

the wrong direction. Trent Johnson is not Les Miles

Will Blanke 1/29/10