I believe that the number one ranking may have been the worst thing that could have happened to the LSU tigers from a competition stand point. We play in the toughest league in the country and we put a huge target on our backs. I honestly believe that both KY and Florida played the absolute best games they could possibly play and will not play that well for the rest of the season and our number 1 ranking had a lot to do with it. Don't get me wrong I have totally enjoyed the spotlight of being number 1. But what was a difficult task of going undefeated in the SEC went from very difficult to almost impossible. I also believe the pressure of being number 1 may have gotten to this team a little and I think you will see a much more relaxed and focused team in the coming games As A side note We don't have the luxury of playing in weak conference where you can have an OK game and still win (PAC TEN) so the task of staying undefeated in the SEC is difficult at best.
Good post, we have no experience with playing as the #1 ranked team in the country. If we get there again we will learn from this experience. :thumb:
The bad thing about the #1 ranking was we didn't really play our "A" game to get to it. It's like the kid in school who doesn't do his homework. He barely gets by then finals come up and he bombs. Same thing with our Tigers. We haven't played up to our abilities all year and were able to win. The #1 ranking was basically giving to us, sure we beat some ranked teams... but we should of destroyed those teams. Every team we played so far this year should of been finished by halftime.
True that we had a target, but I disagree that it was the worst thing that could have happened to us. I don't understand that at all. What are we supposed to do? Say 'thank you for the No.1 ranking, but we don't want it right now because there's too much pressure to maintain it the whole year?' What kind of thinking is that? It's not like KY or FU was going to look past us if we were ranked 2; especially KY given the 49-0 beat down from last year and what happened in that stadium last time we were there. And we definitely didn't back into No.1 as the poster above me suggested. You don't 'DESTROY' SEC teams week in and week out. Sure, it happens occasionally, but it's the exception rather than the norm. Some of you act like you know nothing about the league. I guess if we don't win every SEC game 56-0, we're underachieving? I'll take a 7-3 or 13-10 WIN in an SEC game over a 45-0 WIN over a Middle Tennessee St.-type team every time.
Being ranked #1 in the country catches kids eyes...it gets us recruits. Saying that is the worst thing that could have happened seems silly. The more we hit that top spot...the longer we will stay in that top spot....IMO
BTW...Aghayere didnt commit till we got to #1...and now Moses McCray (FSU commit) and DC Jefferson (Rutgers commit) are looking at us hard.
I like this post. Very spot on imo. yes LSU when clicking on all cylinders can defeat anyone. But in the SEC we have good offenses with steller defenses. You will not blow a SEC team out with the power and speed most of our schools possess. Which is why most teams in the country do not like playing us. Auburn coming up with be another very physical and demanding game but we can rise to the occassion and defeat them. But do not expect a blow out. Unless of course we our boys come out to make a huge statement in losing our #1. Getting back to #1 and keeping that rank will greatly increase our recruiting and sway many kids and their families to our school if they believe they will get the opportunity to play in a BCS bowl or better while at LSU.
As I said FROM A COMPETITION STAND POINT. I agree with the recruiting and that we deserved it and all the other points being made. I was strictly speaking to the fact that it is so difficult to go undefeated in the SEC and then you put the number 1 rank in there it gets that much more difficult. I also agree that if we achieve the number 1 ranking again that we will know how to deal with the pressure of being number 1 better
