I think OSU would be a great first game for LSU. All OSU fans would be welcomed with great food and one of the best times they ever had at an away game.
The 2 Oregon's and the 2 Kansas programs are very similar. All 4 were lousy teams fro decades just about till about 10-12 years ago when they all got new coaches who could recruit their own states and then steal a few away from others. Kansas lost Mason and has gone downhill, Oregon has had a rough 2 years I guess; OSU lost Erickson and brought in Riley, which kind of schocked me after he was soooo bad at San Diego and then had the misfortune to come to purgatory in LA and spend a year with the Saints. But he seems to have kept the uptempo offense and appears to be keeping them on track. I would assume that the biggest problem at OSU is that they simply don't have any fans. What's wrong with those people up in the Pac NW, they don't like football? Seems that most of the fans at PAC 10 schools don't have much interest in football, that is a shame.
I think it is misguided to say that the Beavers don't have any fans. We have sold out our stadium for the past four seasons, and have amassed a defendable 29-4 mark over that period. Now, I will grant you that only contemplates about 36,000 fans, but it is about an average of 15k more than we had when I was in school (84-88). It's impossible to compare the fan base of a SEC school with that of the Pacific Northwest. Although our state's populations are equitable, there is just no comparing the attitude's of the respective inhabitants...football in the South is so big that it transcends sports and becomes a rallying point for the people in the various state. that just simply is not the case up here. Why is that, I don't know. One thing I will not do is make the Knee jerk argument that poeple have better things to do here...i don't buy that. I love college football, and I wish it was supported even a fraction as much as it is down there. the fact is, it is just not a part of our culture. we did send 45k plus to Tempe for the Notre Dame game, so while we may not have the numbers, there's plenty of freaks up here too...
i've seen the beavs play a few times and i'm not so thrilled about playing a good team (especially a good defensive team) for the first game. i've never been a fan of that--you should work into the season a little, especially when there is so much on the line now. ok if youre going to end up 8-4/9-3 its probably good to play a tough nonconference schedule, but too much for us to lose now. the first game should be more easy. the beavs have never played in a tiger stadium environment, but they will be sky hi.
I really feel that we would have no problem with the Beavers. On offense, we might have early season struggles, but defensively I think we shut down the Beavers and don't give up anymore than 10 points. Derek Anderson, the QB of OSU, is very mistake prone on the road. He is rattled easily and makes tons of mistakes. With an LSU defense and a crazy Tiger Stadium crowd after him he will be horrible. I think it would be a great test for the team and could give our offense and QB some confidence.
I've seen it posted on the OU board that they are also looking at traveling to OU next year. Perhaps they should just make it a two-game swing. I doubt they would consider that a positive way to begin the season though.
OSU's AD was on the local sports radio station this afternoon and said we are still in discussion with 6 schools - with the three main contenders now being LSU, OU, and KSU. Oregon State has had trouble scheduling good OOC opponents, as we have a small stadium and a very dangerous team at home. Erickson refused to schedule opponents without a home game, whereas Riley has given the green light. We're going to have one of the top secondaries in the nation, and return most of the offense that averaged 500 yards and 40 points over the last 5 games (in fact, OSU led the PAC-10 in offense and defense). It would be a great way to kickoff the season to take on the other defending national champs.
OR St would be preferable to Syr or any non-bcs conference team IMO. Getting a game vs. a BCS conference team without signing a home & home is a gift that we can't afford to pass up. OR St could have at least 8 wins next year and would be good for SOS. These are the types of schools that we need to start scheduling- we can't take the BCS hit from a 1-10 or 2-9 team and the criticism that goes along with it.
