Article - "LSU Finds Little Respect After BCS Title Run"

Many of us refuse to ignore the lack of respect given to LSU and it's of interest to us. With that being said, I don't see the need for 150 posts about how you feel about how we feel - those posts are duly noted, thanks.

LSU Finds Little Respect After BCS Title Run

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08/20/2004

KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
So much for last year's title. LSU isn't expected to repeat as champ in 2004 - in the Southeastern Conference.

In the preseason media poll, the Tigers were a distant second to Georgia in votes for the conference champion, although they handily were named the favorite in the West.

LSU, the defending SEC champ, also won a share of the national championship last season by beating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the BCS title. The victory came three days after Southern Cal secured No. 1 in The Associated Press poll in the Rose Bowl.

It was LSU's first crown since 1958, and apparently it had little carry-over to this season.

And honestly, that's just the way coach Nick Saban wants it.

"Last year was a mountain climb, we were fortunate to plant the flag in the mountain and win the national championship," he said. "That is history. This year, we have won zero games, we are the base camp at the bottom of the mountain.

"That's how we try to coach this to our team. Hopefully, our players will look at this season as a challenge."

The preseason AP poll reflected the same opinion of the Tigers: they are fourth, trailing Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Georgia.

This is the first time that the Bulldogs have been included in the top five before the season; amazingly, Herschel Walker and the defending national champions from 1980 were No. 10 the following year.

With 20 returning starters, coach Mark Richt might be on the cusp of adding another title.

"Our team's goals have been the SEC East, the SEC and national championship," Richt said. "We're not shy about those goals, but another 50 schools are making those same goals."

Georgia faces some challenges early, and they have nothing to do with the schedule. Linebacker Odell Thurman was suspended for the first three games for a violation of team rules, and fullback Jeremy Thomas must sit out the first two.

Also, Kregg Lumpkin, an electrifying runner projected to be the starting tailback, went down on the first day of practice with a torn ACL and is lost for the season.

The suspended players are expected to be back by Oct. 2, when LSU travels to meet the Bulldogs between the hedges. The Tigers won both meetings a year ago, including a 34-13 victory in the SEC championship game.

"They've beaten us the last two times we've played them," Richt said. "I'd think they'd be the favorite."

While the Tigers battle the Bulldogs for supremacy at the top of the conference, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom makes his debut as the first black head football coach in SEC history.

He was a finalist last year for the job at Alabama - his alma mater - and he takes over a team that finished 2-10 in 2003.

"They have to make a conscious choice that they want to win, that they will pay the price," Croom said of turning around the program. "It may take a year, may take two years, our players will make that determination. But the things we ask them to do, we will not compromise on those things."

Ron Zook has similar issues at Florida. Entering his third year as coach of the Gators, he has gone 8-5 in each of the last two seasons. Hardly embarrassing marks, unless they come after 12 years of Steve Spurrier and his Fun 'N' Gun offense.

"The success that Spurrier had makes it the job that it is," Zook said. "We are getting better, we are making progress. We're in a better situation than we were, and we have a chance to have an outstanding year."

A capsule look at the teams in their predicted order of finish:

EAST

GEORGIA - QB David Greene, a four-year starter, is getting preseason consideration for the Heisman Trophy. If he leads the Bulldogs to eight victories this season, he will pass Peyton Manning's NCAA record of 39. ... Five of Georgia's first six games are at home before finishing with four of last five away from Sanford Stadium. ... FS Thomas Davis should more than make up for the loss of Thurman.

FLORIDA - QB Chris Leak, who surprisingly took over as a starter in the fifth game last season, went 6-1 in the SEC. ... Zook brought in one of the nation's best recruiting classes - again - and might finally have the program headed back in the right direction. ... The Gators return nine starters on defense.

TENNESSEE - There are many questions on both sides of the ball, none bigger than trying to find a replacement for QB Casey Clausen. Sixth-year senior C.J. Leak might finally get a chance, provided he beats out Rick Clausen, Casey's younger brother. ... TBs Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis should have plenty of room to run behind line that includes OT Michael Munoz, who passed up a chance to enter NFL draft.

SOUTH CAROLINA - Coach Lou Holtz needs a big year after back-to-back 5-7 seasons. Things are so desperate for the Gamecocks that Holtz demoted his son, Skip, from offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach. ... TB's Demetris Summers and Daccus Turman combined for nearly 1,300 yards last season.

VANDERBILT - The Commodores bring back 21 starters - including all 11 on defense - and might finally finish with a winning record again. It's been since 1982. ... QB Jay Cutler leads an experienced offense that includes talented RBs Norval McKenzie and Kwane Doster.

KENTUCKY - The Wildcats must find replacements for QB Jared Lorenzen and WR Derek Abney, their two most prolific offensive players. Shane Boyd gets a chance at taking over for Lorenzen. ... Defense is led by all-conference DE Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns.

WEST

LSU - The defense should carry the Tigers, with LB Lionel Turner and DE Marcus Spears leading the unit that shut down Oklahoma in the BCS title game last year. ... QB Marcus Randall takes over for Matt Mauck, and he'll probably be handing off a lot to talented RB Justin Vincent.

AUBURN - Somewhat amazingly, coach Tommy Tuberville returns for his sixth season on the Plains. The school president and athletic director both agreed to step down after an embarrassingly clumsy search for Tuberville's replacement - before the end of the season. ... RBs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown return to lead an explosive offense.

OLE MISS - The Rebels tied for the top spot in the West last season with QB Eli Manning, but he's gone to the NFL. Micheal Spurlock is the new quarterback. ... Several veterans return on offense, including WRs Bill Flowers and Mike Espy. ... Ole Miss lost seven starters on defense, too.

ALABAMA - Coach Mike Shula went 4-9 in his first season, but the Tide has enough talent to reach a bowl game for the first time since the pre-probation year of 2001. ... QBs Brodie Croyle and Spencer Pennington both had offseason shoulder surgeries and are healthy again. ... LB DeMeco Ryans leads a strong defense.

ARKANSAS - Coach Houston Nutt turned down an offer from Nebraska to stay with the Razorbacks, and he might soon regret the decision. Only four starters return from the offense and defense. ... One of those is QB Matt Jones, who continues to be effective with his unorthodox style. ... Arkansas has played in a bowl in each of Nutt's six previous seasons.

MISSISSIPPI STATE - Croom is the story in Starkville, and he should be. These Bulldogs have only eight victories in the past three seasons. ... Four of five starters on the offensive line return. ... Seven starters return from a defense which ranked last in the SEC in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense last season.

 

I am kind of interested to see how UF does this year. They return so little on defense and lose some very important offensive players....but still return Leak and company and though I think UF could go 9-2 or 8-3....they are quite high in many polls putting even more pressure on Zook

 

Gawd, not again....... ( :dis: puke)

 

You're just bitter because the Tigers planted the flag in Auburns ass last season. :geaux: :lsug: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs: :champs:

 

What's wrong, the ole Music City Bowl champions are not getting enough attention?

 

But guys, Auburn's gonna win it all this year! They're going to kill our beloved Tigers! :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Way to go, Tirk

The award "Assclown" is just too damned funny.

This article shows LSU's lack of respect but doesn't state LSU hasn't ever been favored to win a SEC Championship since the formation of two conferences ... Let Georgia or Florida get picked every year to win the SECCG in the preseason ... plays right into the Master's hands

I just hope Vegas stays dumb to LSU also and keeps laying lame point spreads down ...

It's tough to get a fix on a coach who won't run up scores and just keeps developing talent by taking what he sees are acceptable risks through playing inexperienced kids ... seems nobody gets it

~R~E~P~E~A~T~

 

Vegas is not setting lame lines...they are putting them where the chumps set them, err lay their $$ down, i.e., caddi and his cronies selling their farms and blindly betting big ears is one example.

 

Saban only said it once. Get Tubby to win something and his quotes will be repeated too.