Perhaps I did somewhat overstate Booty's role in costing DiNardo his job. But the fact is, while Gerry DiNardo started losing control of the program in 1998, Josh Booty certainly didn't help matters. If you think Josh wasn't a divisive influence on that team in 1999, then you're in denial. And that division was definitely a factor in DiNardo's ultimate demise, whether you choose to admit it or not.
If we keep having to play two in-state schools per year, I hope all of the good recruits we can't sign stay in the state of Louisiana. I'd like the teams we play to at least measure up to a decent mid-major conference school ... more points in BCS. I must admit the BCS has warped my thinking and enjoyment of college football. The good news is that LSU fans would not be as keenly aware of how the BCS point system works (or doesn't work) unless we were in the hunt, which is a good thing !
I heard Robert Davis didn't play for Evangel until his senior year, it that correct? What about Dawson? Was he an Evangel product or did he transfer there late in high school? I won't get into the Booty's. Some of the criticism is valid but most of it has gone overboard. It was impossible for Josh to live up to the hype, kind of like Lebron these days. His bonehead mistakes are hard to comprehend. Good talent though. I had a class with Bubba Alexander and Kyle Kipps towards the end of my time at LSU. Bubba just seemed like a dork. Cutting up in class like he was in middle school. It wouldn't have been that big a deal but the teacher used that damn assigned seating and Bubba was so stupid it was hard to ignore. Not cutting up where the teacher can hear you but cutting up where the 8-10 students around him could. Was he an Evangel product too? I also believe most of the bashing of Evangel is useless but I won't lose any sleep over their players going elsewhere. Most people focus solely on Tepper and overlook the fact that Morris Watts was replaced by a WR coach. I think some of Josh's struggles may have been due to the fact that other SEC defenses knew whether we were running or throwing before the snap.
