I have stated before here that I don't like LSU taking on the creampuffs. But in all fairness to LSU, Florida, etc I guess they don't have much of a choice. In speaking to a couple of buddies back in La. that are heavy into the LSU Football scene I posed this question to them and they all told me that they felt the problems is LSU cannot get quality opponents to come to Tiger Stadium in order to fill the slots. I can believe this but I gotta also kinda think Maybe LSU figures already they have a difficult enough schedule in the SEC so maybe not add anymore hard games. Problem with this is the system of polls and BCS nowadays hits you hard for these types of teams. B
Here is a good article on our outlook for the next few seasons. We are have some good future home-and-home series with Colorado, Oklahoma, and NC St. But we have Tulame for the next 10 years. Says we are going to play Appalachian State some time in the near future to an empty slot. Looks like we are opening the college football season next year on a Thursday against Miss St., not official. http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4785856.html Sorry if already posted.
Its a good idea to schedule at least a couple of rent-a-wins to start off the season in order to give your first-time starters some experience, and to see where the weaknesses and strengths lay. As you indicated, the SEC is such a tough schedule that to fill in the remaining slots with power houses would be really rough on the team, and we would be shooting ourselves in the foot. Few colleges has more than a two or three top 10 teams on their schedule if they can help it.
I agree, its always good to start your season with at least one easy game. Rather than start off with a tough non conference opponent. It gives your team a chance to work out some kinks, where if you are facing another top notch program if you come out flat you may lose. Thats another bad thing about LSU taking on another national power(Va Tech now) in a home and home series, you lose and you could be out the title picture. In the SEC gauntlet you are pretty much guarnateed one loss. With the current system two losses puts you almost definitely out of the champioship picture.
