Not my opinion but our fans don't like the Heisman. :huh: That's cause they were talking about HIM talking about wining 4 Heisman's, or was it 4 National Championships? Hell no, I always tell people my biggest wish is that my daughters never bring home someone like me. :wink: I ate 'em all...the brownies, that is. :grin:
RP calling Matt Flynn "a leader both on and of the field" is respectable for public relations, but still lame in my opinion. Nobody got jacked up about Matt Flynn this year. We expected him to be a decent manager and not to mess up, which he did. He wasn't a superstar. The team leader on offense was Jacob Hester. And he wasn't a superstar, either. Besides our coaching staff and overall team talent, it was LSU's defense that won the NC for us this year. But back to RP, I liked it back in the day when RP was right out of HS, talking trash about how bad Matt Flynn sucked and how the only LSU QB that had a chance of beating him out for the starting LSU QB position was JaMarcus Russell. I know, I know, a lot of little girls would freak out that I am supporting cocky, arrogant, male behavior, but when it comes to sports, I like a kid with attitude, not a little butt-kisser. Kids with attitude usually got that way because they know they can back it up. RP is one of those kids who can back it up. Oh, and I've met RP's older brother during a social situation. He is a Detective for the Sheriff's Department in RP's neck of the woods (can't remember if the man was currently working for St. John's Sheriff Dept or St. Charles Sheriff Dept). Yes, I made him show me his badge, which he did. He was in sports coat and tie (typical detective dress) -- huge guy, intimidating guy just like RP. Sat down and got the chance to get to know him a little bit. Great guy, definitely a "model citizen" to most. I didn't even believe him that he was RP's older brother, so I made him show me his driver's license, which he did. I was poking fun at him regarding his kid brother, seeing if I could get some sort of reaction from him that indicated his kid brother was a "black sheep," and I didn't get that reaction. Seems to me that RP had good role models in his life from the one that I met.
If we dont get off his past and continue to focus on his future then the dead horse should be dumped in the middle of the field next to the :tigereye:. We all have a past and no stones should be thrown. Anybody here getting beat up about their past today? Let RP clean his own slate by proving he will lead a group of well tooled tigers onto the field without the crowd throwing fake ID's at his feet. If he proves otherwise, judge him then.
The subject was brought up again by clair in post 30 saying RP did nothing wrong. There is no continued criticism, only a correction of false information. Clearly any coach who would discipline a player who has done nothing wrong, according to people on this forum, must have it out for him, no?
John, I'm not trying to be an azz but you are so wrong here. First, Flynn's leadership was not only his biggest asset, it had a positive affect on our team, not only on the field but for years to come- he waited his turn to play, that's such a rare quality today. Secondly, Flynn's leadership is what separated him from RP THIS year and THE reason he started. No, he wasn't a "Superstar" and a "Team" doesn't need superstars, they need, depend and rely on each other- we were a team and though Flynn was no superstar, he's definitely a hero, I'd prefer that label than the other. If you think off the field activities don't affect a program, see Miami. :wink:
As we both agree, Matt Flynn was no superstar for LSU. But in the national championship game vs. Ohio State, I was amazed at how ice-cold calm Matt Flynn was. That was extremely amazing to me. And yes, I 100% agree that any kid who sits on the bench for 4 years waiting his chance to play for a team is a bona fide overall team hero, like Matt Flynn. Trust me, I played sports for many years, and I was no superstar, my pride and joy was being the kid who sat on the bench, and then roared with heart once coach let me in (which is how I earned my starting position on the best team I was a part of). But I still don't think Matt Flynn was the competitor I expected of a true on-the-field-leader. Overall LSU hero, yes -- but to me, the only reason Matt Flynn got to led the team this year is because Coach Miles is an honorable man, and one who doesn't give a crap what anyone thinks. Sure, most coaches would have started RP this season, but Coach Miles said "screw that," I respect a kid who stuck it out for the team, and I'm going to let him play, and I don't give a damn if it costs me a National Title (which is almost what happened many times with Flynn's sub-superstar performance this year, especially at the end of the Kentucky game). But's that why I love Coach Miles, just like I loved the coaches I played for. They would rather reward a kid with heart over a kid with talent, even if it costs them a chance at the National Title, District Championship or whatever. And I'm not saying RP doesn't have heart (I believe he does), I'm just saying he didn't prove it at the level a much older Flynn did by sitting on the bench for four years at LSU. As for the Miami reference (I also think of Florida State the same way), yes, if it got so out of hand at LSU that our jocks were straight-up thugs, then, I would be upset. But LSU is not, and has never been, even close to that level. That's why I don't understand the whining about off-the-field minor criminal issues of any player. Seriously, have you people ever gotten a speeding ticket? You do realize that is a minor criminal issue, right?
I think those questioning RPs off field behavior all want to see the kid mature and play. He's a great athlete. Miles played Flynn this year for his senior leadership, not because he stuck it out. RP was a little too green though has tremendous talent. I think those so vehemently supporting RP are reading a little too much into the concern of a few, including myself. We all want to see him succeed, become the great leader on and off the field and win us another championship. If we have concerns, so what. The ball's in RPs court. It's his game to win or lose. We all want him to win. If he wins, we all win.
No doubt about it. And he has never lost for us so far, not even in a highly stressful situation having to step in to lead the team during the SEC Championship (where, in case anybody forgot, RP won the MVP award). And not just that, but he had the game announcers drooling over how great he was during that game, and he will continue to be at LSU.
I think it is simpler than that. Les plays his seniors if they are getting the job done. LSU is deep and a fellow has to wait his turn. Even Dorsey didn't start until he was a junior and he was an All-American in his first year. Like Flynn, Steltz didn't start until he was a senior and he made All-American. We are going to start some talented seniors and juniors this season and they don't have to worry about some hot-shot High School All-American taking their jobs as a freshman. If the seniors get the job done, Les will play them and the rookies will have to wait for their opportunity.
