I haven't been following the OSU boards too closely, who did y'all lose? Y'all lost Vernon, right? I wouldn't be happy about that. The guy was one of the greatest DEs in college football. Did y'all lose anyone else because they decided to leave Ohio State early? And as for pointing out that it was an Ohio State player that first entered the NFL as a junior, I never knew that. If I was an Ohio State fan, I would never point that out to anybody. It makes Ohio State look bad. Same thing with your claim that "Ohio State has been among the hardest hit by underclassmen leaving in the past." That makes Ohio State look bad. I always figured that kids would go to a school like Ohio State because they loved college football, and Ohio State is one of the greatest college football programs. I would have thought that Ohio State would have a very little chance of ever losing players early to the NFL. Anyway, I still remember when Faneca left LSU early to go to the NFL. I cheer for the Steelers just because how much I loved Faneca at LSU. While I was doing so in their recent playoff game, one of my friends pointed out that Faneca sold LSU out by leaving early... after all, we were looking forward to easily finishing in the Top 10 had he returned. But, like I told my friend, I remember watching that press conference when Faneca announced he was leaving early. The guy broke down in tears because he was so devastated that he was leaving LSU early. Basically, his parents weren't doing well, so he needed to go make some money to help them, a very honorable thing for a son to do. But the fact that he still cried because he had to leave LSU early -- that's what is so great about LSU. We really do have a special place down here.
If a school has been hit hard by underclassman leaving, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Realistically, at the bigger schools it's all about getting to the NFL. It just shows that they performed well as underclassmen. You probably wouldn't be proud but it is an indicator of the level of performance by the players there and that is something to be proud of. A lot of seniors don't even get consideration for the NFL draft but for a junior to leave, he must have had an outstanding year. This is the kind of problem that schools with loads of talent have, and I'd say it is a good problem to have. JaMarcus leaving early doesn't make LSU any less desirable of a school. It actually helps recruiting, too.
Huh? The only reason he left is because he knew he was gonna be the first pick in the draft. And I guess he about 30 million other reasons to leave too....
I'm not saying I don't like Russell. I hope he does well, and I'm still proud of him as a former Tiger. I just don't love him as a true Tiger.
I do not understand your logic. Sure players can be all for there school and stay at LSU as long as possible. Herman Hohnson recieved the highest projection out of the underclassman and decided to stay because he thinks he can up his stock and stay healthy since he has been healthy throughout his career for the most part. And I commend him for making the decision to stay but would have wished him the best if he chose differently. However, players can not be dumb and risk potential high draft stocks. JR made the right decision no matter which way you slice it. He was projected as a top 3 pick before he decided to leave and ended up the #1 overall. These players individually have to look at the big picture and provide for their families and there future and coaches encourage this. All athletes at LSU early are still true tigers. It is not stabbing LSU in the back by leaving early and that is the case for all schools.
You have to understand that I am insane. If you really pin me down on it, you would realize that I am anti-NFL. I think professional sports should be illegal. I don't think that anybody should be paid to be an athlete. As a former athlete myself, I believe that players should only play for the love of the game, period, just like I did for 15 years of my life (great experience, by the way). Like I said, I am insane (honestly). Sure, I follow the NFL as a casual observer because the NFL is reality and always will be reality. But my interest in the NFL is very little. I could care less what college players think about their future NFL chances. To me, every player should play solely for the love of the game, as an extracurricular to doing more important things with their lives. That's why I love the NCAA, that's why I love college football, and thats why I love LSU football. A perfect example is one of my all time LSU favorites, Tommy Casanova. The best all around-athlete LSU has ever had. He is the only three-time All American in LSU history. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated (1971), with the the headline: "Tommy Casanova of LSU, Best Player in the Nation." He's the only LSU player to make the WCFF all-century team. He went pro, and played professional football for six years, the last four of which he was named to the Pro Bowl. Yet, in the height of his prime, defying all sanity, he quit football, went to med school and became a doctor (an oculoplastic surgeon). He came back to Louisiana and served our state honorably as a doctor, and even got elected to our State Legislature. That's the kind of Tiger I am most proud of. Not those who consider their NFL chances over everything else. But like l said, I am insane (really).
You could have left it right there. Lots of rabid LSU fans here( myself included ), but we want our players passionate, not stupid. Stupid ends up like Cecil Collins. When you project in the top 5, you don't come back to play, you take care of your family and their future and cash your lottery ticket in. I am no fan of the NFL either , but if you told most anyone on this board that the only thing between them and $30 million payday was a pack of baby seals, 99% would scream "Batter Up!" Skipping your senior year for the NFL is not a question and certainly not an indictment of how "true a tiger" you are.
You gave an intelligent reply representing the majority opinion -- I honestly understand that. Maybe I was a little too harsh using the word "true" when quantifying former Tigers that we are proud of -- but I'm just saying that I personally have a higher respect for those guys who loved LSU more than their own future NFL careers. From the 2007 Tigers, Dorsey would be a great example. The guy easily would have been drafted last year, yet he came back and almost took a career-ending injury, and kept playing on top of that, all for the glory of LSU football, NCAA football, the love of the game.
