What are your expectations at this point?

I’ll stick by a 9-3 season and the Cotton Bowl.

I think the worst case is 8-4 and the Cap One Bowl.
The new coaching staffs at Ole Miss and Arkansas are going to be pulling out all the stops for their game with us.

As for expectations for this year, I for one will admit I did not really consider that over the last two/three years we have lost what is probably the best defensive back field group ever to play in college and move on to the NFL – that alone would make a merely decent defensive line look good. I am also guilty of thinking a good offensive line and great skill players can cover for a freshman/inexperienced quarterback/leader on the field. I was really disappointed in the beat downs by Florida and Georgia (I had hoped we would take two or three out of Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Bama), but we will be back and payback is always hell.

Geaux Tigers!
ldskule:

 

I'll admit I'd be concerned, but feel the four extra weeks could do wonders. Regardless, I'd be a lot more intrigued by a Big 12 match-up than a Big 10 or ACC one.

And, yes, I think the Cotton Bowl would love to have us back in Dallas, as would I, since I live in DFW.

 

The capital one bowl picks 1st after the BCS. We would have to be 9-3 to have a shot. Considering we probably send 2 teams to the BCS. And conventional thinking is UF as SEC champ and Bama as the second or UGA because Bama lost the SECCG, we still have to look better than UGA or BAMA for the Capital One bowl. Both those schools travel well and are closer to Orlando... No way we go Capital One. Should we go 8-4 we could possibly fall to the peach bowl. But I still think the Cotton Bowl is our desitination unless we totally fall apart.

Stacey, nothing against Dallas, I think its a great city, I just remember that being the worst trip I made as a member of Tiger band and the Bowl itself isn't what it used to be. It wasn't the worst because we lost either. I thought the best trip I took was to Orlando. The bowl's not as important anymore. I'm sure the stadium is better now that they have renovated it but it was horrible for new years 2003. And this is all on top of how I feel about facing a big 12 offense. Guess I am just a pessimist on this one right now. But I am happy to go a bowl. I hear whispers from current Tiger band members complaining and I look at them and tell them they are spoiled, you don't know what it is to hope just to go to the Independence bowl like my sister did when she was in Tiger band. (Curley Hallman years)

 

By the way, this is a great quote from Charles Scott in yesterday's Advocate:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/34256989.html?showAll=y&c=y

 

But you're right, actually. Dallas is a great pro sport city. It doesn't know what to do with college sports, however.

 

Want some wishful thinking?

I'm wishing for three things: LSU to win out, Ga Tech to beat UGA, and Auburn to win out.

If that happens, LSU may actually find itself in the Sugar Bowl, as crazy as that sounds.

It breaks down like this: The loser of the SECCG usually doesn't go to the sugar bowl if the winner goes to the BCSCG. Alabama might be the exception to the rule if they are sitting at one loss at selection time over a multiple-loss LSU or UGA. However, if Auburn happens to beat Bama then it makes Bama's slide to the Cap One Bowl more likely. Florida would advance to the BCS game, obviously. And the Sugar would likely select between LSU and UGA.

That's where the Ga Tech game comes into play and Auburn's final game of the season against UGA.

This is actually possible, albeit unlikely.

Beyond that, if we win out like we COULD / SHOULD, we'll play in January for sure and likely (provided we beat a quality team) wind up JUST inside the top ten and plant the seeds for next year.

 

Even if all that were to come true...
1. Sugar bowl and New Orleans don't like it as much when LSU plays there... not as much money comes into the city and bowl because of how close we are.
2. It will be a hard argument to pass up two different teams that beat us to choose us. Even if the the win-loss record is the same.

Not to mention all the other things that could happen where the SEC won't get two BCS teams if everything comes to fruition as you have envisioned it.

Sorry, not trying to be a debbie downer. I truly hope for what you say can happen to HAPPEN.

 

Hey...I said it was unlikely!

But not completely out of the question..."who beat who" nonwithstanding, LSU is still fourth in the SEC. Some key losses for UGA would put them ranked below us and history is against Bama playing there should they lose to Florida and Florida goes to the 'ship (I don't think the loser of the SECCG has EVER played in the Sugar Bowl).

Anything can happen. We can lose the next three and get on a bus to Shreveport...who knows?

All that being said, my money is on Dallas and a high-scoring affair against a Big XII South team. If we win, we're top-ten to close out the season. Lose, and I say we'll be lucky to stay in the top twenty based purely on W/L record...that's the massive misfortune of having to play four teams in the end-of-season top ten.

 

Yes but it isn't unpresedented for a loser of a championship game to make a BCS bowl... granted they had to be picked because they were still the #1 team but it has happened.

 

According to Don Long Miles stated last night in the radio program that he may be available for Ole Piss.

By the way, the Cotton Bowl now has a kickoff time of 1:00 pm as opposed to the am kickoff in years past. The game will be moved to the new Cowboys stadium in 2011 I believe. Stick kicking the tires re whether I'll go if we play there.