Jefferson or Lee: Who's the Better LSU QB?

Aaaah, you know the debate had to start in earnest once the season began to take shape: LSU's sophomore signal caller, Jordan Jefferson has shown signs of confusion and downright incoherence during the game. Quite honestly, he was shut down last game (against Georgia). And we simply can't have that this weekend against the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Florida.
Would the Tigers be better off starting Jarrett Lee? Lee, who definitely had a myopic condition when looking in the middle of the field, has been reduced to a bench-rider this year. But should he? Yeah, he know about the 16 TDs and 14 INTs, but dude beat Auburn. That's GOT to count for something, right?
I for one kind of miss Lee, who exhibited leadership and intangibles in the face of considerable adversity and criticism.
Under center last year Lee showed an ability to actually win with his arms and the gusto to take risks. The problem was many of them were unnecessary risks.
Jordan, confused as he looks at times, has simply not given a game away. Yet. When he does then he can be vilified accordingly, but until then, let's let this thing play out. Literally.

Fulmer, Vols Do What's Expected And No More, Can You Blame Him?

You've got to give it to Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer.
He did exactly what he was supposed to do this year: The Volunteers beat the teams they were supposed to beat.
They also lost to the teams they were supposed to lose to.
All three of the losses were pretty much blowouts that could have been much worse and that could have been a little closer.
In the first game of the season, they got ran all over by California 31-45.
Two games later they got pasted by Florida 59-20 (didn't most teams, they had Superman?).
And the Alabama game got out of hand 41-17, but hey, they hung on against South Carolina. They hit on all cylinders againstGeorgia . And they took care of business against Arkansas. As a result of handling their workmanlike business, the Vols could be playing for the SEC Championship with a win vs. Kentucky on Saturday.
And to think, some people counted on Phil out after the team was 1-2 after the Gators thumping.
But you know? If college football teams could simply beat the teams they're supposed to beat then the average tenure of a college coach would be a lot longer and more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong now, the Vols stunk at times against the Gamecocks (especially the second half) and the Gators, and even against Vanderbilt. But you gotta love a team that gives you exactly what you expect. Tennessee didn't figure to finish better than 8-2 this year and they didn't. They beat the cupcakes of their schedule (SMU, Louisiana-Lafayette) and lost to the powerhouses. Big deal? It could have been much worse, they could have schedule Appalachian State (like Michigan did). They could have scheduled South Florida (like Auburn did). They didn't. They scheduled Cal as the first team, Florida as the third. You've got to give to coaches like that (LSU scheduled Virginia Tech second, and actually opened the season in SEC play with a game AT Mississippi State.) So, while half the southeastern United States is going against ya Phil, I got yer back. And no, I'm not encouraging low expectations from the Vols. You didn't shock the world, Phil, but you weren't playing the world either; you simply managed to keep your job. In these days in times, it's enough.

LSU vs. Alabama (Nicklaus vs. Lester), why it matters

The refs may have to get in between the coaches in this one.
LSU may go for it on 4-and-8 at their 40 in this one.
It's that intense.
Saturday's game is LSU vs. Alabama, but everyone knows it's even more about Nick Saban and Les Miles. No matter what the coaches say, it's Nicklaus vs. Lester. The LSU faithful will hate Les if he loses to Alabama, especially with the LSU West crown at stake (even though bettors well know 'Bama will lose to Auburn) Alas, it is what it is. The comparisons are plenty, including the fact that Saban won the SEC in his second year at LSU, but something has to be said about the competition each faced in the SEC. When Saban was at LSU he profited from a weak Alabama team for about 5 years, feasting on them to a 4-1 record (the one loss? LSU was thrashed 31-0). Auburn wasn't nearly as weak though. They always gave one year and tooketh the next (and that trend has continued under Lester Miles), but the Florida squads, coached by Steve Spurrier in the first two years of Saban's tenure, blew out LSU and only when Ron Zook took command did LSU make a game and victory out it as Saban went 2-1 down the stretch. In fairness to Saban, Tennessee was what LSU is now in the SEC, an up-and-coming monster perennial No. 2 power (Florida 's No.1, sorry, usurping 'Bama's throne), but if we look at Saban and Miles' records against the big four, you'll clearly see that there's not alot of slippage. Even in 2003, when LSU won it all it was a "gravy year" (when all the tough games are at home). And 2007? Yep, you guessed it. It's a gravy year.

Records against the BIG FOUR: ALABAMA, AUBURN, FLORIDA, TENNESSEE

SABAN'S TENURE
2000 (2-2)
17-24 Auburn L
9-41 @Florida L
30-28 ALABAMA W
38-31 TENN W

2001 (2-2)
15-44 FLORIDA L
18-26TENN L
35-21 @ALABAMA W
27-14 @AUBURN W

2002 (1-2)
36-7 @FLORIDA W
31-7@ AUBURN L
31-0 ALABAMA L

2003 (2-1)
7-19 FLORIDA L
31-7 AUBURN W
27-3 @ALABAMA W

2004 (2-1)
10-9 @AUBURN L
24-21 @FLORIDA W
26-10 ALABAMA W

MILES' TENURE
2005 (3-1)
30-27 TENN L
16-13@ ALABAMA W
20-17 AUBURN W
21-17 FLORIDA W

2006 (2-2)
3-7@ AUBURN L
23-10 @FLORIDA L
28-24 @TENN W
28-14 ALABAMA W


Miles is

2007
28-24 FLORIDA W
30-24 AUBURN W
??? ALABAMA