Baton Rouge Turns Out For LSU Parade

It's pretty cold, but it's pretty sweet, too.
About 25,000 fans braved chilly temps tday to celebrate LSU's national football championship.
"I got chills when I was carrying that flag," star defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey said after the 75-minute event Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium. "Today was a day of closure for my four years at LSU. It has been unbelievable."
Dorsey hadn't had a bad year.
Dorsey won the Outland Trophy (interior lineman), the Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player), and the Lott Trophy (on-field performance and personal character).
He was the last player introduced at the party to celebrate the Tigers' 38-24 victory over Ohio St. on Jan. 7. All but three members of the 2007 team - Jacob Hester, Chevis Jackson and Andrew Decker - were there.

“To come out here in the cold, it says a lot as a whole,” LSU defensive end Kirston Pittman said. “I don’t think I would have come out here in this cold weather, but it shows the love of the people of LSU and how much they appreciate us — and how much we really appreciate them.”
The 2007 national championship flag was raised at the end of the ceremony. National championship trophies from four organizations were presented to LSU coach Les Miles and team captains Dorsey, Patrick Fisher, Matt Flynn and Craig Steltz.
The four trophies were the MacArthur Bowl National Championship, the Football Writers Trophy, The Associated Press Trophy and the BCS National Championship Trophy.
Southeastern Conference commissioner and BCS co-ordinator Mike Slive made the presentation for the BCS trophy and his league's championship trophy.
"This is the third time I've had the privilege of sharing the podium with these great athletes and these great coaches," Slive told the crowd. "I can tell you there is a special aura about them. They have earned your respect and your admiration as they have mine."
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Kip Holden also appeared at the event.

LSU safety Steltz = Stud

Senior LSU safety Craig Steltz has been a stud for the Tigers this year. Steltz led the nation in picks for the first month of the season and finished wiht a team-high 6 INTS.
Here's a look back at what he did during the year:
11/17/07: Craig Steltz had rally ending interceptions late in each half, one in the end zone, as LSU got past Ole Miss , 41-24. Steltz's stellar play in the backfield also upheld two goal line stands by the Tigers in the first half as the Rebels advanced inside the 5 yard line twice, but came away empty.
09/10/07 - Safety Craig Steltz recorded his fourth interception of the season and ninth of his career late in the first quarter week 2 48-7 win over the Hokies and then added the second sack of his career and first of the season in the fourth quarter.
09/08/07 - LSU lost two four-year starters at safety, including NFL first-round draft choice LaRon Landry, but the new starter at strong safety, Craig Steltz, intercepted three passes in the opener. Landry's replacement at free safety, Carl Taylor, intercepted another. In all, LSU defensive backs intercepted six passes.
09/06/07 - Over the next two seasons Steltz became a staple on special teams and even returned a fourth quarter blocked punt for a 29-yard touchdown in the Tigers' 35-31 come-from-behind victory against Arizona State. Steltz's father, Keith, said special teams was not what his son wanted, but it allowed him to get on the field. "I think that right there got him through, because ... he always felt like his time would come," Keith Steltz said. "He's a team player and he'll do whatever. "By no means do I think it was easy. I think all those kids, when they come from high school, they feel that they're gonna go there and be a star. I don't think any of them think, 'I'm gonna have to wait three years to get my chance to show.'" Because of injuries to former LSU safety Jessie Daniels, Steltz started five games at strong safety from 2005 to 2006 and even tied for the team lead with four interceptions this past season while amassing 42 tackles for seventh-best on the team. - Dailey Reveille
Keith Steltz, Craig's father, is hoping his son wins the big one come January so that he can have two sons with national championships under their belt.
Kevin Steltz was the starting fullback for LSU on Jan. 4, 2004, when the Tigers beat Oklahoma to win the BCS national championship in the Louisiana Superdome - about 15 minutes from the Steltz home in Metairie. Craig Steltz will start at strong safety on Jan. 7, 2008, when the Tigers play Ohio State for the BCS national championship in the Superdome.
"Twice in a lifetime," Keith said Tuesday. "If we win it, we might write a book about it with that title. But we need to win it first. It's been a very unique and wonderful eight years in our lives, and it happened at a time when LSU had its best years."