Louisiana Love: Feels Good To Be No. 1

YEY! LSU WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

After falling behind 10-0 early in the first quarter, LSU scored 24 consecutive points to lead by two touchdowns at the half. Ohio State never quit, but the Buckeyes couldn't really threaten the lead against LSU's vaunted defense. The Tigers turned up the heat on Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman and forced him to hurry too many throws. The Tigers also did a good job of containing Beanie Wells after the tailback ran for 119 yards in the first half. Once Ohio State fell behind by three touchdowns early in the third quarter, the Buckeyes couldn't use Wells much to get them back into the game. LSU forced Ohio State into a couple of costly mistakes -- the Tigers blocked a field goal and intercepted a pass down the left sideline to set up touchdowns in the first half.
What didn't reserve safety Harry Coleman do for LSU's defense? In the first quarter, the sophomore from Baldwin, La., recovered a muffed punt return by LSU's Chad Jones at the Tigers' 16. In the second quarter, Coleman blitzed and hit Boeckman, forcing him to underthrow a pass down the left sideline. Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted the pass and returned it 34 yards to the Ohio State 24, setting up the touchdown that put LSU ahead 24-10 at the half. Coleman added another fumble recovery early in the fourth quarter, after linebacker Ali Highsmith drilled Boeckman on a fourth-down play. "To go to a national-championship game two years in a row and lose like this is incredible. It hurts tremendously," Ohio State running back Beanie Wells said.As much as they might have wanted to, the Buckeyes couldn't even escape the memory of the Gators here in New Orleans. By chance, Florida Coach Urban Meyer was one of the analysts on the Fox broadcast crew Monday night. At one point during the halftime show, Ohio State legend Eddie George, another one of the Fox commentators, turned to Meyer and said, "This feels like déjà vu all over again. Are we still in Arizona? This game has the same feel as last year."

Too easy. No. 2 LSU danced, dodged and darted its way into the end zone Monday night, turning the BCS national championship game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State. It was over early, with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes in a 38-24 win.
Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, the Tigers (12-2) became the first two-loss team to play for the title.
Shouts of "SEC! SEC!" bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.
"My team is the No. 1 team in the land," said All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who passed up the NFL draft to return for his senior season.
And in a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football's biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Tim Tebow and Florida 41-14 in the Arizona desert, they barely did better.
"We just didn't do the things you need to do to win a ballgame of this nature. We're very aware that LSU's a deserving champion," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation.
Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris "Beanie" Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.
Yet while LSU coach Les Miles got to hoist the $30,000 crystal trophy, certainly many fans around the country were peering into their crystal balls, wondering if someone else was worthy of the title. Southern California, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri all put on impressive shows in bowl games, and will be among the favorites in 2008.
The final Associated Press poll was to be released early Tuesday.
LSU, whose two losses both came in triple overtime, became just the fourth favorite to win in 10 BCS championship games. The Tigers added to the crown they won in 2003 — their other title came in 1958.
Miles probably got a little extra satisfaction, too. Though he turned down a chance to return home to Michigan, he did something his alma mater hasn't done recently — beat the Buckeyes.
The loss left Ohio State at 0-9 overall in bowl games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC delights in whipping Big Ten teams in what's become a rivalry that steams up fans on both sides.
The Tigers rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 halftime lead that held up. Two big plays on special teams kept them ahead — they blocked a field goal, and later took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty.

Whatever Happens Tonight Between LSU-Ohio State I Just Wanna Say ...

I have thoroughly enjoyed the LSU Tigers' 2007 football season! Thanx for the ups, the downs (only 2 downs and the BCS Gods corrected those in one week!), and the topsy-turvy, gutsy season that you turned in!

I remember before the season started,

I told Les to SHUT UP, and he did.
I will forever be grateful, Les, if you would just beat Ohio State. You got Saban for us. You got Tuberville. Now, get the Buckeyes!
GEAUX TIGERS!

5 Reasons Why LSU Beat Ohio State

It was a close game, for about 1 quarter, but LSU made more plays than Ohio State. Check the top 5 reasons why LSU beat the Buckeyes.

1. TEAM SPEED SHMEED: "You can't tell me it's a speed thing; I'm stubborn about that," OSU linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "If it was a speed thing we would have been getting caught from behind. They out-physicaled us and that's why we lost the game." I agree totally, there was no difference in team speed. LB James Laurinaitis, DE Vernon Gholston and CB Malcolm Jenkins for the Buckeyes were just as fast as Jacob Hester, Early Doucet and Brandon LaFell. But at the skill positions, (Hartline?) LSU had a fiesty, violent edge. It's not just speed, it's violent speed. That running-at-you-at-full-tilt-to-hit-you-in-the-mouth speed, that's what LSU had. The Big Ten, certainly the elite programs like OSU and Michigan, have more than a little bit of the same speed that dominates the SEC (Did you see what Michigan did the Florida?). Ohio State has learned its lesson from last year and will try to spread LSU out, and not let them pursue plays from in front of them. OSU has been practicing the fame "Tiger Drill" to prepare for the tiring ordeal the game will become in the 4th quarter. Boeckman does have two athletic, speedy wideouts in Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline who have great hands and know how to get open.


2. QUARTERBACK PLAY (OR LACK OF): Todd Boeckman is a big, lanky quarterback at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, but hew wasn't nearly mobile enough to withstand the athletic heat that LSU put on him. By the time LSU's Ali Highsmith clotheslined Boeckman and the ball squirted out the rout was on. Boeckman joins a distinguished list of quarterbacks, Sean Glennon, Tim Tebow, John Parker Wilson, that have been hit really hard by the Purple and Gold defensive line. Flynn, who didn't play in the SEC Championship Game because of a strained shoulder, completed 19 of 27 passes for 174 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.

3. BUCKEYES DEFENSE DIDN'T SHOW UP: The Buckeyes were No. 1 in the nation against the pass with 148.17 yards allowed, but Flynn carved them up for 4 touchdowns and 174 pretty much in 2 quarters (2nd & 3rd) with an assortment of awkward throws and laser-sharp daggers. The OSU defense seemingly was content to let him throw, playing the run more heavily than it should. As good as the Buckeyes front four is, the LSU secondary, even without All-American safety Craig Steltz (stinger) made its presence felt to turn the game around, especially when Harry Coleman blitzed and hit Boeckman, forcing him to underthrow a pass down the left sideline. Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted the pass and returned it 34 yards to the Ohio State 24, and the Tigers were in business.

4. HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE: To say the scales were tipped in LSU's favor is an understatement. The LSU campus is only 80 miles away in Baton Rouge. "We know the dome," LSU running back Jacob Hester said. "We're in the same hotel. We know the city. Half the team is from New Orleans, and the other half has been here so many times they know where everything is." The crowd was loud a(but curiously quiet after Beanie Wells' touchdown run). OSU just couldn't keep the hush in effect as their lead turned into a deficit as the Tigers reeled off 31 straight points.

5. BUCKEYES OFFENSE DIDN'T HAVE CONSISTENCY: A comedy of weird errors by the Buckeyes, including five personal fouls and three turnovers, enabled LSU to erase a 10-0 deficit and roll to a 31-17 lead before a garbage TD made the score look respectable. The Buckeyes were'nt able to establish consistency: OSU's Chris "Beanie Wells turned in the half of a lifetime after he steam 64 yards up LSU's gut on the game's second play from scrimmage. The problem was, sooner or later, OSU had to pass the ball. LSU, an absurdly deep team, had the consistency it usually had all season: start off slow, take a blow then release a barrage of players and formations at the oppenent to shatter their will. They have six running backs, two quarterbacks and defensive playmakers waiting in the wings. LSU had been especially adept at

murdering quarterbacks and it happened Monday night all over again.

LSU 2007 Football Season Recap: How They Got There

The most awesome, captivating, exhilerating LSU football season in history came to a close last night, culminating in a 38-24 victory over Ohio State for the BCS championship. It was LSU's second title in 5 years. This is how they got there:

Thurs, August 30
Starkville, Miss. 8:15 p.m.
LSU opened up the season by picking off the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss. The game was broken open in the second half when LSU got 4 interceptions (6 overall) and put the Tigers offense in easy scoring positions. Senior LSU safety Craig Steltz picked off 3 all by his lonesome and in stood atop the NCAA standings in interceptions for the first two weeks.

Sat, Sep 08
Virginia Tech - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 8:15 p.m.
The massacre last semester at Virginia Tech weighed heavily as LSU's band played the Tech song before the game. I thought the Hokies would sneak out a win here (I predicted 21-13), but LSU dominated from start to finish for a 48-7 victory. In the process,
Hokies senior QB Sean Glennon lost his starting job to freshman Tyrod Taylor, and the LSU defense got even more praise than before. Quarterback Matt Flynn in two games at this point has completed 29 of 46 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 77 yards and another score. But the biggest theme so far has been Michigan's failure to enter the win column after two tries at the beginning of the season. The speculation has started that Les Miles may leave LSU and go to U-M, his alma mater.

Sat, Sep 15
Middle Tennessee Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m.
The key of the game was that Matt Flynn didn't play due to a sore ankle; backup and next-year starter Ryan Perrilloux was 20 for 25 for 298 yards and 3 touchdowns. 55-17 LSU

Sat, Sep 22
South Carolina - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m. LSU beat No. 12 South Carolina 28-16 in front of 92,530 in Death Valley.

"Ole Ball Coach" Steve Spurrier showed his scorn after LSU kicker Colt David ran around the right end for a 15-yard touchdown on a fake field goal (an instant SportsCenter highlight), and his point-after kick made it 21-7 with 1:10 to play in the half. South Carolina gained only 89 yards of offense in the first half and finished with 261. The Tigers sacked quarterback Blake Mitchell twice and held him to 70 passing yards. The Gamecocks ran for only 17 yards on 27 attempts.

Sat, Sep 29
Tulane - at New Orleans, La. (Louisiana Superdome) LSU (5-0) scored 24 unanswered second-half points in a 34-9 victory on Saturday. Matt Flynn was sacked six times, throwing for 258 yards. His passing was inconsistent in the face of constant pressure and he was intercepted once, finally showing chinks in his armor. But he stayed upright just enough for LSU to take a 10-9 halftime lead in the surprisingly tight game. If not for a pair of Tulane turnovers, Matt Forte's fumble and Anthony Scelfo's interception, the game might have been closer. The next day, LSU moved into the No. 1 spot, prompting Les Miles to famously say "Anybody that voted us No. 1 obviously didn't see the Tulane game." He was right.


Sat, Oct 06
Florida
- Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 7:00 p.m. In arguably the most exciting game ever played in LSU’s storied Tiger Stadium in front of the largest crowd in its history, the No. 1-ranked LSU Tigers overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat ninth-ranked Florida, 28-24, in front of record 92,910 emotionally spent fans. The major footnote in the game was Les Miles calling for and the Tigers going 5 for 5 on fourth-down conversions — including two that went for touchdowns.

The Tigers trailed 24-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter but mustered a 4-yard touchdown pass from Matt Flynn to Demetrius Byrd with 10:15 left in the game on an improbable fourth-down play. The touchdown capped a 5-play, 27-yard drive that was sparked by a crucial interception of a tipped Tim Tebow pass by defensive end Kirtson Pittman at the Florida 27. There was a decibel-level cheer when the public-address announcer informed the 92,910 fans that Stanford had upset No. 2 Southern California in Los Angeles, meaning LSU would take the top spot.


Sat, Oct 13
Kentucky - at Lexington, Ky. (Commonwealth Stadium)LSU was able to cover mistakes by good defense and fortunate execution for weeks before the bottom fell out behind a blue background. No. 17 Kentucky upset the Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime after Charles Scott was stopped on 4th and 2 in the final extra period.
Earlier, LSU came at Kentucky in waves, sending in third- and fourth-string running backs to rack up yards, first downs, and points. With a 27-14 third-quarter lead against a wavering Wildcat defense, as the sun set it seemed like another test passed. With LSU just one pass away from getting into secure field-goal range in the final 30 seconds of regulation, Kentucky's defense — gashed on screens and flat passes all game long in third-down situations — finally reacted to a screen and forced a 57-yard Colt David field goal that just missed on the final play of the fourth quarter.

Sat, Oct 20
Auburn - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) A cardiac clinic of a game, LSU defeat No. 18 Auburn 30-24 behind a harrying-last second touchdown from Matt Flynn to Demetrius Byrd. Instead of calling a timeout with under 25 seconds remaining and running one last play before giving kicker Colt David a chance to win the game, LSU decided to pocket its last timeout and let the clock roll. The game turned in the second half: LSU’s offense was sluggish and out-of-sync in the first half, but recovered to gouge Auburn in the second half, finishing with 488 total yards, 319 of those coming from Flynn’s sharp passing. He completed 22-of-34 including three touchdowns and an interception that wasn’t his fault. He also rushed for 34 crucial yards, mostly in the second half.


Sat, Nov 03
Alabama - at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Bryant-Denny Stadium)
The third-ranked Tigers did it again, scoring two touchdowns in the final three minutes to stay in the thick of the national championship race with a heart-stopping 41-34 win over No. 17 Alabama.
The game turned when Chad Jones caused a key fumble late and Jacob Hester cashed in moments later with the go-ahead touchdown. With No. 2 Boston College losing 27-17 to Florida State, it let LSU move up another slot in the rankings and the BCS standings.

Sat, Nov 10 Louisiana Tech - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)
7:00 p.m. Matt Flynn passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 2 LSU to a comfortable 58-10 triumph over Louisiana Tech that could lift the Tigers back to the top of the national rankings. "I'll be shocked if they're not the national champions at end of the year," Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley said. "They put it to us tonight." Flynn's scoring strikes included a career-long 71-yarder to Terrance Tolliver, which also was a career long reception for the freshman receiver. That was LSU's longest play from scrimmage this season until Tech's secondary over-pursued on a trap play and Jacob Hester broke loose for a career-best 87-yard touchdown run.


Sat, Nov 17 Ole Miss - at Oxford, Miss. (Vaught-Hemingway Stadium)
After a stylish start, forcing two turnovers on goal-line stands in the first half, the Tigers (10-1, 6-1 SEC) defense faltered against the last-place Rebels, giving up a season-high 466 yards. Trindon Holliday returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and the Tigers came up with a couple of pivotal turnovers to hold off Mississippi 41-24 and keep the national championship in their sights. The Tigers clinched their first outright Southeastern Conference Western Division title and set a school record with 10 or more wins for the third straight season.

Fri, Nov 23
Arkansas - Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium) 1:30 p.m.
It was the Darren McFadden Heisman show: The Razorback runner's rushing touchdowns went for 16 yards in the second quarter, 73 yards in the third period and 9 yards in the second OT as Arkansas stunned the Tigers 50-48 in triple overtime on the Friday after Turkey Day. His TD pass was a flawlessly executed 24-yarder over the middle to Peyton Hillis after McFadden froze the defense with a play-action fake. Peyton Hillis scored four TDs, the last in the third overtime for Arkansas. In the first OT LSU had Arkansas with a 4th and 10 at the 25 but they converted. LSU responded when Matt Flynn found Brandon LaFell for a 9-yard TD, but Matterral Richardson intercepted the 2-point conversion attempt, and Arkansas' bench emptied onto the field in triumph, having ended the nation's longest home winning streak at 19 games.

Tennessee - Atlanta, Ga. (SEC Championship Game) With Flynn banged up and on the sidelines, the Tigers turned to oft-troubled heir apparent Ryan Perrilloux. He didn't win the game, didn't lose it.
Tennessee senior QB Erik Ainge did that, throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions, the first of which LSU's Jonathan Zenon returned for the game-winning 18-yard touchdown with 9:54 left to play for a 21-14 Tigers' victory in the SEC's 16th annual title game. The second interception hurt almost as much. Ainge was driving the Vols toward the game-tying score when he forced a short pass into double coverage and it was picked off by LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith at the LSU 7 with 2:42 left. Les Miles was forced to make an almost-tearful vow to remain at LSU after media reports confirmed he had accepted the job at Michigan.

A win away from playing for the national championship, the West Virginia Mountaineers (10-2, 5-2 Big East) lost to rival Pittsburgh (5-7, 3-4) 13-10.

NO. 4 Missouri beat No. 2 Kansas 36-28, handing the Jayhawks their first loss.

No. 9 Oklahoma beat No. 4 Missouri, 38 -17.

UP NEXT: LSU (11-2) vs. Ohio State (11-1)for All The Marbles aka the National Championship.
LSU rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 lead at halftime that held up. Two key plays on special teams helped shift the game — Ricky Jean-Francois blocked a field goal, and LSU took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Matt Flynn threw four touchdown passes and LSU made it look easy with a 38-24 win over No. 1 Ohio State, turning the title game into a horrible replay for the Buckeyes. Still, LSU was a runaway No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll. The Tigers received 60 of 65 first-place votes from a national media panel. Georgia, Southern California, Missouri and Ohio State rounded out the top five. Georgia had three first-place votes while Southern Cal and No. 7 Kansas each had one.

Ohio State Fan Disses Florida, as LSU Awaits (Video)

Buckeyes' Wells Talks Smack About LSU Defense

"I think if you really look at the film, teams could run on LSU," said Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells said. "So I really wouldn't say that's (one) of their strengths."
Wow.
Teams could run on LSU.
That's what he said. By that, I think he means Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. And to be sure, LSU allowed more yards on the ground in its last three games (680) than it had through the first 10 (660).
After 10 games, the Tigers' defense was allowing 66 rushing yards per game. Only two teams had rushed for more than 100 yards, while four other opponents were limited to 20 rushing yards or less.
But Wells is basically saying he'll get a buck and change against a rested, returned-to-form LSU defense.
Now, that's guts.
Nevertheless, Wells is fed up of hearing about how the Buckeyes can't keep up with LSU.
"I'm tired of people talking about how Ohio State has no speed," he said. "Of course I feel like we don't get the respect that we deserve. We're the underdogs in this game. But it's just something we have to take in stride."

Wells was named the team MVP after leading the Big Ten in carries with 254 and ranking third in yards with 1,463.
But while he had a superb game against Michigan (see stat box) he'll likely have a game similar to what he did against Illinois. Seriously. That's no diss, that's just what will likely happen. But i'll give it to Wells, he played the entire season with a broken bone in his left hand and an ankle injury since spring.
So, he's tough, but he's no McFadden, so don't look for those type numbers against Dorsey and Co.

LSU Gets 3 Offensive Stars Back Against Buckeyes

Les has got all the Gatorade out of his ears.
He's done with his turkey, maybe even tucked away the gifts by now.
Now, it's back to football.
At practice Friday, LSU coach Les Miles said that quarterback Matt Flynn and running backs Keiland Williams and Trindon Holliday all practiced well. All three were either limited or missed SEC Championship Game with various injuries.
“All three went through the entire practice and played well,” Miles said. “(Matt) threw several balls today that were thrown as well as any balls he has ever thrown.”
"I feel good," said Flynn, who separated his right (throwing) shoulder in the Nov. 23 loss to Arkansas. "I've been throwing a lot in practice. I'm not throwing every pass in practice, but I'm getting back into the swing and throwing well.
"It's not hurting that much anymore. It's getting a lot better each day. I'll be doing everything in the next day or so."
Flynn confirmed that he is also fully recovered from an early season ankle injury.
"My legs feel good, my feet feel good," Flynn said. "I feel I'm going to be 100 percent in the next couple of days.
"Right now I'm feeling as healthy as I have. I'm not wearing the ankle brace anymore, for the first time since the Virginia Tech game."
The Tigers are preparing to face an Ohio State team that has posted an 11-1 overall mark and has the best defense in the nation in terms of yards and points allowed. As a unit, Ohio State’s defense is allowing 10.7 points and 225 yards per contest.

Two players that the Tiger offense will look at to make a difference against the Buckeyes are running back Jacob Hester and wide receiver Early Doucet. H while
Miles was also licking his chops at having a healthy Jacob Hester and Early Doucet, both of which were gimpy late in the season.
“Early and Jacob mean so much to this team,” Miles said. Hester has rushed for 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns. “Jacob is tremendously competitive, and he’s a guy who has an eye for making a play. Whether it’s a block, carry, reception or special teams play, he has been in the middle of it," Miles said.
Doucet has caught 50 passes for 474 yards and five scores.
“Early gives us great leadership with tremendous ability. I can tell you that we are looking forward to having both of these guys on the field for this game.”

Why Hawaii vs. UGA May Mean More To College Football Than LSU-OSU

Why? Because the mighty SEC champion LSU knows it can beat the Big Ten's national championship representative for the second year in a row, The Ohio State Buckeyes. But deep down we all know the age-old philosophical debate, who's conference is better, won't die down after the national championship game, no, it'll just reload. But the Hawaii vs. UGA game will truly be seen as a more satisfying answer to the hottest part of the question above: Can an undefeated team that didn't play anybody whip a battle-tested SEC team in a bowl game?
Colt Brennan and the Hawaii receivers will surely test the Bulldog secondary, but what has worked so well for the SEC against non-conference teams for years, speed, will be the deciding factor. If Hawaii wins this game (and they go undefeated???) the flood gates will open up, rightly so, and the issue of strength-of-schedule will be effectively thrown out the window. Think of the App States of the world that will thoroughly reject playing the Michigans of the world because frankly they'll be able to "get there" just by winning against lesser competition. Think also about the Michigans of the world that flatly won't schedule the non-conference toughies because they could prance to the title game without them on the schedule, frankly. So, see, in a philosophical way, this Georgia vs. Hawaii game speaks to the core of the college football debate. And it will be interesting if the Bulldogs will embarass, squeak by, barely lose, or get blown out by Hawaii. In the meantime, Go Bulldogs!

LSU Not Taking Buckeyes Lightly

Phone call from SEC coaches to LSU: "DON'T PHONE IT IN!"
LSU has come all the way up the mountain, at the cusp of a second national title in 5 years, and LSU knows that the league is depending on them.
As the season wore on, injuries to key players mounted and the gap between the Tigers and their opponents closed, especially during a string of matchups against other bowl-bound Southeastern Conference foes. There were narrow victories over Florida, Auburn and Alabama. There were triple-overtime losses to Kentucky and Arkansas. LSU also needed a second-half comeback in its 21-14 victory over Tennessee in the SEC championship game.
Top-ranked Ohio State is a six-point dog to LSU in the BCS Championship. Illinois is on the wrong end of a 14-point spread for its Rose Bowl date with USC. Florida is picked to beat Michigan in the Capital One Bowl, Tennessee over Wisconsin in the Outback, Boston College over Michigan State in the Champs Sports and Oklahoma State over Indiana in the Insight.
The Tigers (11-2) expect key players to be in much better shape by the time the BCS championship game against Ohio State (11-1) kicks off on Jan. 7.
"I know that the lineup shuffles a little bit that way at the end of the year where you've had to play week after week versus quality opponents and it takes its toll," LSU coach Les Miles said Monday, his team's first day at practice after a couple weeks off for final exams.
"There's no question that at some point in time, teams are more healthy and less healthy and it's a testimony to our football team that we win two games with our second-team quarterback. A number of times, our (starting) defensive line is on the sidelines watching and yet this football team finds a way to win," Miles said. "We'll certainly enjoy the rest. We'll certainly improve our health. We're looking forward to returning to freshness, if you will."
Not since 2002, when the Big Ten went 5-2 in a bowl season that included Ohio State’s win over Miami in the BCS Championship, has the conference finished above .500 in the postseason. Last year’s 2-5 mark, punctuated by Michigan’s blowout loss to USC in the Rose Bowl and Ohio State’s debacle against Florida in the BCS Championship, capped a three-year run of futility in which the league posted the worst bowl record of any BCS conference.
One of the most significant injuries involved All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who played the second half of the season with a sprained right knee. Dorsey was injured on an illegal chop-block against Auburn.
LSU was fortunate to have the next weekend off and Dorsey didn't miss a game, although he was not the same. His ability to explode into the backfield appeared diminished and his role appeared to shift to plugging holes in the line on running plays.
"Injuries do that," LSU defensive tackle Marlon Favorite said. "I'm sure he wanted to rush and push to his full extent, but due to his injury he couldn't, so in his mind he was thinking, 'I have to do what I can.' He did that well."
Dorsey finished as LSU's third-leading tackler with 64 stops, including six sacks and 11.5 tackles for losses. He won a trophy case-full of SEC and national awards.
Dorsey said LSU's defense is eager to send a message of how well it can play when key players are all fresh.
"We're real excited. Everybody started talking down on us when we started giving up points on defense," Dorsey said. "We tried not to listen to that because, I mean, nobody knows what's going on in our locker room. So for us to have an opportunity to be healthy, we can come out and do what we're supposed to do and do what we know how to do."
On offense, LSU's top wide receiver, Early Doucet, was sidelined for most of five games with a groin injury. Starting quarterback Matt Flynn missed an early season start with an ankle sprain and the SEC championship game with a shoulder injury.
Backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux won both starts in Flynn's absence, but if Perrilloux plays against Ohio State, it will be more by design than necessity.
"A lot of our guys were nicked up. That's the fact of the matter and everyone knows that," said Favorite, who played through injuries to both ankles this season. "You give us time to rest and get back on our feet? This is my first time ever dealing with injuries like this and I feel better already."

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."

ESPN's Herbstreit Calls Les, says "Sorry 'Bout Dat"

ESPN and ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit says he called LSU coach Les Miles late Saturday to say he was sorry for messing up his Michigan deal, and pretty much guaranteeing that his children learn at least a bit of Cajun before their teen years.
"I called Les late that night after the Missouri-Oklahoma game and really called for nothing else but to apologize for it becoming such a huge story, such a distraction for him, his team to have to have to deal with," Herbstreit told the Detroit Free Press. "It was never my intent, so that was the one thing that I regretted; it became such a significant story everywhere, everywhere you turned.Looking back, it was easy to see how Les Miles almost left for Michigan."
Michigan's football program is among the most successful in college football history. Michigan won the first Rose Bowl game in 1902, has won an NCAA-record 860 games and has an all-time winning percentage of .745, also an NCAA record. The Wolverine football program has claimed 11 national titles.
LSU has claimed two, but can claim its third in January.
But aside from Herbstreit, what happened to the U-M deal? U-M athletic director Bill Martin had Miles at the top of his list although he was no Miles fan. Miles wanted U-M since he left in 1994.
Now, with a national championship at stake, Miles say Michigan was never on his mind much.
"I've probably spent 15 minutes allowing a personal thought along those lines," he told reporters.

Not true, really. Miles had go-betweens galore at U-M and the Miles camps was prepping for a plane ride. They were even hammering out an agreement.
Word is that Michigan put a five-year deal on the table, and Les wet his lips.
And Miles knew it.
But Bill Martin wanted a face-to-face interview, which couldn't happen until after the SEC title game.
Lloyd Carr, very influential with Martin, did not want Miles at Michigan.
But Friday, LSU hit for the pre-emptive strike: offering Miles more years and more money than he would get from Michigan.
When ESPN prematurely reported Saturday morning that Michigan was expected to hire Miles, that added to the pressure and the real possibility that the coach would be a distraction to LSU with the big game hours away. So Miles, stripped of his freedom of speech by ESPN, backed out by rallying with his senior players like Jacob Hester and Craig Steltz.
Miles' big fear -- that Carr would kill his candidacy -- was apparently never realized. But the possibility of it helped convince Miles to stay.
Also Herbstreit promised one more thing:
"One thing I can assure you, you will never see me gathering news and reporting information ever again."
Well put.

BCS Didn't Stick To Southerner's Creed

The Bowl Championship Series is wrong to let LSU leap over Georgia, especially if you're a Southerner.
Why is it wrong?
Because the decision-making process of the BCS lacks one of the basic ingredients of any system based on Southern sensitivity: common courtesy.
Georgia was in line ahead of LSU. They were IN LINE ahead of LSU! UGA should get the title game.
I love him, but Les Miles is not a Southerner (Elyria, Ohio), so it's natural for him to want to jump UGA, but true Southerners don't like this system.
The computer polls no doubt did their computing. The former coaches and media did their calcuations, but the coaches poll? They acted. like. robots.
Inhuman, basically.
You don't skip people.
That's just Common Courtesy 101. In this country, we're very rewarding to the hard-working, waiting-their-turn guy who played his hand the best he could. He doesn't look for favors, doesn't look for handouts. He just waits his turn. The Georgia Bulldogs waited their turn, and they rose ever so slowly in the rankings.
Now,LSU's leaping of Virginia Tech? I can understand that. They had the benefit of a head-to-head contest. But, the Georgia leap is just wrong. And I'm an LSU fan. I'm happy we made it, but it just seems that college football should have rewarded Georgia with something a little better than a game against Hawaii.
"It should come down to who the voters believe are the two best teams in the nation right now," UGA coach Mark Richt said.
"Let's face it, going into today we were ranked No. 4 in the BCS. They ranked us there for a reason. They believed we belonged there. Two teams lost ahead of us. Everybody knew going in we were not going to play for a conference championship and still they voted us there. They voted us there for a reason and I don't know why that should change right now."
Georgia coach Mark Richt was right. Nowhere in the BCS rules does it say a team must win its conference championship as some prerequisite to play in the national title game. But that rule might as well be there.
As for old Lester, not only did he say before the game that he'd re-up with the Tigers, but the next day he paid tribute to those that gave me another try at erasing the Nick Saban-tasting flavor on the SEC trophy in his arms.
"I'd like to thank the voters," Miles said on Fox's BCS selection show.
The resulting BCS chaos all but assures Georgia fans have circled in big red ink the pending matchup between their Dawgs and the Tigers next year in Baton Rouge.
If LSU was in need of a rival, Georgia has stood up, this time, with a fierce team.
But alas, that's next year. This year, even Big Ten winner Ohio State was on LSU's side to make it to the big game.
"To win the SEC, to win the Big Ten, ACC or Big 12 or Pac-10, that's a major feat in itself," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "To me, that ought to be considered as you think about who plays for the title.
Ohio State (top) and LSU are ranked 1-2 in the latest AP poll.
Miles said: "To me, being from a major conference in this country, those are the teams that should be most considered for the national title game."
I know, I know, Les, but those are Northerner's rules, Southerners don't think like that.

In Leaving U-M, Carr Gets One Last Jab At Les Miles

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is trying to mess with Les.
The two don't like each other, and Carr is intentionally trying to distract Les Miles from a potential championship season.
How else to explain a retirement announcement ONE WEEK before the season's end (so what, you lost again to OSU, YOU ALWAYS LOSE against them)? Why do it when your team can still finish the season on a positive note?
Why? Because his nemesis Les Miles is the frontrunner to take his job. It's a tough spot for both coaches, but Carr could carry himself alot better than he's doing it. I'm not saying he's not a decent man: It's true that he reworked his contract last year to arrange for an escape clause this year, and it's true he got all his assistants 2-year-deals. But he is deliberately trying to get in Les Miles' head in the middle of a No. 1 ranking and chance to win it all at LSU.
In the end, Carr wanted to beat at least one nemesis, one villain, being that the Ohio State Buckeyes were having none of it. But, that's alright. Les Miles will hold it together, he's not the greastest Xs and Os coach, but he can hold a group together, I'll say that.