Sincity Tigers

Knowing the Enemy-Ohio State

The National Championship
Ohio State
by Bryan Follins

This is it, for all the marbles. LSU vs. Ohio State, January 7, 2007, in New Orleans, LA.

Jim Tressel has been the coach at Ohio State since the 2001 season. Since then, his teams have garnered a 62-14 overall record. Under Tressel's tenure the Buckeyes have been to six bowls, won three Big Ten titles, and won one national championship. The national title came against Miami after the 2002 season. Incidentally, this was a Miami Hurricane team that was just as fast, or faster than the current Purple and Gold team.

Before his arrival at OSU, from 1986 to 2000, Tressel coached at Youngstown State in Division 1-AA. During that time at the "Icebox," Tressel won four national titles. Tressel did not just walk in out of the rain.

Currently, Ohio State is 11-1 and ranked number one in the BCS.

Looking at the national statistics, the Buckeyes and the Tigers mirror each other. No individuals really stand out.

Buckeye running back Chris Wells, a sophomore, rushed for 1,463 yards this season. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry during the campaign while scoring 14 touchdowns. Wells averaged 121 yards per game for the season, 13th in the nation.

On defense, lineman Vernon Gholston finished fourth in the country in pass sacks with 13 solos.

Team stats are a different story, especially on defense. Ohio State was first in the country in total defense, a label the Purple and Gold had for the first part of the season. The Buckeyes allowed only 225 total yards per game.

OSU was third in the country in rushing defense, allowing 77 yards per game. They were first in pass defense. OSU also led the nation in scoring defense.

The Purple and Gold will have to be ready to play. They will be playing a team with a two ton chip on their shoulders after being destroyed in last year's championship game by Florida. They have also been beat over the head about how good the SEC is and how lousy the Big Ten is, so they will be out to prove something.

However, if the Purple and Gold is ready to play, the Buckeyes will leave New Orleans with a three ton chip on their shoulders. Go Tigers!

Notes: This will be the third meeting between the two schools on the football field. Ohio State tied LSU 13-13 in 1987 and beat the Tigers 36-33 the following year.

Buckeye junior wide receiver Brian Robiskie is the son of former LSU running back and NFL running back, and NFL coach Terry Robiskie.

OSU All-American linebacker James Laurinaitas is the son of Joe "The Animal" Laurinaitas, formerly a member of the WWE's Legion of Doom (pro wrestling).

There is a guaranteed 14-17 million dollar payout to each team for participating in the game.

Sources:

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87747&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059367&Q_SEASON=2007

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87746&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059289&Q_SEASON=2007

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/fls/17300/pdf/fb/07-depthchart.pdf

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&div=4&site=org

Twelve Days of Christmas--SEC Style

Twelve Days of Christmas SEC Style
by Bryan Follins

Here goes sports fans:

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two rusty Rebels and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight raunchy Vols, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine Tides a losing, eight raunchy Vols, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten neutered Bulldogs, nine Tides a losing, eight raunchy Vols, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven Gator po-boys, 10 neutered Bulldogs, nine Tides a losing, eight raunchy Vols, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

On the twelfth of Christmas my true love gave to me, TWELVE TIGERS ROARING, eleven Gator po-boys, 10 neutered Bulldogs, nine Tides a losing, eight raunchy Vols, seven toothless Wildcats, six losing Plainsmen, five skinned Gamecocks, four Hogs a squealing, three smelly Bulldogs, two rusty Rebels, and a Commodore in a pear tree.

Ho Ho Ho to all the folks in Tigerland (and to all you other SEC critters that go bump in the night. LOLOLOL) For EVERYBODY who is celebrating the Holiday Season please be safe. If you do not celebrate the Holiday Season, please be safe. Out.

Copyright 2007, Bryan Follins

Knowing the Enemy--Tennessee

Game 13
SEC Championship
Tennessee
by Bryan Follins

Note: Last week this article erred in calling Darren McFadden Alex McFadden.

Tennessee is the SEC Eastern Division Champion, with a 9-3 record.

Like the Purple and Gold, Tennessee arrives at the SEC title game after a brutal regular season finale. It took the Vols four overtimes to beat Kentucky last Saturday.

Tennessee, ranked #14 in the latest BCS football poll, comes into the game with a five game winning streak. The Vols are led by quarterback Erik Ainge. The senior QB is third in the SEC in passing average (242 yards per game), and third in total offense (239 yards per game).

Ainge's passing success can be attributed to an offensive line that does a rock solid job in pass protection. Ainge usually has enough time to drop into the pocket, have a sandwich and cup of coffee, and then throw a pass. Chris Scott and Ramon Foster man the offensive tackle positions for the Orange. The Vol offensive line has allowed only four sacks the entire season. There are no seniors in the Vols starting offensive line.

It will be a war in the trenches.

The Vols lead the nation in fewest sacks allowed per game, allowing 0.3 per contest.

The Purple and Gold defense is second in the SEC in getting to the quarterback with 2.67 sacks per game.

Tennessee wide receiver Lucas Taylor, a native of Carencro, Louisiana, leads the SEC in receiving yards per game, with 81 yards per contest.

For what it is worth, Tennessee is 11th in the SEC in total defense. The trouble is LSU has lost to two teams with poor defenses. Vol linebacker Jerard Mayo is tied for fourth in the league with 112 tackles, with 68 solos.

Besides Lucas Taylor, Tennessee has four other players from Louisiana:
They are Chris Brown of Destrehan, Ahmad Paige of Monroe, Jarrod Shaw of Lafayette, and Ja'Kouri Williams of Plaquemine.

Both teams are claiming to be in pretty good health, but after witnessing the two titanic and demanding games they both had last week, that is hard to believe.

Hopefully the Purple and Gold will be the last team standing Saturday night in Atlanta (figuratively and literally).

Go Tigers!!

Sources:

http://secsports.com/new/sports/fbc/07stats/confldrs.htm

http://www.utsports.com/football/article.aspx?id=44940

http://www.utsports.com/uploadedFiles/Sports/Football/Articles/20071126lsunotes.pdf

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teamsched?teamId=2633

Knowing The Enemy--Arkansas

Game 12
Arkansas
by Bryan Follins

Run. That is Arkansas. Run, run, run. There is no secret to their game plan, and there is no shame in their game. The Razorbacks have arguably the best one-two punch at running back in America (maybe including the NFL).

Meet Alex McFadden: He is the leading rusher in the SEC. He is the leading all-purpose yard man in the SEC. McFadden is third in the nation in rushing. He is second on his team in pass receiving. Before the season, McFadden, a junior, and Maxwell award finalist, announced he would fore go his senior season to enter the NFL. The rest of the SEC breathed a sigh of relief.

Meet Felix Jones: He is third in the SEC in rushing. He is second in the SEC in all-purpose yardage. Jones is third in the nation in kickoff returns averaging 33 yards per run back.

Very few teams have found a way to stop the tag team of McFadden and Jones. Teams just try to slow them down.

Note: The most Arkansas has passed the ball in a game this year is 31 times. So there is some shame in that part of their game. The most the Purple and Gold has passed in a game is 46 times.

Thankfully, the Razorbacks resemble pigs, most of the time, on defense. So, there is some shame in their game there as well.

The most effective approach toward Arkansas is to try and stay at least 10 points ahead of them. This lessens the threat of the running game because it forces McFadden and Jones to make more big plays (which they are capable of doing).

But, because Arkansas' defense is average on a good day, staying 10 points in front of them does not seem like an impossible task.

Go Tigers!

Sources:

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&div=4&site=org

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&div=4&rpt=IA_playerkickret&site=org

http://secsports.com/new/sports/fbc/07stats/confldrs.htm

Knowing the Enemy-Ole Miss

Game 11
Ole Miss
by Bryan Follins

Ed Orgeron has been coaching Ole Miss since December of 2004. His previous job was as a defensive coordinator at USC for three years. Orgeron, for those of us who do not already know, is a Louisiana native who attended South Lafourche High and later Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Orgeron has yet to have a winning season at Ole Miss. The last winning campaign way down yonder in the land of cotton was 2003, when the Johnny Rebs went 10-3 and defeated Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.

The Tigers have beaten Ole Miss in the last five meetings. The average margin of victory in those encounters, however, has been 8.5 points, which is an indication of tough, hard fought games.

Last year, the Rebels took LSU into overtime, before losing 23-20 at Tiger Stadium.

The Johnny Rebs come into this week's game with the Purple and Gold sporting a 3-7 overall record. They are last in the SEC West, and are winless in league play. Ole Miss is also dead last or near the bottom in most statistical categories in the SEC.

There is one notable exception to being on the bottom of the SEC statistical heap, and that is Rebel defensive end Greg Hardy. Previously suspended, Hardy, only a sophomore, is the SEC leader in sacks, tackles for losses, and forced fumbles. He has been reinstated for this week's game. He is seventh in the nation in sacks, and tied for sixth in the country for forced fumbles. Hardy is fifth in the land in tackles for losses.

Usually, when LSU and Ole Miss get together for a football game, it is a tough match regardless of the respective team records. This year looks to be no different.

Sources:

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&div=4&site=org

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200771112025

http://secsports.com/new/sports/fbc/07stats/confldrs.htm

http://www.secsportsfan.com/ed-orgeron-biography.html

http://www.tigerdroppings.com/history/HeadToHead_1.asp?Opponent=Ole%20Miss

Knowing the Enemy--Louisiana Tech

Game 10
Louisiana Tech
by Bryan Follins

Louisiana Tech is coached by Derek Dooley, son of former Georgia head coach Vince Dooley. This is his first year as head coach at Tech. He was an assistant coach at LSU from 2000 to 2004 under Nick Saban. Dooley then followed Saban down to the NFL Miami Dolphins for two years, where he coached tight ends.

He practiced law in Atlanta before he got into coaching.

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs reside in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), where they are currently 4-5 and in fifth place.

Defensive lineman Chris Pugh leads the WAC in sacks with a total of eight.
Pugh is second in the league in tackles for losses.

Tech is second in the WAC in rushing defense, allowing 109 yards per game on the ground. They are third in the conference in total defense. The Bulldogs are tops in the WAC in red zone defense.

Running back Patrick Jackson is second in the league in all purpose yards with 1418 total.

After four straight games against Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, and Alabama, this game, on paper, looks like a breather. But, remember two things:

1. Michigan vs. Appalachian State
2. USC vs. Stanford

Enough said.

Sources:

http://www.wacsports.com/fls/10100/stats/football/2007/confldrs.htm?SPSID=45953&SPID=4122&DB_OEM_ID=10100

http://www.latechsports.com/football.php

Knowing the Enemy-Alabama

Game Nine
Alabama
by Bryan Follins

The Alabama Crimson Tide is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the SEC. Their league record is identical to the Purple and Gold, with both teams suffering their lone conference loss to a team from the SEC East. Like the Auburn game, this contest is huge. Alabama and Auburn are the closest teams to LSU in the SEC West.

John Parker Wilson is Alabama's quarterback. He is fourth in the SEC in total offense. He averages 234.5 yards per game passing, also fourth in the league.

Parker's favorite target is wide receiver D.J. Hall. In his last game, against Tennessee, Hall had 13 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
Hall is second in the SEC in catches per game averaging 6.25 receptions per contest. He leads the league averaging 95.5 yards in receptions per game.

Terry Grant is Alabama's leading rusher with 697 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Grant is a freshman.

Javier Arenas is a dangerous punt return man, averaging 16.1 yards a return.

Alabama has a young team, especially in the offensive and defensive lines, but they have found ways to win, which is the difference in the team from last year. They do not quit.

The Tigers have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams.

Nevertheless, some burning questions must be answered prior to the game, such as:

1. Will CBS finally start televising the play clock during the game?

2. Will Nick Saban still be coaching Alabama at game time, or will he accept the coaching job with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

3. Will Ryan Perrilloux and Derrick Odom suit up for the Purple and Gold, or will they be playing with the Oakland Raiders??

Stay tuned, and Go Tigers!!

Sources:

http://secsports.com/new/sports/fbc/07stats/confldrs.htm

http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/football/2007/gameday/game9/2007AlabamaGameNotes(vs.LSU).pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8000

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/2007/Internet/single%20game/IA_playerpassrec_YARDS.html

Jindal is new governor of Louisiana

by Bryan Follins

Jindal is new governor of Louisiana

Bobby Jindal makes history as the new governor of the state of Louisiana.
Rebublican U.S. Representative becomes first non-white governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction. He is also the youngest governor in the United States. Jindal won 53 percent of the vote. See stories below:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/10695306.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/21/louisiana.governor.ap/index.html

http://www.nola.com/elections/index.ssf/2007/10/1st_indianamerican_governor_in.html

Knowing the Enemy - Auburn

Game Eight
Auburn
by Bryan Follins

The Auburn Tigers come to Tiger Town with a four game winning streak. This is currently the longest winning streak of any SEC team. Only a month ago, after a home loss to Mississippi State, Auburn looked finished before the season had barely begun. Things have changed.

The War Eagles/Plainsmen/Tigers of Auburn are 10th in the nation in scoring defense and ninth in the country in total defense. They are second to the Purple and Gold in the SEC in total defense.

Over their last three wins at Florida, hosting Vanderbilt, and at Arkansas, Auburn allowed 312 total yards to Florida, 221 total yards to Vanderbilt, and 193 total yards to Arkansas. Against Arkansas, they held the dynamic duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to 86 total rushing yards. As shown, the total yards given up by the Auburn defense have been decreasing over the last three games. They have accomplished this missing five defensive starters at one time or another. Linebacker Chris Evans leads Auburn with 40 total tackles.

Like LSU, the War Eagles/Plainsmen/Tigers run by committee. Ben Tate is the leading rusher with 597 yards. Mario Fannin has 330 yards on the ground.

Auburn wide receiver Rodgerigus Smith leads the team with 27 pass receptions.

The one thing that stands out about Auburn is their road record. Their last road loss was in 2005 to the Purple and Gold (hopefully that trend will continue). That has been their only road loss since the 2003 season.

The winner of this game gets the inside track to the SEC West title.
It might serve the Purple and Gold well to do a few things right against Auburn, like:

1. Learn how to tackle again.
2. Minimize penalties.
3. Stop letting opposing receivers moonwalk through the secondary.
4. And last, but certainly not least, catch the football.

Go Tigers (and I do mean LSU Tigers)!!

Sources

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=272860008

http://auburn.rivals.com/schedule.asp?Team=AUBURN&year=2003

http://www.ncaasports.com/football/mens/stats/stats

http://secsports.com/new/sports/fbc/07stats/confldrs.htm

http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release

LSU, The Team You Want Your Team To Be

By Ken Burger
The Post and Courier
Charleston, South Carolina

Monday, October 8, 2007

Every now and then you get a glimpse of how this game of college football is supposed to be played. If you watched the Florida-LSU game late Saturday night, you saw the team you want your team to be.

LSU, now the undisputed top team in the land after Southern Cal fell to Stanford, showed a stadium stuffed with more than 90,000 rabid Bayou Bengals fans and a national television audience why the Tigers are so good.

Yes, they have excellent players. And, yes, they have tradition and fan support and all the amenities needed to rise above the crowded field of contenders whose fans like to run around thrusting their index finger in the air and claiming to be Number One.

But they also have Les Miles, perhaps the best football coach in the country. At least he was Saturday night.

All you had to see was the fourth quarter of this Southeastern Conference showdown against the former national champion Gators to see what good, tough, confident coaching means to a football program.

It was, in a compound sentence, one of the best performances you could hope for in one of the biggest games of the year under the most intense pressure you can imagine.

And the Tigers made it look easy.

Beauty and bravery

While LSU fans were stunned when Florida jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, Miles just clinched that strong jaw of his on the sideline, pulled his hat down tighter on his head and watched with an understanding determination.

When interviewed coming off the field at halftime, he hardly seemed frightened by the prospects of losing. Instead, he stated exactly what his team needed to do and would do in the second half. Make more tackles and score more points.

He didn't mention take more chances, but that apparently comes with the territory if you want to be Number One.

Down 10 points with the clock running against them, the Tigers pulled out all the stops. They faked a field goal that set up a touchdown. Then, needing only a field goal to tie and extend the game to overtime, Miles wanted no part of it. He went for the victory, going for it on two critical, fourth-quarter, fourth-down situations, making it every time, barely.

The final drive, behind the gutsy running of Jacob Hester, that gave LSU its 28-24 victory with just over a minute remaining in the game was a thing of absolutely beauty and bravery.

Not only did starting quarterback Matt Flynn move his team with confidence, but also Miles was bold enough to bring in his back-up quarterback, sophomore Ryan Perilloux, in critical situations to give him the kind of steely experience you can only receive in the heat of battle.

Guts and glory

To watch LSU pull off that final, 15-play, 60-yard, 8-minute, game-winning, risk-taking drive brought college football fans to the edge of their seats all across the nation.

To witness this excellent example of guts and glory after most fans had spent the day watching their favorite teams flounder in the face of adversity was a teaching moment.

If you weren't an LSU fan or a Les Miles fan before Saturday night's phenomenal finish you probably are now.

With all due respect to the Florida Gators, who played a heck of a football game, this LSU victory gave us all a glimpse of what it means to have a great team and a great coach and how the two combine to win championships.

There was no second-guessing, no what-ifs, no question, no doubt. That final drive should be mandatory in film rooms across the nation.

Every head coach should watch it over and over again just to see how the game is supposed to be played, with confidence and passion instead of caution and fear of losing.

Reach Ken Burger at 937-5598 kburger@postandcourier.com.