Bowl Game Blues
by Poseur on Dec 28, 2009 8:58 AM CST
in Football
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PrintBelieve it or not, LSU plays in a football game on Friday. Before we get to the hard-hitting analysis (hopefully written by someone other than me), I'd like to ask a simple question: do you care?
Because, honestly, I don't. I mean, I'm going to watch and I'll enjoy the last game of the season before the long, dark period which tries men's (and women's) souls until next football season, but it's really hard to get "up" for this game. There's almost nothing at stake.
LSU and Penn St are near mirror images of one another: teams with a terrific defense and an offense that has, er, not lived up to expectations. Both harbored championship dreams this season that were very quickly dashed. Both teams finished a clear third in their respective conference, but posed little threat to actually win the conference. Neither team has a really bad loss, but then again, neither team has a real marquee win. Both teams are ranked in the top 15 simply by inertia and the lack of anyone else to rank.
Besides, ginning up the proper hatred for Penn St is pretty hard. I tried to think back to childhood and how the Nittany Lions would seemingly beat Maryland by 3 points every year, but even kids who grow up in Maryland don't cry themselves to sleep over the football team (the basketball team is a different story). PSU is responsible for one of my favorite games ever, the 1986 Fiesta Bowl, so I have a reservoir of goodwill towards them. And who hates Joe Pa?
It's a nice game in a pretty nice bowl. It's not the BCS, but it's pretty close. It's January 1st and whoever wins will get their first real big scalp of the season. It should be a good game and all that, but more than ever before, this bowl game feels like precisely what it is: a meaningless exhibition and an excuse to go to Disney World. A win won't mean that much to me, and a loss wouldn't be catastrophic.
to be honest, I'm far more interested in the swirl of rumors surrounding the coaching staff right now. That will likely have a bigger impact on next season than the outcome of this game.
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Are you kidding? Nothing at stake?
Awesome, I guess that’s why we lose every game we play after Bama clinches the West on us every year.
What about:
1) Conference superiority?
2) Playing a game against one of CFB’s most storied programs which we’ve only played once before, and lost.
3) Playing a game against one of CFB’s most storied programs coaches which we’ve only played once before, and lost.
4) What about trying to make our offense look competant in front of those few last offensive recruits we are still going after?
5) What about getting one more look at Ridley for next season?
6) What about seeing what new wrinkles our new coaches will bring to this game?
I’m not going to lie, other than the championship seasons, this game is just as exciting for me as the Notre Dame game in 2006.
Responses
1) Eh. Don’t really care about that internet argument.
2) It’ll be nice.
3) Same thing, really. It’s nice, but I’m not foaming at the mouth to beat them. and we’ve NEVER played Michigan, which would have the first time ever vibe.
4) No recruit is going to make their decision based on this game. None.
5) Hope he does well, but people tend to overrate bowl performances going into the next season. Ridley has all of spring and summer to make his mark as a starter before next year.
6) Please, no. If we were saving wrinkles for the bowl game and not for Florida and Bama, I will be beyond pissed.
Not a chance. Beating Notre Dame is always infinitely more satisfying. Even the GT game had more at stake since everyone was picking against us. It’s a nice game, and I’m looking forward to it, but I’m not expecting an all time classic. Then again, last time I felt that way about a bowl game, it was against Iowa…
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
Responses to your response
1) Eh. Don’t really care about that internet argument.
See, most poeple think that it is just some stupid internet argument. But it is important. Really, really important. Conference superiority is how LSU made it to the title game in 2007 over other 2 loss teams. Conference superiority is how Florida made it to the title game in 2006 over other one loss teams. Conference superiority is why the media states, “what team will play the SEC championship game winner for the national championship”. Conference superiority is pretty damn important in the BCS era. Don’t take for granted that the SEC recieves the benefit of the doubt in every instance these days, and it is because we’ve earned it in games like LSU vs Penn St.
2) It’ll be nice.
No argument here, you either think it’s cool or you don’t. Ditto for #3.
4) No recruit is going to make their decision based on this game. None.
Going to have to disagree here. When you have the 110th rated offense and it isn’t because of lack of talent, I think you need every tool in your toolbox to sway other top flight talent to your school. This game can be a big help in that area, or it could really hurt us. Seems like Crowton will be able to temporarily silence some critics if his offense hums to 35 points rather than fumbling and bumbling to 17.
5) Hope he does well, but people tend to overrate bowl performances going into the next season. Ridley has all of spring and summer to make his mark as a starter before next year.
Well sure, but our entire hope for this season was based off of Jefferson’s performance everyone’s performance in last year’s bowl game. And it was warrented hope. I actually didn’t mean to single out Ridley, I really want to see more of Deangelo Peterson, and heck even more Jefferson.
6) Please, no. If we were saving wrinkles for the bowl game and not for Florida and Bama, I will be beyond pissed.
I think you misread the statement. I’m talking about our new coaches.
Add to that...
with a win LSU will have won 100 games this decade which I think is the most in the SEC and behind only Boise and Texas.
If Texas doesn’t win the National Title it will be hard for LSU not to be viewed as the team of the decade.
I know people kind of overlook LSU right now but when you look back on 100 wins, 3 SEC Titles, 8 Bowl Wins (4 BCS) and two national titles it is hard to say from start to finish we were not the best of the decade.
I’d say that’s worth getting up for!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Correction
Only OU has >100 wins at 103, Boise and LSU are sitting at 99…
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
by SouthernMan on Dec 28, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
per les miles twitter on the right--->>>
we are tied with florida at 99.
Managing Editor/Chief Lackey-And The Valley Shook
OK, I couldn't find that anywhere...
I should have known to look no further than ATVS!
However, I think that just enhances my point, we really need this win.
If we win and Florida loses we edge them in the SEC and therefore the Nation.
If we lose and Florida wins then they win.
If we both win then LSU/UF was the two-headed SEC Monster of the decade.
If we both Lose then Texas and USC have a case.
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
by SouthernMan on Dec 28, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions
"If we both win then LSU/UF was the two-headed SEC Monster of the decade."
UF is generally given the benefit over LSU because of head-2-head. We either own them or tie in every deciding category other than head-2-head.
What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing
All the more reason we need to win
and hope Cinci can pull off the upset.
That would give them two BCS losses, which we don’t have (in fact, if Texas and Florida loses we would have by far the best BCS record) and we’ll have 100 wins, which neither of them would.
To me no one is the ‘clear cut’ team of the decade unless Texas beats Bama. If not, only Florida and LSU really have a case, with USC a distant third – but LSU could edge it out if a few things fall right.
But that just my humble opinion.
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Eh..
Is there an AP “Team of the Decade” trophy? If not, I would rather see Florida beat Cincinnati unless we have something better to gain other than our conferences superiority.
What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing
I have to agree
Anyway you look at it, we are arguably “The Team of the Decade.” I think conference superiority is much more important than this title. For example…i don’t think any bama fan is going to care if we were the “team of the decade.” They will simply start talking about the next decade for them.
Tiger Fan in PA
I sure hope the team is up for this game. Nothing I’d like better than for the Tigers to kick the snot out of the Nittany Lions! The other way around introduces humiliation, but as a long time Phills fan, I have learned to take defeat.
My only question Poseur
Is will you really still not care if LSU loses?
I find a lot of people love to call non-championship games meaningless, but tend to only think that once the games are won.
I wanna win...
… but so longas the game isn’t a blowout loss, I doubt I will be upset by a negative outcome. I will be mad if LSU gets blown out or if they lose on a controversial play.
But the Arkansas game was far more important to me, for example. This is an exhibition. It’s a high profile exhibition, but still an exhibition. It’s not meaningless, it just doesn’t have much meaning. Winning is always better than losing, though. I want LSU to win, but I’m not staying up nights over it.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
Fair enough
So long as you’re even-handed about it, but some people tend to be really full-of-shit about it.
Last year a lot of people said “who cares” once Alabama clinched the West, but the Ole Miss and Arkansas games sure as shit mattered once they were lost.
Conversely a lot of those same people were pre-bitching about how bad Ga. Tech was going to embarrass LSU. Once the game was over it was suddenly this easy layup they should have won.
by Billy Gomila on Dec 28, 2009 10:58 PM CST up reply actions
sorta
honestly i’ll care as much as i did for the cotton bowl against texas, the cap one bowl against iowa, and the peach bowl last year.
we’re not SEC champs, we’re not playing for a nat’l championship but ending the season with a win (especially to make it a double digit win season) can’t be all bad. right?
We are all spoiled when results like 10-2 or 9-3 are disappointing!
I am looking forward to the game, I have always enjoyed watching LSU. I have visited LA often for business and never met a Louisianaian (sp?) I didn’t like. And God bless the person who invented Etouffe and Crawfish Pie. And Pam and Earl at Tropical Isle for the Hand Grenade.
BTW, Ohio State fans hate JoePa so please join us in hating them and their arm punting QB
Good luck on Friday and let’s all try an muster up some HATE, HATE, HATE!
Lucky gun, fake fifth, 8XY bitch
Daryll Clark, The Penn State Football Story Is...
reply fail
correction everyone with two brain cells to rub together hates THE ohio state
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
the Michigan one is almost as good
Lucky gun, fake fifth, 8XY bitch
Daryll Clark, The Penn State Football Story Is...
Hello!
You play to win the game!
For a self-proclaimed stat geek, Poseur is looking real wussy on this one. Someone else already mentioned the 100 wins in the decade number. What else is riding on this game in terms of stats & streaks? If we win it makes us an outstanding 8-2 in Bowl games the last 10 years (not that 7-3 is shabby). If we win, we’ll maintain a really impressive non-conference winning streak that began with the first game of the Miles era. But even with out that arcana, this is the last time we’ll see LSU football for 8 months, so I want to feel good about having won our last game all that time.
And one more thing: you play to win the game!
Don't forget Miles Blowout Bowl Streak
I like Miles. He has his shortcomings, but Bowl Games preparation hasn’t been one of them. I think 5 straight bowl blowouts is a pretty good feather for his cap.
Just found this SBN Blog
I want LSU to win to give us hope about the offense next year against a high quality defense and to avenge the last time they played in the Capital One bowl against Iowa. That was painful to watch at the end Yea we probably or Penn State should be in a BCS bowl instead of Iowa but I count this as the closest thing to being in the BCS.
Geaux Tigahs!
I still believe!
'95 Independence Bowl
I became a die hard LSU fan around as a 9 year old in ‘89-’90 or so. Then came a time period I like to call the years of unspeakable darkness. My dad took me to every home game in ‘92. On a few occassions, I left in tears. Then, in ’95, we went to the Independence Bowl and played Michigan State. Words can’t express how elated I was. We had finally made it. Of course, I was wrong. You program hasn’t made it till your fanbase doesn’t care about going to the Citrus Bowl and playing one of the most prestigous programs and coaches in all of college football. I know success can spoil a program, but that’s ridiculous.
by Big McLargeHuge on Dec 29, 2009 1:20 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
+1
I couldn’t Agree McMore!
I’ll be leaving Thursday Morning to see this one live and in person (in the press box, no less!!)
I wouldn’t miss it!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
I care that we're going...
… making a January 1st bowl is always a big deal. The game itself? Eh. Since they’re playing it, we might as well win it.
The accomplishment is MAKING the Citrus Bowl. I’m very proud of that. It’s the best non-BCS Bowl. I care that we’re playing in this game, just not about the outcome all that much.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
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| West | Conf | Overall | ||
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17 | 10 | 40 | 13 |
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