We're heading down to BR to visit family and I want to introduce my kids (both under 10) to Death Valley. They've been watching games with me for a couple of years now, but we've never gone to a game or even done more than drive by when in town. Sadly, we won't be there for the Spring game, which would have been a great way to introduce them to it all.

The LSUSports.net site doesn't give any info (or I couldn't find any) on stadium tours. Anyone know if they give them?

Also, I'm going to buy one of those white autograph footballs and hoped to run into some players or CLM. What's the protocol on that kind of thing? Do people wait outside of the practice field? Can you hang out in the football facilities and hope someone walks by? Is it frowned upon? I'm a football autograph virgin, but I would love to get a few names on it for my kids to identify when we watch games together up here in Yankee-land.

FWIW, they are the only kids at their schools with LSU jerseys (Matt Flynn's #15) and they know enough not to share a table with anyone wearing Notre Dame clothing. :)

Thanks.

Hey guys. A while back I posted about my attempt to create an all-time LSU team. Here is that post:

http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2011/7/21/2286804/all-time-lsu-team-for-ncaa-football-12-requesting-assistance

Well anyway, after getting quite a bit done on that team I slacked off and have not worked on it at all. I wanted to get back to work on it, and would really appreciate some help in coming up with several players AND their playing styles. But instead of asking for every player who is an all-time great I thought that I would go position-by-position where I still need to add players. I'd like to make a series of fanposts until I get this taken care of.

So I will start by asking for help with the offensive backfield. So far I have three running backs for the all-time: Kevin Faulk as a junior (90 overall), Jacob Hester as a senior (89 overall), and Bill Cannon as a senior (95 overall).

I'd love to get your feedback on who should fill out the balance of this backfield. I'd also really appreciate some thoughts on the tendencies of these players. E.g., are they tough but slow? Great catching passes out of the backfield? Excellent in pass protection? I would love opinions on not only who these players should be, but what they play like.

I need three more backs, at least one of whom should be a fullback. I am wanting the best player-year (no Billy Cannon's junior year, for example). Help is very much appreciated.

Ishmael Wilson is a big time OL prospect from Texas, but originally from LA. He moved to TX after Katrina, but has been a lifelong LSU fan. He came to our JR Day a few weeks ago and was practically begging for an offer. Les said he did not have time to properly evaluate Wilson's film, so he would not be offering him at that time until he could further evaluate him. (I even remember the TX message boards blowing up over how dumb Miles was for not offering.) Wilson was upset, as most kids are, that he did not receive the offer; but he still said LSU was in the lead with TX right behind.

He was then supposed to go to TX Jr Day last week, but he and his father got a flat tire the night before and did not get home til after 2 am; so he skipped TX Jr Day because he was exhausted. Even though he said he was upset that he couldn't attend and was hoping to attend their next Jr Day, it seemed to open a small window for Les to extend an offer and maybe get a commit before his next visit. But no offer came and Wilson went on A&M's Jr Day this weekend, and got an offer and committed soon after.

Hopefully this is just a case of him jumping on the first real offer he got, and we still have a shot to flip him if we ever offer... or maybe he chose A&M because he is bitter towards LSU for not offering him before. I am not sure how this is going to play out, but Les may have let a very good one slip right through his fingers...

After reading this, I'm certain there will be people saying, "See, I told you so."

But, really, who wouldn't question a game plan that didn't win a game? That headline and story ranks about as high in newsworthiness as "Boat owner questions putting hole in bottom" or "Driver questions driving with eyes closed."

I sure hope that CLM questions the game plan and I imagine he did. That's what you're supposed to do when the game plan didn't work and you expect to learn from the experience.

Thank you ESPN for that insight.

I'm so much better informed now.

<sigh>

I wonder if Bill Bellichek is questioning his game plan? Maybe ESPN could let us know.

Nice write-up on Liggins from Rabalais in the Advocate:

Hart said Liggins’ biggest attribute is not his size but his dedication to winning. It’s what helped lead Lafayette to back-to-back Class 4A Mississippi state championships and 32 straight victories to close his prep career.

"He’s a leader. A big leader with a small ego," Hart said. "He’s willing for others to have success. That’s what made us successful. Some nights our running back ran for 200, 300 yards and Jeremy didn’t get that many. But that was never an issue. He’s got a great work ethic."

While LSU flirted with, courted and was ultimate jilted by one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects in Gunner Kiel (he signed with Notre Dame), Liggins stuck with the Tigers and gave LSU the quarterback signee its class desperately needed.

Unbelievable.

I know this is only tangential to the BCSNCG or even college football, but it seems relevant enough to share.

Someone ask those lawyers if they'd get as far with that argument if the victim was a woman or a child. This is going to backfire on them in a big way and Downing and, by extension, AL fans are just going to look like neanderthals to the rest of country. Hell, it'll probably end up tarring LSU and SEC schools. Of course, ESPN will do a special hour long film directed by Morgan Spurlock on unruly fans and out of control football programs in the South, spending half the film on the Shady's bar fight and showing all the useless cell phone footage they can get their hands on. And next thing you know Rush Limbaugh will have Downing on the show to talk about how it's a shame that men can't just show their johnsons whenever they want, much like dogs can go around without underwear, the irony will be lost on all of them, and the real crime will get lost in the misleading fog of disinformation.

Lawyers: Downing charges demean 'actual' sexual violence victims

Again, unbelievable.

First off, I want to say that DeAngelo gets major props for his attitude while he has been at LSU. Here's a guy who starts out at wide receiver (commonly a diva position...make that THE diva position) and is switched to tight end, obviously a much less glamorous position. Despite being an obvious weapon and matchup nightmare there, he never is really utilized in the passing game. But he never (as far as I'm aware) complained about it, just went to work and kept getting bigger, and especially kept working on his blocking. He used to NEVER be in if it was a blocking situation because he was so bad at it, and this year I noticed him making some great blocks multiple times.

Having said that, what the heck happened in the National Championship? I've heard the rumors and read that fake email and I think it's all bull crap coming from "fans"...but then I read a quote like this, "We might call a couple of plays that we worked on, but as for the whole game plan I don't think we used it." I don't think there was any kind of race-driven rebellion before the game or anything...but does anyone have ANY ideas? Any rumors that strike you as more likely than not? I just am still extremely confused about the whole thing...although again, great job by DeAngelo of being classy. Even though he wishes he could've been showcased more he says he realizes that LSU was doing what was best to win the games.

PS, this is the article I'm using as my reference:

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/01/lsu_te_deangelo_peterson_still.html

Les Miles is quickly getting as infamous for his quarterback management as he is for his clock management. His dogmatic allegiance to Jordan Jefferson has diehard LSU fans scratching their heads in wonder. Why? What, if any, truth is there to reports that Jordan Jefferson was drinking heavily in the days leading up to the game. Is there some truth in that in light of the pre-season incident that led to his suspension? Did the national title game have any impact on Gunter Kiel? Check out fredsforum.blogspot.com

Dandy Don is reporting that Kadron Boone is no longer transferring and has registered for the Spring semester.

Yesterday it was confirmed that wide receiver Kadron Boone will remain a Tiger and that he has enrolled at LSU for the Spring semester.

The only other reporting I could find was a few days old. This was in The Reveille on January 11:

Boone said in a tweet, "Da decision is made and is in process...Mind made up n sticking to it."

Anyone else seen/heard verification of him staying?

Dandy Don calls out this reader comment he rec'd:

Reader comment: For all those fans who cannot let go of the loss - I need to remind them of past history. In 1958 Ole Miss came to tiger stadium highly ranked. On Halloween night the tigers won the game - thanks to Billy Cannon. They later played a rematch in the sugar bowl and LOST to Ole Miss 21-0. It's happen before, and God willing if we play enough games it will happen again. Get over it - lets move on - the future is bright - GEAUX TIGERS!!!!

Add to that Bill Cannon's return vs. Tyrann Mathieu's returns.

And that 1958 added together is 23 and 2011 added together is 4. 2,3,4?

Coincidence or alien involvement?

You make the call.

Okay, that last one was a bit of a stretch.

</tongue firmly implanted in cheek>

Although, the 21-0 score is curiously odd.