DBU: Who Claims It? An Origin Story...

If you follow Jamal Adams on twitter (and if you don't, he's the rare LSU player for whom it is a genuine treat), you may have noticed the...let's call it a gentlemen's disagreement...with some Florida Gators on a certain claim. Seems they think a cute little video is all it takes in Florida. Anyways, over at Alligator Army, Andy Hutchins does bring up a good point about the silliness of this, and who claims what. Personally, I think these things need an origin story...

...

On September 1, 2002 Louisiana State University established an elite school for the top one percent of its defenders. Its purpose was to teach the lost art of aerial combat and to insure that the handful of men who graduated were the best cornerbacks and safeties in the world. They succeeded. Today, the world calls it the LSU football program. The players call it:

Scene: A darkened classroom in LSU's Football Operations Complex. A highlight video package runs on a projection screen in front of Tre'davious White, Jamal Adams, Jalen Mills, Dwayne Thomas, Ed Paris, Rickey Jefferson, Donte Jackson and Kevin Toliver. As it closes, the lights come up and Corey Webster walks to the front of the room.

Webster: During the 1980s, LSU touchdown ratio was four to one. We allowed one touchdown pass for every four we had. During the 1990s that ratio fell to one to three. Our defenses were entirely dependent on linemen and linebackers. We had lost our ability to play the ball.

DBU was created to teach aerial football defense. DB play.

Now, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the standard bearer at DBU -- very first man to win the Jim Thorpe award. You will not find a finer cornerback anywhere in the world: Patrick Peterson -- callsign "Zod."

Peterson: Gentlemen...you are the top one percent of defensive back recruits. The elite. The best of the best.

We're gonna make you better.

You'll run at least two seven-on-seven missions a day. Classes in between. Evaluations of your performance. In each practice, you're going to meet a different challenge. No-huddle. Third down. Red zone. Each encounter will be more difficult. We're going to teach you how to push your receivers to the edge of the envelope. You're going to cover tighter than you ever have before. More dangerous.

Now we don't coordinate defenses here. Men in booths...coordinators do that. We are however, instruments of that coordination. And man or zone, the backfield must always be ready. We must always prepare as if it is third down.

Donte Jackson (to Toliver): I gotta know...

Toliver: What?

Jackson: Who the best is?

Peterson: In case some of you are wondering who the best is...they're on that back wall. Thorpe awards. Bednaricks. All-Americans. First-round draft picks. All-pros. The best defensive backs from each class have been honored in those ways.

/Peterson locks eyes with Jackson.

Peterson: You think your name is going to be on that plaque?

Jackson: Yes sir.

Peterson: That's pretty arrogant, considering the company you're in.

/Jackson looks down pensively.

Jackson: Yes sir.

Peterson: I like that in a cornerback. Gentlemen. This school is about football. There are no points for second place. Dismissed.

/players file out of the room.

Jamal Adams: The wall for the all-conference players is down in the bathroom.

Toliver: AHAHAHAHA!!!! You kill me! You really do.

/Walks past list of previous honorees.

Toliver: No no, there's only one L in Toliver folks.

Fin.