Link Gumbo: 9/13/2017 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE VII!

He’s only been with us for a few weeks, but the wee baby Mike is growing up so fast. Today he celebrates his 1st birthday with a royal feast.

Even though we’re only a couple of games into college football season, it’s kind of hard to not be high on this year’s LSU football team.

The Tigers improved to 2-0 when they defeated the Chattanooga Mocs, 45-10 in Tiger Stadium.

Freshmen on both the football team and the soccer team had successful outings, as LSU Sports showcased on Twitter with a combined highlight video.

Star linebacker Arden Key will finally be back on the football field vs. Mississippi St. This is probably the most exciting news LSU fans have heard all week. He’ll without a doubt be ‘key’ in strengthening the Tigers pass rush this season.

And according to a report by CBSsports.com’s Chip Patterson, Coach Orgeron is pretty ‘fired up’ about the news as well.

During the same time frame, potential Heisman Trophy candidate and LSU running back Derrius Guice manged to make TMZ. Guice flirted with disaster as he nearly flipped an ATV.

But Guice seems to think people are overreacting to the little mishap - and maybe he’s right.

But even if you’re among those upset with Guice over the ordeal, you’ve got to acknowledge the fact he’s always trying to make an effort to do good for the community and his fans.

His latest good deed? Helping pack water to send to Houston, which roughly two weeks ago was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey.

While DE Rashard Lawrence was seen at practice on Tuesday, Orgeron told the media on Wednesday morning that he does not expect him to play.

Looking more at the baseball side of things, the LSU community lost a very special member in former player and coach Mel Didier on Sunday. Didier passed away that evening in Phoenix, AZ.

In Volleyball, Taylor Bannister was named SEC Freshman of the Week. This made her the first Tiger to earn Freshman of the week honors since 2014.