Link Gumbo: 1-2-18

Today we will recap all of the news following LSU’s Citrus Bowl loss as well as some recruiting notes. We will also take a look at LSU Basketball as they open up conference play at home against Kentucky tomorrow. Finally, we take a peek at LSU Gymnastics as their season gets underway Friday.

LSU suffered a tough loss yesterday to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl. It was a game where LSU shot themselves in the foot multiple times, especially on special teams. The LSU offense had two trips to the 1-inch line and came away with a combined three points. One of these drives they lined up to go for it on 4th down, then due to a false start the ball was moved back and Connor Culp then missed a chip shot that would have given LSU a 3-0 lead. With 2:03 left to go LSU went up 17-14. Then with 1:28 on the clock, Notre Dame WR Miles Boykin caught a 55-yard touchdown pass to put Notre Dame up 21-17. LSU got the ball back with 1:16 and did nothing much to seal the game for the Irish.

The Advocate expanded on LSU’s special teams’ woes. In that article, you will see what Coach O had to say regarding kickers and the potential addition of a special teams coach. I think today showed Tiger fans everywhere why it was 100 percent worth letting kicker Cole Tracy claim a spot in this year’s signing class.

Scott Rabalais, in a piece for The Advocate, elaborated on how this LSU loss was defined by their letdowns at the goal line. The LSU offense needed to cash in for six on those drives. You can not leave points on the board like that and expect to come away with a win.

Rabalais also gave his three takeaways from yesterday’s game and how yesterdays loss felt similar to losses LSU has suffered in the past.

No new news broke on the offensive coordinator front yesterday. Coach O sidestepped questions about Matt Canada’s future with LSU and the players did not say anything regarding Canada’s future either. However, some players did have some positive words for Coach Canada.

Just before kickoff yesterday, Ross Dellenger of The Advocate reported that Aranda spurned a pursuit Texas A&M and will stay put at LSU. This is great news for LSU as they do not want to lose their elite defensive coordinator to an SEC rival. Pete Jenkins and Jeff Grimes both coached their final game with LSU yesterday. Jenkins is retiring and Grimes will go to BYU as the OC.

Here is what some LSU players said on Twitter following the loss.

Four-star RB Harold Joiner is no longer considering signing with LSU as reported by Sam Spiegelman of SEC Country. Spiegelman is also reporting that Kelvin Joseph, who committed from the Tigers in October, might be ready to commit to LSU and kickoff a DB heavy finish for LSU’s signing class.

#GYMSZN will begin Friday. As we get ready for the start of the season, Mike Gegenheimer of The Advocate had a feature piece on Myia Hambrick and her new role as a team leader.

Last Thursday LSU Basketball went on the road to Memphis and got a win. LSU will start conference play tomorrow as they welcome Kentucky to the PMAC.

A note relating to LSU’s schedule, With Georgia and Alabama scheduled to meet for the National Championship it guarantees LSU will welcome the defending champion to Death Valley next year. The only question is whether it will be on October 13th or November 3rd.

One thing I wanted to say to close out is that LSU fans need to calm down. Losing to a higher ranked team in the Citrus Bowl is not the end of the world. There are a lot of things to be excited about going into next year. Its possible the whole O-Line will return, the D-Line will have more depth, the WRs will be more experienced. Dave Aranda’s defense will be loaded and we will get to see a competitive QB battle. Coach O going 9-4 in his first year doesn’t mean there needs to be a complete overhaul. Dabo Swinney lost at least four games in each of his first three years at Clemson. So let's calm down, look at the bigger picture, because in 243 days, its game time in Dallas.