By Justin Goar, Blogger

Now that we’ve gotten through September and LSU has a bye week before taking on three tough October dates with Florida and Carolina on the road before returning home to face Georgia on the 25th. Let’s take a look at the one month progress report grades for the Tigers…

Quarterback: B-
This is still a question mark since the play of Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch have been consistently inconsistent. But the Tigers get a jump in letter from C to B- with a great second half at Auburn.
No doubt Lee has more physical talent than Hatch especially in the arm strength department but Hatch brings nice mobility and seniority for a change of pace.

Running Backs: A
Two words: Charles Scott. Scott is the answer to the question of who would replace Jacob Hester in the backfield as the guy who gets the tough yards. Actually Scott not only gets the tough short conversions, he gets the long highlight runs and all yards in between. He’s a large part of the big discrepancy in rushing yards between LSU and their opponents. LSU have out gained their opponents 884-363 this season.
Scott is averaging 133 yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry. That’s useful.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+
Maybe I’m a little too hard on the WR’s. They’ve done their jobs haven’t made too many mistakes but at the same time haven’t overwhelmed me either. The guy carrying this group right now is Brandon Lafell. In most statistical categories, Lafell is doubling the stats of any other WR. Other than doing the obvious of making the catch (which wasn’t a given for the guy nicknamed “JoJo� last year) Lafell is doing a great job of getting open as well as blocking downfield when he doesn’t have the ball. Lafell turns this corps’ grade from a C- to a C+.
Richard Dickson has been great as a tight end both catching and blocking.

Offensive Line: A-
Once again I’m probably too hard on this group that probably deserves a solid A or A+. Ciron Black and Joseph Barksdale have been anchor bookends at the tackle position. Lyle Hitt and Hermann Johnson have been solid at the guards and center Brett Helms is the captain of that line. My one knock on Helms is he is sometimes overpowered by bigger lineman and he’s probably a better run blocker than a pass blocker. But with a crew this good, I’m just being nit-picky. LSU has been an excellent run blocking team and pretty decent at pass blocking as well.
I’ll add fullback Quinn Johnson to this crew. Johnson is an offensive lineman with a running start on every down. He’s a wrecking ball disguised as a football player.

Defensive Line: B+
This is kind of an unfair grade when you take into account that LSU basically rushes these four guys during pass plays and drops their linebackers in to coverage. The line has done a superb job against the run and holds their own in the pass rush. Tyson Jackson is doing plenty to disrupt opposing offenses and since LSU has the best depth in the country on the line.
Rickey Jean Francois hasn’t been making as much noise as the experts had wanted him to having just two solo tackles and a sack in four games, but guys like Rahim Alem, Kirston Pittman, and Marlon Favorite have stepped up in his place.

Linebackers: B
This is probably one of the spots that is up in the air. On the run, they are an A. Against the pass, they are a C. They average out to a B. Perry Riley has been great so far and Jacob Cutrera actually had pretty decent game against State filling in for injured MLB Darry Beckwith but this crew won’t be the same until Beckwith returns. They need to improve against the pass since most don’t spend time pass rushing.

Defensive Backs: C
If I was grading on a curve this group would be higher. The reason they are not a C- is because of safeties Curtis Taylor and Harry Coleman. The corners have been doing as well as expected for being new starters but there’s a blown assignment every once and a while from either the corner or the nickel back. Both Chad Jones and Danny Mccray have struggled in pass coverage at the nickel back position this year. This squad is saved by the safeties but they’re in danger of having the worst grades in the class.

Special Teams: B-
I have to break this down into units. The return game has been ok but there is no one that can field a punt apparently on this team for like the third straight year.
Coverage teams are doing ok as well but there have been some decent gains this season by opposing returners.
Punting started off horrible but made hay in the Auburn game when it mattered so they get good marks.
Finally kicking has been solid as Colt David seems like he’s ready to have a great year.

Let’s face it, grades aren’t going to be very low when you haven’t lost a game. The Tigers need to tweak some things but have all the tools in place to make an SEC title run this season.

By Justin Goar, Blogger

“I’m not drunk, I’m just tired from being up all day drinking…�

The good news for LSU fans is simple: the Tigers remain in the Top 5 after beating an inferior opponent in a workmanlike manor.

The bad news is: The Tigers didn’t look great doing it. Keep in mind that the Bulldogs of Mississippi State were never really a threat in the game and a late MSU touchdown made the score closer than the actual game was. But a sluggish Tiger team only beat State by ten points in a series where LSU usually beats the Bulldogs by five scores. Some untimely turnovers didn’t hurt LSU in the win-loss column in this game but might later in the season.

The Tigers will take on Florida at 8 pm EST on October 11th on CBS. Last year’s game was epic and was probably lost in the shuffle of the Tigers playing in so many exciting games last year. No game last year was tougher than Florida for LSU and I’d be willing to say vice-versa.

Cheer up, you guys act like this was a motherf%$#ing funeral…

Anyone afraid of Bama yet?

Maybe “afraid� is too strong of a word. I’m afraid of prison. I’m afraid of zipping my fly and not being totally “out of the way.� I’m afraid of maybe one day having a teenage daughter.

But I’m not afraid of Alabama.

How about “concerned?� Is that a better word?

Yeah, maybe that’s it. I’m mildly concerned like I am about that mole on my head that I really need to get checked out or about that chili I had for lunch that “is not sitting well.�

What about “respect but fear�? You know like with electricity or 25 foot long snakes.

As an LSU fan, I have to respect the performance of Nick Saban’s crew as they absolutely rolled over Georgia in Athens.

And the first thing I thought was “Uh-oh, what does Bama’s schedule look like the rest of the year?�

Meaning I know right now that LSU has two potential losses against Georgia and Florida, two potential letdown games against South Carolina and Ole Miss. And that’s before we talk about the meeting between Alabama and LSU in Baton Rouge.

That’s 5 games where the outcome is up in the air for LSU. What about Alabama? Give the way they are playing now, how many games do they have like that? If LSU is one you would think maybe Kentucky could be a potential letdown game along with Ole Miss. But is Bama going to drop a game to Mississippi State this year?? Tennessee?? Probably not.

The Iron Bowl is beginning to look even better for the Tide. How many potential losses is that? Two?

Alabama made a major stride in winning the SEC West in September by winning a game they were expected to drop in the pre-season. It looks like this team will go as far as John Parker Wilson will take them.

How tough is their remaining road? It doesn’t look so tough all of a sudden.

Heck let’s say LSU beats Alabama in November but drops the Florida, Georgia, and either South Carolina or Ole Miss game. For those of you that say LSU would never lose to South Carolina or Ole Miss might I refer you to last season. Will Alabama lose more than two SEC games this year???

And I don’t even want to think about some beyondo world scenario where Vanderbilt gets in from the East and Bama cake walks to an SEC title and maybe a National Title shot.

So listen up, Bama’s for real. They cannot be stopped and LSU fans must consider the possibility that even if they beat Bama, the Tide could still be rolling to Atlanta in December.

The 2008 season is over for all intents and purposes. Roll Tide Roll!!!

I mean there is no way, I mean NO WAY that Alabama loses this weekend to Kentucky. That’s impossible. That’s just not gonna happen.

Or am I just writing all this in hopes to jinx the Tide? Hmmmmm…would I do that???

Ridiculously hard as pie…

In honor of USC coach Pete Carroll who said after the Oregon State game that the Pac Ten is “ridiculously hard�. Here’s a top ten list of other things I find “ridiculously hard�:

10) Dunking on a six foot goal using a trampoline.
9) Playing hide and go seek with my dog.
8) Finding a Clemson fan willing to pack Tommy Bowden’s bags.
7) Saving money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.
6) Counting all the Pac 10 teams in the Top 25.
5) Following the directions on the side of a “Pop Tarts� box.
4) A-B-C, which in fact is also just as ridiculously hard as 1-2-3.
3) Playing dodge ball with 1st graders. Blind 1st graders.
2) A Sunday morning.
1) Finding a guy willing to go on a date with Erin Andrews.

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Alabama’s opponent in the 2008 BCS Championship Game, the USC Trojans. Think I’m kidding?? I’m kind of hard to read today, eh?

Uh, actually don’t answer that.

Therapeutic ravings I should probably keep to myself …

---Ok, can we stop all the “black out� talk in Athens? You actually have to show up to play in those black jerseys you wear. It’s foolish to think some gimmick can win a football game. But since you like them so much feel free to wear them in Baton Rouge on the 25th. We wear white at home. But only because we play better when we wear white……and also when we play at night.

---Kentucky, if y’all want a shot to upset Alabama, try getting an early lead. Saban loves to play with a lead and this year it shows. Want to guess the number of times Bama has been behind this season??? I’ll give you a hint, it’s the same number of times you’ve gone out on a date with Erin Andrews.

---All you peeps who thought this year would be a more “normal� year than last season, I humbly submit to you the events of this past weekend. 2008 is just 2007’s late blooming cousin. If I were you, I’d make sure to keep your hands and feet inside the ride while it is in motion.

You heard Coach! Go Vote! The band get $25,000 if they win.

http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/indianajones/voteBand

16 current and former Tigers will be competing in the Beijing Olympics this year representing 8 different countries. Many are from our 2008 National Women's Outdoor Track and Filed Championship team, but also notice the Seimone Augustus/Sylvia Fowles reunion on the Women's Basketball team.







Seimone Augustus          Basketball (W)     Athlete        United States
Kelly Baptiste                 Track & Field (W)     100m     Trinidad & Tobago
Neisha Bernard-Thomas    Track & Field (W)     800m     Grenada
Heather Brand                 Swimming (W)     100m Fly     Zimbabwe
Marian Burnett                Track & Field (W)     800m     Guyana
Laverne Eve                    Track & Field (W)     Javelin     Bahamas
Sherry Fletcher               Track & Field (W)     100m     Grenada
Sylvia Fowles                 Basketball (W)     Athlete     United States
Alleyne Francique          Track & Field (M)     400m     Grenada
Lolo Jones                  Track & Field (W)     100m Hurdles     United States
Muna Lee                  Track & Field (W)     100m & 200m     United States
Miko Malberg                Swimming (M)     50m Free     Estonia
Jessica Ohanaja             Track & Field (W)     100m Hurdles     Nigeria
Isa Phillips                     Track & Field (M)     400m Hurdles     Jamaica
Richard Thompson        Track & Field (M)     100m     Trinidad & Tobago
Nickiesha Wilson          Track & Field (W)     400m Hurdles     Jamaica

*Butch Pierre, long time Men's Basketball assistant who led the team after Brady's firing, has accepted an assistants job at OSU. Unofficial sources say he left because of differences with new coach Trent Johnson and some idiot on the radio started a rumor that Pierre was the reason we lost J'Mison Morgan. Both Johnson and Pierre deny the rumor.

*The baseball team has extended their streak to 14 after an impressive 6-4 win at Auburn. I say impressive because they clearly looked a little tired still from the 15 inning marathon that ended wednesday morning. With another win today, and some help from around the league, they will clinch the SEC West title.

Do you remember the micro machines guy?  You know....the fast talking guy who resembled the real life version of Super Mario.  I feel I need him to do a recap of everything that has taken place since I last wrote any type of blog, or hosted a Geaux Show episode.

Alright, so in the beginning of January, LSU became the first team to win two BCS Championships.  During the winter months the LSU men's basketball team struggled mightily in SEC play, leading to the firing of John Brady (way overdue), while the women's team went to a 5th straight Final Four, only to have their hearts ripped out again by eventual national champion, Tennessee. 

The men would go on to replace Brady with Trent Johnson, formerly of Stanford.  Not a home run hire, but someone who should be able to come in and do some good things.  Given the current state in which men's basketball dwells, I don't think the LSU die-hards could ask for more. 

Now in the spring, the baseball team has shown improvement throughout Paul Manieri's second year as head coach.  The post-season is still within reach for the young baseball Tigers. 

Spring football came and went without much of a hitch.  Those who many thought would step up in the spring did, and some others were not allowed to participate.

The "others" to which I was referring is of course Ryan Perrilloux.  Former major league baseball pitcher Steve Howe didn't get as many second chances as Perrilloux.  Incident after incident over the past year has led to speculation among fans as to whether he would be on the team come the beginning of fall practice.  This past Friday, Les Miles finally decided enough was enough.  After failing to meet unspecified team rules, Miles was left no choice but to dismiss Perrilloux from the LSU football team. 

So, the LSU football Tigers must now move on, minus Ryan Perrilloux.  The logical LSU fan has been preparing for this moment since Perrilloux signed his letter of intent a little more than three years ago.  That may sound harsh, but it is the truth.

The good news is that the cupboard isn't exactly bare.  The bad news is that there is little to no game experience to work with at the QB position.  But alas, there is a silver lining.  How about five starters returning on the offensive line.  A slu of running backs who all had valuable touches in big games this past year.  And a receiving corps that will not skip a beat since the one person who is gone from that group, Early Doucet, missed half the season due to injury.

It would also be unfair of me to focus primarily on how this effects the LSU football team.  Let us not forget how this effects Mr. Perrilloux.  A young man who had an outstanding opportunity and was given chance after chance to straighten out, is now facing the reality of finishing his college career at a Division 1-AA school. 

Who knows what would have become of Ryan Perrilloux had he been able to adhere to team rules and lead one of the top teir football programs in the nation for the next two years?  Would he have eventually become a top draft choice?  Would he have led the Tigers to a 3rd BCS Title?  Would he have emerged as a Heisman candidate in a couple of years?  All questions that will never be answered.  Not just for us as fans, but I would like to think he is somewhere pondering these same things right now.  Then again, it may not matter to him.  Otherwise, he would have straightened his act out already.

 

 

Mike VI was let out into his cage this morning, and Crip was on the scene. More pics in this gallery.

Update: Mike playing in the water

What are you doing at work!? Don't you know theres a game today?! You'd better be wearing purple and gold.

LSU reports that Mike VI (Roscoe) is on campus and has begun his acclimation process. Vet school officals are not guaranteeing his presence at any games this year but they do say he's a great tiger to work with.

On a personal note, Geaux Show host/stat boy Starvin' Marvin is now a proud papa. His daughter was born early Tuesday morning and both mom and baby are doing fine.

Makin' your Thursday a little better.

Enjoy this now classic bit of awesomeness



Wee and the crew will be taping this year's LSU season preview live this saturday @ 2 p.m. and we'll be testing our new streaming equipment. Be here!

LSU Officials confirmed that a new tiger (not pictured) has been selected and that the tiger will be moved to LSU in August.

After arriving, the new tiger will undergo a 2-week quarantine and will then be formally introduced as Mike VI.

The tiger’s age, whereabouts, and origin are being withheld for security reasons.

Source 2theadvocate.com

I was hoping this wouldn't happen. Pokey's Lawyers now claim that LSU forced her to resign and are seeking $900,000 (the last 2 years of her contract plus damages) in compensation. Lawyers for LSU deny the claim, saying that the university learned of allegations of sexual relationships between Chatman and former players who were then on the team and handled it properly and that the university will honor “the terms of the resignation, but no more." Looks like we'll have a court case to keep us occupied this summer.

The Advocate is reporting that Mike V, the 17 year old live mascot of the Tigers, has offically entered the 1st stage of his retirement. This means the student mascot will no long attempt to get Mike to roar during pregame, though they will still bring him to the game and he can roar if he feels like it. This is the first step in Mike's retirement, which could last years. David Baker, Mike’s V’s personal veterinarian, said he has slowed down over the past 18 months, losing weight and muscle. But he still has a “good attitude� and that there is no reason to start thinking of getting a new tiger.

Photo from MikeTheTiger.com