With all the USC and UGA lovemaking going on around the country, I’m starting to think LSU will be forced to expand the football locker room in order to fit all the “bulletin board material” by the time the season starts. Hype and media bias has never gotten to me before, but after going through my Saturday morning routine of browsing all the major sports pages on the web, I’ve started to believe that my computer is a Georgia fan (call Stephen King, this could get interesting). Without a doubt, USC and UGA deserve a ton of media attention and they both have exceptional teams right now. However, the tone and the audacity of some of these writers is taking its toll on me. How in the world has LSU been left out of so many of these discussions? To make matters worse, many of the writers I use to hold in high regard (well, high regard as far as sports writers go) are diving head first onto this hype slip-and-slide without any water. Where is the one brave soul who will write about the Tigers? Maybe he will be in Athens for the game and his press credentials won’t be wasted on another Pollack story. Below are the stories I found today in making my rounds on the internet with some lines from the articles followed by my thoughts… Sportsline.com (CBS) a Dennis Dodd story boasts the headline: Troubled Georgia Program Ready for Another Good Season (insert head shaking). “Georgia won the 2002 SEC title and has been to the last two conference title games.” --Unbelievable, we should build a statue – I’ll round up the pigeons. “Given the black cloud hanging over this program…” --Yeah, black clouds make 9 players sell their SEC Championship rings on ebay and causes other players to smoke weed. On foxsports.com Matt Hayes has an article titled, UGA Will Top USC in Orange Bowl. “Pollack was holding court recently at the SEC media days, with giddy hacks hanging on to his every colorful word. Someone mentioned he was noticeably thinner this time around, and Pollack said he cut fried foods out of his diet "to look good on the beach." Yeah, well, the nearest beach is more than three hours away.” --Puke on myself. Did this guy not see the SEC CG? The UGA defense looked like Omaha Beach. “There's no way around it: If Georgia truly is a national title contender, it has to learn how to beat Florida. The past two years, Georgia clearly had been the better team and lost. In fact, the Dogs have lost 13 of the past 14 in the World's Largest Hangover.” --Uh, what? There is no scenario that will have them playing UF twice! Remember that team from Baton Rouge? Anyone? “USC, meanwhile, must learn to win when it is getting every team's best shot.” --Is there a team on their schedule capable of taking a “best shot”? “When Richt arrived at Georgia in 2001, he found a team and a university desperate for change and direction -- and, yes, the evolution to an elite level. The carpet on the main floor of Georgia's football building is adorned with the famous "G" logo every 15 feet. From the day he took over, no one -- no player, coach, administrative staffer or janitor -- was allowed to walk on a "G," only around it. It's pretty simple, really. No one walks on Georgia.” --This is too much. Right, no one walks on Georgia. Remember that Justin Vincent kid? He did some running on Georgia didn’t he? MSNBCSports.com – Michael Ventre “Yet there is a gaggle of college football teams preening for the BCS’s attention. The Sooners will be mighty. Ditto for Michigan and Ohio State. Notre Dame may finally be on the rise again. Florida, Florida State and Miami will make themselves heard. So will Georgia. Teams that were slightly off the championship radar last year, such as Iowa, Oregon, Auburn and Kansas State, could make noise.” --Is this real? “The Trojans open with Virginia Tech in Landover, Md., then later get Colorado State, BYU and Notre Dame as non-conference opponents who are impressive enough to poll voters, but not so formidable that they will snuff out their championship dreams.” --No comment. I can't go on like I wanted to. Why is this pissing me off so much?
It is kind of frustrating that very little respect is given to our program after what was shown last year but dont worry, it will come. We havent been the model of consistency over the years so we arent the first thing that comes to writers/commentators minds when talking about these things. As long as Nick Saban keeps doing what he's doing the day will come when LSU will be rolling off the tip of all their tongues like the Oklahomas, Georgia's, USuCks and the rest. In the meantime lets just make sure they eat their words! :cuss:
Not a knock on Randall or the others at QB for LSU, but outside the LSU circle here, the media looks at the loss of Mauck as HUGE , a hell of alot more than we do. Until someone takes charge of this team and proves they can get it done, they will continue to doubt the Tigers. All of their rankings stop, with the loss of Matt.
Yes, I don't think it's as much of a lack of respect as most Tiger fans think, as it is losing a proven starting QB like Mauck. No he was'nt the greatest, but you can't argue with his win/loss ratio. If UGA would have lost David Greene, they would be getting talked about like LSU, anywhere from 3 to 7. JMO
it's just preseason hype and opinions. Doesn't mea a damn thing and not worth getting worked up. The loss of Mauck and the tough road schedule are logical resons not to hype LSU's chances.
Your Top 5 in every single poll released...... Your #1 in the SEC in the coaches poll. Their is love for LSU.....not sure why so many think they are bashing LSU when they are Top 5 in everything known to college football. Just because UGA is ahead in "some" polls is not disrespect.
Respect was probably the wrong word to use. I think we are respected but the point I was making, as was BB, is that we get very little chatter in these columns and write-ups. It all seems to focus on other schools but the point about Mauck is well taken...I think it has merit but its still an influence that we havent been in this position year in and year out like some of these others teams they constantly hype.
Thankfully the season will be starting soon to bring all of the speculation to an end. We'll finally get to sort it out on the field. if they cann get through the Aub, Georgia, and Florida games undefeated they'll get more than their share of attention. I can't wait! :geaux:
I really think had Hill stayed for his senior season, our ranking would have been #2 in both polls behind USC. The 2 complaints these pollsters have is losing 2 substantial players on the D-line and our QB/WR positions. Losing only Lavalais, in these people's minds, would have ensured LSU dominating as much if not more on D this coming year. It would be really interesting had Mauck stayed if LSU would have been #1 over USC. It would have been awfully close.
It's all about the QB position in those guys eyes. Every one of the top teams lost very important players but the others have their QB coming back ,we don't.
