Jennings Thanks Giving Thread

This may be a voice in the forum wilderness, but I want to give thanks for Anthony Jennings and all he has done for LSU. AJ, thanks!!! Many of the wiser, silent LSU fans, along with your coaches and teammates deeply appreciate what you do for LSU. You've taken a bullet for LSU and too many don't appreciate that fact. You've provided steady leadership at a crucial position, in the process risking your confidence and growth, while taking abuse from so called "fans."

I liken this to a battlefield scenario: The general screwed up from his safe HQ and put his troops in a situation they shouldn't have been in, behind enemy lines, outnumbered, under-supplied and without a top officer to lead them. Then of the handful of officers they have, one deserts and the rest are incapacitated in the fight. So a young private has to step up, shoulder the load and bring his men home. Now the brass had their eye on this young man all along and thought he might be one to bring along slowly and groom for future leadership. But the plan was never to just throw him into the fire

Gary Crowton recently suggested J. Lee's confidence might have been permanently damaged after he was thrown to the wolves as a freshman, forced to unexpectedly start following the RP debacle. Maybe, just maybe, JL could have been a LSU great if he had been brought along at a normal pace, being groomed to take over about his junior year. Instead Les and LSU had no option except to start a freshman in a brutally tough league. JL had to shoulder that load and those expectations. But his "friends" (the fans) quickly turned on him. And later would turn on JJ his replacement.

Now AJ is in a similar situation. He is out there taking a bullet for LSU. But those he is fighting for boo and badmouth him (the LSU "faithful"). Its all on this young man's shoulders. The expectations of the entire Tiger nation. He has the added pressure of knowing there is nobody senior to relieve him. Harris has been a deer in the headlights in games. AJ has thrown some beautiful deep passes. Trey Quinn dropped two easy passes that could have won the Baja game and given AJ a much needed confidence boost & dose of fan gratitude.

I suspect Les was keeping Harris out because he knows it would be a train wreck that could permanently damage Harris' confidence. So in a way AJ is the sacrificial lamb, who takes the bullet, allowing Harris to be brought along more slowly, a luxury he himself was not afforded. AJ had one start prior to this year. He's surrounded with rookie skill players, with all of last year's skill players making noises in the NFL this year. Les should have had a junior or senior QB ready to go this year. AJ should have had one more year of grooming.

So AJ, I believe I voice the sentiment of many LSU fans by saying thank you! Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for shouldering the heavy load. Thank you for bailing out a coaching staff that somehow failed to have a junior/senior ready to take over for Mettenberger. There are many of us who much appreciate what you've done for the Tigers.

A happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

 

Great post, happy thanksgiving to all.

 

I want to thank the guy/girl that washes the jock straps after games. What a thankless yet important job that no one seems to notice. Thank you Mr jock strap washer. May your washing machine never break, so you don't have to wash them by hand.

 

Apparently only AJ's mom worries about what fans think/say on forums.

 

I've called for more playing time for Harris but I think AJ is a great young man and a great ambassador for LSU. He gives it his all whenever he is on the field. I don't blame him for the offensive ineptitude. The coaches make the personnel decisions and call the plays. I wish AJ only the best. Hope he tears it up tonight.

 

I'm thankful for the INTs. At least if wasn't a pick six.

 

As much as I want to hate AJ, I have to agree. It has to be a confidence buster to graciously accept the criticism that young man has received. The blame, IMO, should be directed at CLM for not being able to develop a single qb since he's been in charge. What, 10 years. Mett was in others hands the first 2 years so I can't give CLM full credit.

 

The only credit for Mett miles gets is that he held him back too long too, sadly same is happening with harris

 

Dude's maybe he will use this shit to lift himself to be a better Junior. He's still young.

 

Magee will be one of the highest tailback picks in the NFL draft even though they don't take em high anymore. You can't ask for a better team mate and football soldier for your team.