And shape our opinions? Does it cloud our thoughts and push reality farther back in our minds? Can some of us actually be made to believe what others think even though deep down we may know it is not exactly true or is unproven?

I'm asking this because I believe it is one of the main reasons that many Tigah fans are upset even though we are now 5-1 and possibly on our way to a great, great season. How much of what we hear over and over again, mostly from the press, effects the way we think and shapes our expectations as fans?

I see posts all the time stating how stupid and biased reporters and analyst are, but then I see people quoting or repeating these same guys over and over again to validate arguments and to set up/give reasons for expectations.

How many times have we seen posts by most of us claiming that we have the number one WR corps in the country, or the best tackle tandem, top 5 dline, or a top 5 Oline, or the best RB's, etc. I truely believe that while some of these things may be true, especially when we had Alley in the mix at RB and with Kyle and Claude, that many or most times this speculation is based on unproven hype and is not necessarily true.

Take our WR corp's for example, these guys have shown some prowess but then again they've also shown that none of them are as great as predicted, They drop mant balls and run imprecise routes. They're getting better but still have a long ways to go to be the best in the SEC much less in the nation. Our oline is good, but they are a long way from being the best or even a top 5 unit. I see way too many plays get stuffed at or behind the line of scrimage and this is mostly the same unit that allowed a lot of sacks last season. They are also getting better and Saturday's performance where they did not allow a sack may be a turning point in the season.

We've all heard the statements in 2003 made by the media a hundred times that Mauck was not asked to make plays, only to control the game and not make mistakes, but in reality he did make a lot of plays but also made mistakes, especially in the bigger games. But then I see hundreds of posts repeating what the media said about Mauck and I have to be truthful, I've bought into it as well until I actually look at the numbers and really think back to the big games in 2003.

We've all seen numerous statements that LSU has the most talent this side of Cal. but then the evidence doesn't seem to always back that up. Our fans have these huge expectations and really believe that when we line up vs Auburn, Tenn, Florida, and hopefully UGA that we should just dominate them on both sides of the ball. I feel otherwise. I saw an extremely talented AU team on Saturday with a great RB, a fine QB with a world of talent that is going to get much better, a WR's corp that is just as athletic and much more polished, DB's that can cover and run, LB's that are very actice, a very good, athletic oline, etc.

Florida has been right there with LSU in getting bigtime recruits, so has UGA and UT. We're not going to ever be able to just run away and hide in the SEC, although I do believe we will have some magical seasons where we are the best team and one of the top 5 in Amercia, but it will always take hard work, luck, players playing up to their abilites for the most part, making key plays, good coaching and great schemes.

We expect perfection from these kids even though there isn't a one of us who has ever had a perfect day and we don't have someone trying to beat our skulls in.

This is what makes college football great IMO and it is the reason most of us watch. Because it is a struggle for the most part with an ocassional steamrolling of an opponent. It's the matchup of strengths and the way the coaches and players adjust, gameplan, make plays, fall on their faces, overcome adversity, etc. that draws us in. If it were an easy game we would all be out working in the yard and getting ready for Holloween on crisp Autumn afternoons.

Just some ramblings on my part, but this has been on my mind for quite some time.

I agree and have thought this for some time too. How many times do we read about how much better the Saints D will be.......or the new simplified offense will make things better. They looked sharp in practice.

Or Highsmith is a madman out there.......I used to hear how Ken Hollis was like a pro player. Yeah, everybody's a SuperBowl champ in shorts and pads but when lined up against Tenn.'s O-line, it's a difefrent story. The media absolutely contributes to the disappointment around the Saints......they get everybody feeling good and then when you really see the team and how bona-fide sorry they are, it makes the anger from fans that much worse.

There were people who used to say when we were getting beat by Florida 55-0 that we had a smuch talent as them.....they listened to too many recruiting experts. We didn't have anywhere close to the talent of Florida but listening to Ott and Hannigriff, we were getting bluechips...........

This brings up the big distinction between talent and potential. LSU has a TON of potential, and it's being realized, just at a slower pace than people would prefer. Sure, they stack up well in speed, and sometimes in strength. But football is not track and field. It's not running the fastest or throwing a bowling ball the farthest. Execution plays a critical role, and LSU is hit or miss on execution. Their talent has taken them far this year, but it's also been a limitation.

It's a long season, and there are a TON of programs out there that should be much more frustrated than LSU with a 5-1 record, and three wins over Top 20 teams.

I'm not upset about being 5-1.
I'm very happy about the win and the way our defense and special teams played.
I'm very happy we didn't have the stupid mistakes such as turnovers and penalties.
The only thing I have said is that I was disappointed in the playcalling offensively.
I don't want to go any further than that, I've said enough already.

Very good post.

...also very true.

We get so wrapped up in our recruiting classes that we keep sticking multiple stars on kids who have been in our programs three years and are still working out their "potential" issues.

5-1 is pretty damn good, especially with a new coaching staff. My guess is a "Tennessee game" would not happen to this team now.

As an outsider, I do have a comment that speaks to the chemistry on the LSU team. JR is an exceptional athlete, but he appears to be neither a great passer or a great runner... and I believe that "disconnect" makes you look inefficient on offense. He appears more streaky than consistent... and that is reflecting on the offensive flow. It is not a good thing.

He's definitely inconsistent. What I like about him is that his "good streaks" seem to happen during the most crucial situations.

It's called "buying into the hype"

I hate reading guys on here that still praise our WRs. "So talented, so fast. Why doesn't Jimbo unleash Russell & let him throw to our amazing receivers?"

Recruiting stars don't mean jack once you get on the field. These players aren't producing. Skyler & Davis are the only ones having decent years and they haven't been anything special. We were hyped to have on the top 5 best WR corps in the nation, but I question whether we are in the top 5 of the SEC.

So many top 5 list out there. AU supposedly had one of the best corps in the nation also. I thought that the WRs would be our chance to steal the game. Drops galore by both sides, receivers not blocking, geez, I thought I was back at the 1-A High School game I attended Friday night. Though both sides had their moments, Top 5 it was not. Yes, I swallowed the hype hook, line, and sinker. It happens when you can't be there to see it with your own two eyes.

People are so upset with being 5-1. Yet when you really get down to thinking about it, that one loss has little effect on our season overall. If we win out, we likely play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. If we were 6-0 right now then guess what.... We win out and we likely play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. USC and Texas were not going to be passed by LSU in the rankings, BCS standings, etc etc.

On the other hand, if LSU has a shot to make it to the NC game, not much "more" has to happen than if we were undefeated. We still need either USC or Texas to lose. We still need to beat the unbeaten/high ranked SEC teams. I suspect a unbeaten LSU would have passed a unbeaten Va Tech. With that being said, the only added things are that we also need Virginia Tech and UCLA to each lose a game -- which should not be a problem.

With all of that being said, no amount of talk can replace the sick feeling I had in my gut while standing in front of my seat at the end of that Tennessee game. However, if ever a loss was not so bad for the overall goals of a team, then that was one.

Not only that, but that game seems to have taught Pelini and Miles what kind of defense you MUST play in the SEC. If not for that, we may have been stuck with watching LSU play that soft zone for several more games, if not for a year or longer.

I am happy to see that this coaching staff is not stubborn and set in their ways (like SabanFan is). They have steadily adapted their schemes as the season has progressed.

:geauxtige