Look at the garbage nonconference schedule in the first two years of the Twelve Game Era. Out of 8 games there is only 1 top opponent. That is ridiculous. We can sleepwalk to bowl eligibility each year with this extra garbage game. 2006 SEC West Auburn Away Alabama Home Arkansas Away Ole Miss Home Mississippi State Home SEC East Florida Away Tennessee Away Kentucky Home Non-Conference Arizona Home Northern Illinois Home Tulane Home UL-Lafayette Home 2007 SEC West Auburn Home Alabama Away Arkansas Home Ole Miss Away Mississippi State Away SEC East Florida Home South Carolina Home Kentucky Away Non-Conference Virginia Tech Home (assuming they don’t back out again) Southern Miss Home Tulane Superdome Louisiana Tech Home
Re: Look at the garbage nonconference schedule in the first two years of the Twelve G Northern Illinois has been a pretty respectable program in recent years. I like that matchup and look forward to it. Arizona at home may not be a gimme by that time. Stoops should have things turned around by then. Tulane is nice to see back on the schedule. Some of the most fun I've had in Tiger Stadium was during LSU/Tulane games. USL? Stop it Skip. Please. A game against Southern Miss never looks bad, considering their reputation as giant killers over the years. Should be an interesting matchup. Virgina Tech.. hmmm.. not holding my breath waiting for this one to happen.. Tulane at the Dome - could be fun! La Tech? Stop it Skip. Please.
It could be worse. Minnesota is adding a rotation of North Dakota, South Dakota State, Montana State, and Northern iowa. Kentucky is looking to hook up Murray State, Eastern and Western Kentucky, and Morehead State. Team such as SMU (based solely on their pre-1986 history) are actually going to Sun Belt campuses to play ball. We're not going to see SEC, Big XII, Big 10, ACC, or Pac-10 teams going out to load up their non-conference schedules with killer 12th games. LSU does have games with both Arizona's, Virginia Tech ( if, as you pointed out, they don't back out again). To LSU's credit, we are playing the in-state teams. I do not see Alabama or Auburn rushing out to sign UAB or Troy to deals. Instead, they are combing the Southern Conference for games (remember our App State affair is because Houston backed out of a contract). Ole Miss and State are not hauling down to Hattiesburg for USM or to J-State. Arkansas isn't looking to add Arkansas State for that extra game. It's a tough nut, but the 12th game is revenue and a step toward defusing a potential playoff. The "power" D-1 schools will not run out for the glamour games when there are teams, such as Tulane, that will do just about anything to get a game.
Garbage??? GARBAGE?!?! 2006 Northern Illinois- very respectable and competitive MAC team. Been bowling the last two seasons. NOT A GIMME by any means. Tulane- they no longer suck every single year. They've made a commitment to getting their athletic program back to respectability and it's starting to pay dividends. They just can't seem to find consistent success; they went 12-0 in 1998, then kinda stumbled a bit, went bowling in 2002, then stumbled again. You just can't tell. Certainly can't overlook them, not with the history we have (I don't want any repeats of what happened in 1982). Arizona- They suck now. But it wouldn't surprise me if Mike Stoops turns them around. They were great once, they can be again. UL-Lafayette- Yeah, they are a creampuff. But better an in-state creampuff that'll generate a little local interest and sell out Tiger Stadium than, say, Buffalo or Utah State and have 4K to 8K empty seats. 2007 Virginia Tech- They can't back out now. If they do, no one will ever schedule them for a big-time series ever again. And they are a contender usually every year, so I think it'll be a doozy. Southern Miss- For years, they were the non-BCS team everyone feared and no one wanted to play. They are good every season. They will also sell out their allotment of tickets and bring some fans. Come to this game; you won't be disappointed (unless we lose, which very well could happen). Tulane- see above. Louisiana Tech- was starting to acquire the giant-killer reputation of Southern Miss, but their current coach, a first-class idiot, screwed that up. Until he gets fired, they are nothing to be overly concerned about. Again, refer to my point about UL-Lafayette. Who else are you going to play?
Re: Look at the garbage nonconference schedule in the first two years of the Twelve G Dick Tomey doesn't coach AZ anymore, that would be Stoops who seems to be turning the program around. He even beat ASU last year.
It looks like Northern Illinois may be moved to 2011. http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=9352 - "LSU, however, is in the process of being moved to 2011, Collins (NIU Associate Athletics Director) said."
Northern Illinois is a joke. I can see where Tulane is respectable b/c of the rivalry and what not. But NI? LSU will beat them by 30 easy. It'll be a close game until kickoff. Some of those other smaller schools will pose more of a challenge, but LSU should beat them.
Remember that "creampuff" team we had a little trouble with last year, Troy? Only beat them 24-20, you know who I'm talking about? NIU beat them by two touchdowns in the Silicon Valley Bowl at the end of the year. 2003 upset victims included Maryland and Alabama. We'd better not take them lightly.
