I didn't like Saban when he was at Michigan State, partially because of the way the media portrayed him. The inability to name a quarterback prior to 2000 season was annoying and after the UAB screw up, I was questioning the hire completely. It would real easy to jump on the seemingly endless QB controversey every August and the 1-2 record on Hail Mary's, but if Nick Saban had not coached at LSU, Les Miles would never have taken the job. Prior to the 2001 season Saban came to New Orleans and spoke to the alumni chapter. A question about the Tulane game was asked; there was always thae uneasiness of playing the Pond Scum because it seemed they always managed to play just squirrelly enough to give LSU fits and nearly win. Saban became deadly serious and said no way Tulane would win BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BETTER TEAM. After a stunned hush (mainly because a coach would have the cajones to say that with the New Orleans media present), the place went nuts. Saban put a backbone in LSU cockiness. Miles took over and faced a statewide feeling LSU was a house of cards: no Nick, return to mediocre football. Miles took the only visable sign he had, recruiting, to show LSU was not missing a beat. Folks in Louisiana know LSU is still a monster. By October 22, the numbcajones with the national press who are doubting Les, will suddenly realize that the beat goes on. Les Miles and LSU are going make noise for many, many years. We will look at 9-3 as a bad year, and that, as Martha says, is a good thing.
One area I think the contact will improve is the receivers. Sometimes I think that's why they weren't always catching the ball because of lack of contact in practice. I know that may sound a bit off; however, getting used to getting your jock strapped in practice prepares them for holding onto the ball in practice. They must focus more knowing they could be knocked to the ground rather than playing flag football until game time. Who knows? We'll see this fall.
I might be off but wasn't Bear Bryant known for some pretty rough and tough practices? I don't think there is a right or wrong here, just coaching style.
I say let them go at it. It'll toughen them up and the games want be such a culture shock. These aren't pro's, as much as we expect them to play like it, they are still learning the game. In the Corps we used to say, " The more you bleed in peacetime, the less you'll bleed in war". If someone can't hang, oh well, there is always someone else looking to step up. How many stars have been made down there just because the guy in front of them got hurt? The weak will fall by the wayside. JMHO.
Shyrone Carey had a knee injury...So did Joseph Addai...Alley Broussard had problems with concussions...Michael Clayton tweaked an ankle which kept him from playing more on both sides of the ball...Jack Hunt also hurt his knee and missed the UF game...Chad Lavalais played the ENTIRE YEAR with a seriously bad ankle and foot... We had a HUGE rash of injuries at tailback...How can you forget how Justin Vincent came on at the end?
Holy crap, this is football, not softball, or curling or any other crap sport. People get hurt when they play football. And teams win when they're tough. So when they put the ball down, CLM is going to have them ready to "friggin' play!"
i think whatever we risk in injuries will balance out in terms of toughness. maybe there will be one or two injuries, who knows. but it ain't exactly like we're short on the depth charts right now boys.
i think this discussion is pretty a moot point considering that practice is done differently(from what I have seen) in the spring than it is in the fall. I would think that right now Les is trying to evaluate players, thus the reason for full-contact. When he has to implement a scheme like in the fall, I don't know if the practices will be run the same.
