If anyone listened to Saban's show tonight, what I got out of the show is that he is confident the team can play well and win this weekend, but that it will still be a difficult task because athletically Florida poses more problems than any team LSU's played this year (his words). But with every question asked concerning Florida, Saban answered in a confident (but not matter-of-fact confidence) way. I come away from the show that Saban is happy with the way the team is playing to this point. He was very happy with the ULL win and the first 3 offensive drives, and mentioned he challenged the players before the game that if they played as well as they could, it could result in wins on 10/5 and 10/12. Saban expressed confidence that schematically, they would be able to block on offense what Florida will throw at them defensively. He did point out that it doesn't mean Florida wouldn't be able to dictate the action because they are fast and strong. Saban said anyone who thinks Ole Miss got lucky against Florida is off base. He mentioned that every time Florida has lost in the last 3 years, it's been to a team that's played them toughly, and it's how he feels the Tigers will have to play to win this weekend. To beat Florida you have to hit them hard, and he mentioned Florida won the last 2 years vs. LSU because they were the harder hitting team. He mentioned teams can lose to Florida before they even make the trip if they don't go there with the mindset you need to win the game. He says you have to have the mindset that you want to go there. Also, to realize that the field is 100x53 like any other field. Saban actually said that in preparing for Florida, he's talked little to the players about Florida at first, and instead focused on what the players need to do on their end to do well. They need to be mentally focused, and they need to worry about controlling the man across from them. Saban said he's hopeful that because many of the players have competed in some very tough situations, that it can carry over to this week. He mentioned a few years ago how his Michigan State team had to play Notre Dame after Notre Dame had lost a big game, and how Notre Dame brought in the Gipper or someone to give a team a pep talk, and how no one gave Michigan State a chance, but that Michigan State still won because once you take the field, it's just you against them, and then you concentrate on the things you need to be doing to win the game. Saban said Mauch will have a very difficult time this week. He expects Mauch to make mistakes and bad plays, but that he wants Mauch to be able to rebound from them and continue to lead the team. Saban said LSU has not been a very good passing team at times, but that's it's not all Mauch's fault. He said Mauch's been hit way too much. He said Mauch can't carry the whole offensive burden on his shoulders. The running game, which Saban is very happy with, has to put LSU in a position where LSU & Mauch can pass the ball. He realizes LSU will see a lot of 8 man fronts. He said LSU won't be able to use a 8 man fron as much as Florida because Florida can pass so well. He emphasized how important it is for the defense to put pressure on Grossman and hit him, and that it's what Ole Miss did well, and what other teams that have played and beat Florida have done well when they've won, pressure their QB. His exact words were "Ole Miss hit their quaterback hard." Saban mentioned he felt Toefield got hurt because he has a bad habit of carrying the ball low. He was that direct. He did also say (exact words) that "we hope Toe can be back for the last game, the SEC championship, and the bowl game." While Saban didn't add a "if we make it that far," what he said was very interesting because it did get some cheers from the crowd, but IMO it should be construed if LSU were able to make it that far. Saban was asked about the most improved players on the team, and he mentioned (in this order) Marquise Hill, Corey Webster, and Andrew Whitworth. He also said two of his favorite players are Norman Lejeune and Randall Gay. He said they represent the university as well as any players they have, they are fine young men, and that Lejeune was willing to sacrifice for the team because he was linebacker who was asked to play safety, and that now he's playing as well as anyone. Lastly, Saban said that when he gets mad on the sidelines, he sometimes wishes 5 seconds later that he wouldn't have gotten so upset, and that he's glad the players don't yell at him the same way he does at them sometimes (to which everyone laughed). He did say when he gets mad, it's never over a dropped pass or a physical mistake, but over mental mistakes which the player has been coached repeatedly in practice not to make, or a discipline mistake.
Thanks for the report, I didn't get to hear the show. I did see "Inside LSU Sports", and on that show he spoke of Toe retuning "if not for the end of the season then at least by a bowl game...if we are lucky enough to be invited". This makes sense because there is a whole month between the last game and the bowl game.
BAMA TALK SHOW I am in Tenn and I pick up a Alabama Sports Radio up here in the Afternoons. Somebody called into the Show and Asked about some games this week. Which is what they do then the guy asked about LSU vs Fla and he said he would not pick that game till Friday he would have a better feel for it then and that the listeners would understand on Friday. My question is is their something going on that I do not know at Fla or LSU that might effect the game is somebody hurt or what? ITS SO LOUD YOUR DEAF
Thanks! It's good to get an 'unofficial transcript' of his shows, thanks for all of the info... We are not exactly bombarded with LSU news here in Denver. We do get the Ed McAffrey Show, the Mike Shanahan Show, and the Sonny Lubick Show on Sunday and Monday nights... The Gary Barnett show is on right after the Farm Report on Saturday Mornings (thanks to the BIGGEST fair weather fans I have ever seen...When the Buffs lose, college ball is over for the year, no matter if it's August or December.)
