LSU Atlanta

LSU Fightin’ Tigers vs.
Tulane Green Ripple

Another thrashing last Saturday. Ouch. Mr. Spock, please perform the Vulcan Mind Meld and make me forget. Next.

Let’s start on a more serious note to help put things into perspective this week. Mikey’s been around LSU football for awhile and the sky is not falling.

First, it’s clear that Les Miles was not mincing words when he repeatedly said this was not the same team as last year’s and not to put unrealistic expectations on them. It’s never a good thing to rely on giving on-the-job training to your starting redshirt frosh quarterback. Ryan Perriloux left a vacuum and we should have expected mistakes and growing pains from a first year starter. And Jarrett Lee, for as much upside as he has, better learn how to read and check down or he will be sat down. But with the dysfunctional defense that we have fielded this year, Tim Tebow could not manufacture enough offense to prevent a couple of losses to the top teams in this conference.

The 38 points we posted on the board Saturday should be enough to win an SEC game 98% of the time. So even if Georgia’s margin of victory equaled the 14 gift points off Jarrett Lee’s two interceptions returned for TDs, our real problem lies on the other side of the ball.

It’s clear that we have a young D, especially beyond the line, and Mike refuses to believe that the problem is a drop in talent or simply the inexperience. The major problem appears to be the scheme and/or lack of proper fundamentals in execution, and much of the burden for making it work comes down to coaching. Miles made a mistake promoting two guys from within to share defensive coordinator duties after the departure of Bo Pellini for Nebraska. He tried to be loyal and retain some staff consistency but it simply has not worked. Don’t expect knee-jerk firings a la Auburn or Clemson -we ain’t in that kind of trouble- but we can expect some more tweaking now and some kind of staff adjustment after the season. If we show improvement, Miles may not go shopping but one guy has to emerge as "the" coordinator.

We should also expect to finish the year with a good record and a decent bowl trip, not that it makes us feel much better in the Land of Red Clay Disease. But it’s important to have some perspective and appreciate the incredible success LSU football has enjoyed in the new millennium under two very different style coaches.

Keep in mind that is has been rare for teams to be national champions two years in a row. Then, look at our own recent history and see that LSU lost five games the year before they won the first BCS crystal ball and lost three games the season after. Also appreciate that Les Miles has won10 or more games back to back to back since then, and unprecedented feat at LSU. The Hat represents the University with class and dignity, and continues to reel in great recruiting classes that bode well for the future. Miles isn’t a stubborn person who doesn’t admit mistakes and refuses to make necessary changes. We have much to be thankful about, and much to be hopeful for in the future.

So, yeah, be concerned but don’t lose perspective. We have a long way to go this year and still have goals to achieve, and that includes having the opportunity of ruining Bama’s BCS hopes, stay alive and hope that Auburn rises up to the Tide and we still get a trip to Atlanta in December, and that we will be bowl bound yet again and prepare for a good run with a very seasoned and talent-laden team next year.

And if that doesn’t make you feel better, just remember:
YOU COULD BE A TULANE FAN!

My friend Angelo the Tiger likes to share the above photo he took of his children to express the generational disdain felt by many LSU fans towards traditional in-state “rival” Tulane. Hate Toolame early and often.

In case your aren’t aware, the meeting of the two schools is known as “The Battle for the Rag,” referring to “a flag that was created in 1940 to foster good sportsmanship, most likely in response to growing tension between fans of the two teams that eventually escalated into a riot after Tulane's victory in 1938.”

Named after the song “Tiger Rag,” the original was reportedly destroyed in a fire at the Tulane campus, although rumors persist that a Greenie fraternity stole the rag to keep since Tulane so rarely earns the honor of possessing it on the football field.

While there is a storied history of animosity between the two schools, it’s hard for many Tiger fans to work up a lather as intense as in the older times when Tulane was a member of the SEC. And unless you live in New Orleans or New Jersey (where much of its student population seems to hail from) it’s hard to find a Tulane fan to talk smack with. But if you search real hard around the Superdome on a Tulane game day (which evokes images of looking under toadstools for fairies) Greenie fans are easy to identify:

Seriously, attendance for Tulane football games has been so anemic for years that they are in danger of being booted out of our NCAA division if they don’t get sales up to at least 15,000 per game. That’s one of the motivating factors for Tulane lobbying (okay, let’s just say it…begging ) Skip Bertman to renew the suspended series with a ten year deal so they could use LSU game ticket sales to up their average. Their lack of support has been a problem for many years, so don’t buy the “Katrina” argument for a second. Mikey remembers back in the ‘90s when Popeye’s gave away a Tulane game ticket with purchase of Famous Fried Chicken and sales actually dropped during the promotion.

But never fear. As long as there is Tulane, there will be Tigers like Mikey and Angelo who will "feel the hate."

Prediction: Let’s not discuss Xs and Os, personnel or strategy. Tulane is simply in for a beatdown. Last year the Tigers came out flat and let the Green Slime hang around for one half. I superstitiously blame those putrid “special” uniforms created for the game to sell off and benefit New Orleans relief.

Good cause, bad gris gris.

This time around, LSU will be looking to take out their frustrations and work out some kinks in the defense against a hapless opponent. Tulane comes at a good time in the schedule. If you know LSU Football, you know that one of our most cherished accomplishments is that we have beaten Tulane by the score of 62-0 no less than three times in history. In the last occasion, in 1965, LSU had just scored a late touchdown to make the score 60-0. Coach Charlie McClendon, being the class individual he was, signaled for the team to kick the extra point despite the pleadings of the team to go for two and reach the magic number for Tulane humiliation. Coach Mac kept one finger in the air. Quarterback (and future Baton Rouge mayor) Pat Screen got back into the huddle, muttered an expletive and said “We’re going for it” and the Tigers drove the ball into the end zone.

So, regardless of any current circumstances, Mike’s score prediction will always be: LSU 62, Wave Goodbye 0.

LSU Faithful in the ATL: Tulane is a pay per view game. Use that money to come eat and drink with your fellow fans at either Rio Grande Cantina in Buckhead or Buffalo Wild Wings in Alpharetta. Our scholarship fun fundraisers this week (football board in Buckhead, raffle in Alpharetta) feature several cool prizes, including one replica LSU football jersey to be given away at each location!

Your Pal,

Mike A. Tiger