dudeman0501
08-22-2004, 11:59 AM
http://files.aximsite.com/sec/marcusspears.jpgLSU Finds Little Respect After BCS Title Run
SOURCE: SECsports.com
KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
So much for last year's title. LSU isn't expected to repeat as champ in 2004 - in the Southeastern Conference.
In the preseason media poll, the Tigers were a distant second to Georgia in votes for the conference champion, although they handily were named the favorite in the West.
LSU, the defending SEC champ, also won a share of the national championship last season by beating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the BCS title. The victory came three days after Southern Cal secured No. 1 in The Associated Press poll in the Rose Bowl.
It was LSU's first crown since 1958, and apparently it had little carry-over to this season.
And honestly, that's just the way coach Nick Saban wants it.
"Last year was a mountain climb, we were fortunate to plant the flag in the mountain and win the national championship," he said. "That is history. This year, we have won zero games, we are the base camp at the bottom of the mountain.
"That's how we try to coach this to our team. Hopefully, our players will look at this season as a challenge."
The preseason AP poll reflected the same opinion of the Tigers: they are fourth, trailing Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Georgia.
This is the first time that the Bulldogs have been included in the top five before the season; amazingly, Herschel Walker and the defending national champions from 1980 were No. 10 the following year.
With 20 returning starters, coach Mark Richt might be on the cusp of adding another title.
"Our team's goals have been the SEC East, the SEC and national championship," Richt said. "We're not shy about those goals, but another 50 schools are making those same goals."
Georgia faces some challenges early, and they have nothing to do with the schedule. Linebacker Odell Thurman was suspended for the first three games for a violation of team rules, and fullback Jeremy Thomas must sit out the first two.
Also, Kregg Lumpkin, an electrifying runner projected to be the starting tailback, went down on the first day of practice with a torn ACL and is lost for the season.
The suspended players are expected to be back by Oct. 2, when LSU travels to meet the Bulldogs between the hedges. The Tigers won both meetings a year ago, including a 34-13 victory in the SEC championship game.
"They've beaten us the last two times we've played them," Richt said. "I'd think they'd be the favorite."
While the Tigers battle the Bulldogs for supremacy at the top of the conference, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom makes his debut as the first black head football coach in SEC history.
He was a finalist last year for the job at Alabama - his alma mater - and he takes over a team that finished 2-10 in 2003.
"They have to make a conscious choice that they want to win, that they will pay the price," Croom said of turning around the program. "It may take a year, may take two years, our players will make that determination. But the things we ask them to do, we will not compromise on those things."
Ron Zook has similar issues at Florida. Entering his third year as coach of the Gators, he has gone 8-5 in each of the last two seasons. Hardly embarrassing marks, unless they come after 12 years of Steve Spurrier and his Fun 'N' Gun offense.
"The success that Spurrier had makes it the job that it is," Zook said. "We are getting better, we are making progress. We're in a better situation than we were, and we have a chance to have an outstanding year."
SOURCE: SECsports.com
KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
So much for last year's title. LSU isn't expected to repeat as champ in 2004 - in the Southeastern Conference.
In the preseason media poll, the Tigers were a distant second to Georgia in votes for the conference champion, although they handily were named the favorite in the West.
LSU, the defending SEC champ, also won a share of the national championship last season by beating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the BCS title. The victory came three days after Southern Cal secured No. 1 in The Associated Press poll in the Rose Bowl.
It was LSU's first crown since 1958, and apparently it had little carry-over to this season.
And honestly, that's just the way coach Nick Saban wants it.
"Last year was a mountain climb, we were fortunate to plant the flag in the mountain and win the national championship," he said. "That is history. This year, we have won zero games, we are the base camp at the bottom of the mountain.
"That's how we try to coach this to our team. Hopefully, our players will look at this season as a challenge."
The preseason AP poll reflected the same opinion of the Tigers: they are fourth, trailing Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Georgia.
This is the first time that the Bulldogs have been included in the top five before the season; amazingly, Herschel Walker and the defending national champions from 1980 were No. 10 the following year.
With 20 returning starters, coach Mark Richt might be on the cusp of adding another title.
"Our team's goals have been the SEC East, the SEC and national championship," Richt said. "We're not shy about those goals, but another 50 schools are making those same goals."
Georgia faces some challenges early, and they have nothing to do with the schedule. Linebacker Odell Thurman was suspended for the first three games for a violation of team rules, and fullback Jeremy Thomas must sit out the first two.
Also, Kregg Lumpkin, an electrifying runner projected to be the starting tailback, went down on the first day of practice with a torn ACL and is lost for the season.
The suspended players are expected to be back by Oct. 2, when LSU travels to meet the Bulldogs between the hedges. The Tigers won both meetings a year ago, including a 34-13 victory in the SEC championship game.
"They've beaten us the last two times we've played them," Richt said. "I'd think they'd be the favorite."
While the Tigers battle the Bulldogs for supremacy at the top of the conference, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom makes his debut as the first black head football coach in SEC history.
He was a finalist last year for the job at Alabama - his alma mater - and he takes over a team that finished 2-10 in 2003.
"They have to make a conscious choice that they want to win, that they will pay the price," Croom said of turning around the program. "It may take a year, may take two years, our players will make that determination. But the things we ask them to do, we will not compromise on those things."
Ron Zook has similar issues at Florida. Entering his third year as coach of the Gators, he has gone 8-5 in each of the last two seasons. Hardly embarrassing marks, unless they come after 12 years of Steve Spurrier and his Fun 'N' Gun offense.
"The success that Spurrier had makes it the job that it is," Zook said. "We are getting better, we are making progress. We're in a better situation than we were, and we have a chance to have an outstanding year."