GeauxTo
08-27-2007, 10:26 PM
By RANDY ROSETTA (rrosetta@theadvocate.com)
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - Page: 1C
Growing up in the Midwest, when the night air starts to cool off and get this distinct damp smell and feel, and leaves turn colors, then you knew football was at hand.
Because Louisiana’s weather doesn’t really accommodate for the normal signals that football is drawing near, I’ve learned to rely on a few other cues.
Any story — every story really — in The Advocate about LSU football is gobbled up and dissected no matter the subject. It could be a 45-inch profile of the third-string long snapper or a tome giving the advantages of a 4-3 defensive front compared to the 3-4. Doesn’t matter. It’s almost guaranteed to be the most read article we churn out that day.Heck, even the arrival of a new Mike the Tiger generates immense interest. Find me another place in the country where a new mascot gets the kind of attention and royal treatment that cat gets. Says a lot about the passion of LSU fans.Don’t get me wrong, as journalists we love the attention. But it will certainly be nice to write about something a little more meaningful ... like games and stuff.
I get up on a Sunday morning with fall just around the corner and wonder how tough it’s going to be to juggle games on the NFL Ticket on my satellite package. Then I remember the NFL guys don’t start for a few weeks.Before depression hits, I realize it’s fantasy football draft day. Two-and-a-half hours playing general manager/coach/talent evaluator/seer is enough to get anyone’s juices flowing.
And finally, predictions come from anybody who figures somebody else is the slightest bit interested.
Along those lines. ...
LSU goes 11-1 during the regular season, losing once at home to Virginia Tech, Florida or Auburn. The Tigers roll to a two-touchdown (at least) triumph in Tuscaloosa and the new Crimson Tide coach blows a gasket during the week leading up to the game because he’s asked one question too many about why he left LSU.
LSU wins the Southeastern Conference West Division and take a sizable head of steam into the SEC Championship Game against Tennessee. The Volunteers survive a four-team battle for the East crown by escaping with a close-call victory over bowl-bound
Kentucky in the regular-season finale.
In Atlanta, LSU manhandles the Vols, knocking Erik Ainge out early. By going 12-1, the Tigers gain a spot in the National Championship Game because teams in the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East knock each other off. That leaves LSU and Southern California in the top two spots and sets up the long-awaited showdown in New Orleans.
That’s where the dream ends, though. The Trojans have too much talent, experience, incentive, (John David) Booty — and overcome LSU’s home-field edge at the Superdome to win the national championship.
One more prediction: A lot of people will read this column and I’ll get a lot of e-mail traffic.
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 27, 2007 - Page: 1C
Growing up in the Midwest, when the night air starts to cool off and get this distinct damp smell and feel, and leaves turn colors, then you knew football was at hand.
Because Louisiana’s weather doesn’t really accommodate for the normal signals that football is drawing near, I’ve learned to rely on a few other cues.
Any story — every story really — in The Advocate about LSU football is gobbled up and dissected no matter the subject. It could be a 45-inch profile of the third-string long snapper or a tome giving the advantages of a 4-3 defensive front compared to the 3-4. Doesn’t matter. It’s almost guaranteed to be the most read article we churn out that day.Heck, even the arrival of a new Mike the Tiger generates immense interest. Find me another place in the country where a new mascot gets the kind of attention and royal treatment that cat gets. Says a lot about the passion of LSU fans.Don’t get me wrong, as journalists we love the attention. But it will certainly be nice to write about something a little more meaningful ... like games and stuff.
I get up on a Sunday morning with fall just around the corner and wonder how tough it’s going to be to juggle games on the NFL Ticket on my satellite package. Then I remember the NFL guys don’t start for a few weeks.Before depression hits, I realize it’s fantasy football draft day. Two-and-a-half hours playing general manager/coach/talent evaluator/seer is enough to get anyone’s juices flowing.
And finally, predictions come from anybody who figures somebody else is the slightest bit interested.
Along those lines. ...
LSU goes 11-1 during the regular season, losing once at home to Virginia Tech, Florida or Auburn. The Tigers roll to a two-touchdown (at least) triumph in Tuscaloosa and the new Crimson Tide coach blows a gasket during the week leading up to the game because he’s asked one question too many about why he left LSU.
LSU wins the Southeastern Conference West Division and take a sizable head of steam into the SEC Championship Game against Tennessee. The Volunteers survive a four-team battle for the East crown by escaping with a close-call victory over bowl-bound
Kentucky in the regular-season finale.
In Atlanta, LSU manhandles the Vols, knocking Erik Ainge out early. By going 12-1, the Tigers gain a spot in the National Championship Game because teams in the Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East knock each other off. That leaves LSU and Southern California in the top two spots and sets up the long-awaited showdown in New Orleans.
That’s where the dream ends, though. The Trojans have too much talent, experience, incentive, (John David) Booty — and overcome LSU’s home-field edge at the Superdome to win the national championship.
One more prediction: A lot of people will read this column and I’ll get a lot of e-mail traffic.