Tiger Rag News Services

LSU will open the 2011 season against Pac-10 power Oregon in Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, vice chancellor and director of athletics Joe Alleva announced on Tuesday.

Billed as the “Cowboys Classic,” LSU and Oregon will square off for the fourth time in football in what is the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The Tigers and Ducks also played in 1932, 1934 and 1977, with LSU leading the series 2-1.

The LSU-Oregon contest will mark the second consecutive year in which the Tigers will open the season at a neutral site and on prime time national television. LSU opened the 2010 season last week with a 30-24 victory over North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.

The LSU-Oregon game has been slotted for a prime time kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 on either ESPN or ABC.

“This will be a great opportunity to showcase our football program on national television against a quality opponent from the Pac-10,” Alleva said. “Cowboy Stadium is perhaps the finest football venue in the country and to be able to bring our team and our fans to that facility will be a tremendous experience for everyone involved.

“The Dallas area also has one of the largest LSU alumni bases outside Louisiana so it will be exciting to bring our football program and the LSU football experience to the state of Texas for a game.”

The 2011 season opener will mark LSU’s first game in Texas since the 2002 Cotton Bowl when the Tigers dropped a 35-20 decision to Texas. LSU hasn’t played a regular season game in Texas since the 1995 season-opener against Texas A&M in College Station.

In other football scheduling news, LSU has added games to future schedules, hosting Western Kentucky in 2011, Idaho in 2012, Furman and UAB in 2013, Georgia Southern in 2014, Jacksonville State in 2015, and South Alabama in 2016. LSU also announced that its game against Southern Miss, originally scheduled for next year, has been moved to the 2016 season.

2011 LSU Football Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. Oregon, Arlington, Texas
Sept. 10 Northwestern State, Baton Rouge
Sept. 17 at Mississippi State, Starkville, Miss.
Sept. 24 at West Virginia, Morgantown, W. Va.
Oct. 1 Kentucky, Baton Rouge
Oct. 8 Florida, Baton Rouge
Oct. 15 at Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Oct. 22 Auburn, Baton Rouge
Oct. 29 Open
Nov. 5 at Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 12 Western Kentucky, Baton Rouge
Nov. 19 at Ole Miss, Oxford, Miss.
Nov. 26 Arkansas, Baton Rouge

LSU return man Patrick Peterson slams on the breaks before bursting in another direction Saturday night in the Georgia Dome (photo by Gail Chisum).

By BEN LOVE
Tiger Rag Editor

Check out all the snapshots from a down-to-the-wire affair in the Georgia Dome as LSU hung on just barely, 30-24, to topple ACC opponent North Carolina.

There’s a little bit of everything represented in this photo gallery, including Peterson, pictured left, flying past would-be UNC tacklers on special teams, Stevan Ridley coughing up a late fumble and Russell Shepard darting past Tar Heel defenders on his way to the end zone.

While they’re all great, I have a personal favorite. And, at least in my eyes, we saved the best for last. At the end of the gallery, check out the shot of true freshman Tyrann Mathieu (14) pointing in jubilation to LSU fans after he caused a late-fourth quarter fumble which Keke Mingo (49, also pictured) pounced on to secure possession.

I liked it so much I provided it for you again in black-and-white just to shake it up.

We hope you enjoy the lens work of Tiger Rag photographer Gail Chisum!

After the Tide scored four rushing touchdowns last week without Mark Ingram, is the defending Heisman Trophy winner losing some luster in Tuscaloosa?

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

SEC Rising

Cam Newton - Auburn QB

In his first game for the Tigers, Newton caught the attention of everyone clad in orange and blue at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday. The dual threat quarterback scored five total touchdowns including three through the air and two on the ground. The junior college transfer threw for 186 yards and completed nine-of-13 passes while rushing for 171 yards on 15 carries. Newton will get his first taste of SEC action next week when he takes on another rising quarterback, Tyler Russell of Mississippi State.

Tyler Russell - Mississippi St.

After starting quarterback Chris Relf threw a touchdown and an in interception on his first two possessions, the Bulldogs inserted backup quarterback redshirt freshman Tyler Russell into the ballgame. Although the two continued rotating series, Russell stole show, tying a school record with four touchdown passes in Saturday’s 49-7 win over Memphis. Like Newton, Russell will see SEC action for the first time Saturday when the Auburn Tigers come to town.

South Carolina

After a 41-13 opening season victory over Southern Miss, Steve Spurrier got to do something he hasn’t been able to do in quite some time - call off the dogs. Although Stephen Garcia didn’t find the end zone, the much-ballyhooed Gamecock signal caller was very efficient going 16-for-23 for 193 yards. But maybe most promising to Gamecock fans was the play of their highly-touted freshmen. Garcia’s backup, freshman Connor Shaw, went 4-for-5 for 32 yards and a touchdown while spelling the Gamecock starter in the fourth quarter. On the ground, freshman Marcus Lattimore scored two touchdowns on 14 attempts for 54 yards. The Gamecocks will have a prime opportunity to continue rising when they host Georgia next week.

SEC Falling

Ole Miss

What can you say about the Rebels loss to Jacksonville St. that hasn’t already been said? Without piling on, Ole Miss suffered the most embarrassing loss in school history and possibly SEC history. With a game in the Superdome against Tulane Saturday, the Rebels will have a chance to escape the boos of the home crowd and maybe get back on the winning track. Not a good start to the season for a team picked to finish last in the SEC West by most pundits anyway.

Florida

Obviously, writing off the Florida Gators would be a huge mistake, but it’ll be tough to find anyone in Gainesville impressed with Florida’s performance Saturday AT (After Tebow). The Gators beat Miami (Ohio) 34-12, but the score was in no way indicative of how the game was played. Both teams finished with 212 total yards, but the Gators had 13 yards at halftime and 26 yards at the end of three quarters against a team that won one game last season. Yeah, you read that correctly. With South Florida coming to town next week, the same team who beat Florida St. in Tallahassee last year, the Gators better shape up in a hurry.

Mark Ingram - Alabama RB

Tough to say the defending Heisman Trophy winner is falling after an injury kept him out of action in Alabama’s first game against San Jose St., but Eddie Lacy’s 111 yards and two touchdowns and Trent Richardson’s 66 yards and two touchdowns can’t help but beg the question, could anyone but up stellar numbers running behind Alabama’s offensive line? Sure, they did it against a WAC opponent, but Ingram still only accounted for barely more than half of Alabama’s rushing a year ago. We’ll see how important Ingram is to the Tide when Penn St. comes calling to Tuscaloosa Saturday night, and the man with the hardware likely won’t play.

NCAA Rising

Boise St.

Any question of Boise St. being able to play with the big boys ended last night when the Broncos defeated Virginia Tech in a pseudo-road game. And what made the win most impressive was the fact that Boise showed they had the big play ability to jump out to a 17-point lead, and the capability of scoring a game-winning touchdown in the clutch. With Oregon St. as the only remaining opponent who should be able to challenge the Broncos, we could be looking at our first non-BCS Conference team to qualify for the Championship Game.

Oregon

Usually the defending Pac-10 champs wouldn’t be considered rising after an opening-season victory over New Mexico, but after losing starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, there was a huge question in Eugene of whether the Ducks could find enough consistency at that position to make a repeat showing in the Rose Bowl. After leading 59-0 at halftime, it’s safe to say the Ducks have found consistency in that position with Darron Thomas leading the charge in the first half and Nate Costa in mop-up duty in the second half.

Mark Herzlich - Boston College LB

The Eagles beat Weber St. 38-20 Saturday, but the result of the game played second fiddle to the return of linebacker Mark Herzlich from his bout with cancer. The 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in May 2009, and he missed the entire 2009 season while receiving treatment. Herzlich announced he was cancer-free in September 2009 and immediately began training to return to BC for his senior season. With five tackles against Weber St., it’s safe to say this year’s Comeback Player of the Year Award won’t be much of a contest.

NCAA Falling

USC Defense

It’s easy to look at USC offensive accolades against Hawaii with quarterback Matt Barkley tying the school record with five passing touchdowns, but part of the reason Barkley had to throw so much was that the Trojans defense couldn’t put Hawaii away. The one-dimensional Warriors put up 36 points and 588 yards of total offense against the Trojans. Maybe this was due to the defense not fully grasping Monte Kiffin’s new schemes yet coupled with the fact the Trojans feared injury and didn’t tackle in fall practice because of a lack of scholarship players, but quarterbacks in the Pac-10 like Jake Locker, Andrew Luck and Nick Foles won’t be kind to the Trojans defense if they don’t step it up.

Texas

Sure, Texas doubled up Rice 34-17 in a “road” game Saturday, but I think you’ll find a vast majority of the 70,000 in Houston’s Reliant Stadium were clad in burnt orange rather than navy blue. The Garrett Gilbert era began with much to be desired as the near title game hero went 14-for-23 for 172 yards and no touchdowns. By comparison, Rice gave up 73 to Houston last year, 63 to Navy, 55 to Texas Tech and 49 to East Carolina and UCF en route to a 2-10 season. Tough to be too critical of the sophomore in his first career start, but with season-defining games against Oklahoma and Nebraska quickly approaching in October, Gilbert will need to grow up in a hurry.

Oklahoma

To be fair to Texas in their lackluster opening performance, their rivals to the north left much to be desired as well. Sooner faithful remained on the edge of their seats far too late into Saturday’s contest as they defeated the Utah State Aggies by only a touchdown. Running back DeMarco Murray had a world-class day with two touchdowns on 208 yards, but quarterback Landry Jones handed him the ball 35 times, and no college back can handle that type of workload over the course of an entire season. Jones showed flashes of brilliance and incompetence going 17-for-36 for 217 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. With Florida St. coming to town Saturday, the Sooners have little time to raise their level of play.

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

Working though setbacks is inevitable for any football player at LSU.

A lineman may miss a block, a receiver may drop a pass or a defender may miss a tackle.

All of which could provide opportunities for the opposing team, but none are as glaring as fumbling in final two minutes while trying to run out the clock.

That’s the burden running back Stevan Ridley has had to bear since LSU narrowly escaped Saturday’s contest, but the junior is owning his mistake and is determined to improve from it.

“It was slow motion for me seeing the ball come out of my hands,” said Ridley. “That was the last thing that I wanted, but that’s the game of football. You have to adjust to it. I’m sick. It still bothers me to this day. I didn’t sleep much at all Saturday.”

The Natchez, Miss. native rushed for 81 yards on 19 carries against North Carolina, but he said his performance means nothing with two fumbles on the day.

“Anytime you fumble, it’s a negative performance to me. It makes me sick, but I have to make the adjustment and get better for my team, because I let my team down,” said Ridley. “This would have been a very strong outing for me if I held onto the football, but I didn’t. It’s just the process of growing and learning,” said Ridley.

The back said he will make tucking the ball away his main focus for the rest of the season.

“The style of running I do, I like to make a cut. When you cut, you have body lean, and you tend to let your elbow get out. Your elbow has to be across your chest. You have to keep the ball high and tight,” said Ridley. “Coach Frank [Wilson] said we’re going to run drills to keep the ball high and tight, and if the ball ever comes away from your body, he’s taking you out in practice.”

In additional drills, Ridley said defensive players will try to punch the ball out of the hands of running backs.

“If the ball is high and tight and across your chest, it’ll never come out, and that’s what you have to focus on. You have to make it a habit. That’s my whole focus here to the rest of the year.”

The junior insisted he looks forward to learning from his mistakes and will give his all to finishing the season strong.

“It happened in the first game of the year, and I know I have to make the adjustment now,” said Ridley. “I’d rather it happen now than if we were battling it out with Auburn, Florida or ‘Bama and have a ball come loose.”

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

After narrowly escaping the Georgia Dome with a win Saturday night, LSU head coach Les Miles addressed the media Monday and said he felt the team has progressed even though they still have many things to work on.

“The issue is to finish the game and have the opportunity to take the opponent and remove any opportunity of victory they might have,” said Miles. “The thing that I look at first and foremost is the four turnovers. With 14 possessions, if you turn the ball over four times, you limit your chances to score and extend your lead.”

With a road game against Vanderbilt on the schedule next week, Miles said the experience in Atlanta will help young players adjust to their first road SEC contest.

“When you go on the road to play a game that really counts second, then the opportunity to practice that road regiment, that road feel and the understanding that it’s not our stadium all took place verses North Carolina at the Georgia Dome,” said Miles. “It’s a regiment that the young guys will be comfortable with the second time.”

Eight first-time starters, eighteen first-time players and nine true freshmen participated against North Carolina, but none may have had as much impact as true freshman cornerback Tyrann Mathieu who was second on the team with nine tackles, including a monumental sack and forced fumble in the 4^th quarter.

“I’m pretty comfortable with Tyrann Mathieu on the field,” said Miles. “I think Patrick Peterson is a very exceptional corner, and I think Tyrann Mathieu will be that type of corner in time. He’s still a freshman. It was his first game. He played well.”

The Tigers introduced three first time starters and several newcomers on a rotational basis on the defensive line against the Tar Heels.

“I liked Sam Montgomery’s first sack. I liked his effort. Relentless effort is a good example for him. I just feel like he works so hard when he’s on the field,” said Miles. “I think Kendrick Adams played well. I think ‘Keke’ Mingo also had a nice debut at end. Lavar Edwards, I think he had good, solid play, and I think it will continue as the guys are just developing.”

But it wasn’t all good news for the Tigers in Atlanta. Starting right guard Will Blackwell broke his foot on his first play of the game, and Miles expects him to miss significant time.

“Losing Will really is a blow because of the guy,” said Miles. “I think he’s a good player that would have eventually matured into a very good player, but he was a tremendous leader on that line.”

T-Bob Hebert replaced Blackwell for the remainder of the game, and Miles said he along with Matt Branch and Josh Williford will get looks at right guard this week in practice.

LSU redshirt freshman defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) tracks down UNC signal caller T.J. Yates in the Georgia Dome (photo by Gail Chisum).

By BEN LOVE
Tiger Rag Editor

One new Web feature I plan to run each week following LSU football games is a Monday afternoon lookback at the previous Saturday’s contest.

Primarily, the content will be little tidbits and insight (mainly compiled from side notes I took during the game itself) on the ballgame, most of which didn’t make the cut for inclusion in the magazine, which we produce each Sunday.

This week I’ll update you on, among other things, how many true freshman played - and at what positions - and will also dive into the Tigers’ secondary, a group which played a lot of youngsters against the Tar Heels.

Secondary breakdown

- One thing which was very obvious: When the Tigers shifted into their dime package on passing situations (they seldom, if ever, play nickel), the two incoming DBs were freshman Tyrann Mathieu and junior Derrick Bryant. Mathieu’s inclusion was expected - remember, he also spelled Patrick Peterson a good bit at the right corner position - but the same can’t necessarily be said for Bryant. He certainly didn’t play poorly, but his role was often as a blitzer, something which makes you wonder why the physical Craig Loston didn’t fill that void.

- CB Mo Claiborne had a tough outing in his first start in purple and gold. He was given a lot of advance billing by Les Miles and the coaching staff, and No. 17 didn’t match the hype one game in. But it’s early and he’ll definitely see a lot of action this season. If for no other reason, than because Miles confirmed today at his weekly press conference that with Peterson returning kicks (and possibly even taking an offensive snap or two) the defense will turn to Mathieu, Claiborne, Ron Brooks and others to man the corners occasionally sans Peterson to give No. 7 a breather. The prevailing thought is that this will cut down on the player’s penchant for cramping (something which befell Peterson momentarily in the UNC game and in last season’s Alabama game).

- At free safety, senior Jai Eugene got the start despite the depth chart listing Loston as the No. 1. Eugene played the majority of the first half before giving way to Loston, then true frosh Eric Reid for large chunks of the second half. Eugene was in there, however, for the final drive.

- Tharold Simon, a freshman from Eunice, played his first and only defensive snap on the 97-yard Carolina TD from T.J. Yates to Jheranie Boyd. It didn’t appear to be the player’s fault, however, that Boyd slipped behind the defense on a re-routed route (after the original play broke down, Boyd went deep and Yates connected with him mentally before LSU’s DB’s could catch onto the plot). Blame there likely goes to Claiborne, whose positioning was too shallow and not the best for Boyd’s re-direct.

- In all, here are the secondary members who played Saturday (according to my count): At cornerback - Peterson, Claiborne, Mathieu, Simon and Brooks; At safety - Brandon Taylor (who didn’t have his best game by a long shot), Eugene, Loston, Reid and Bryant. True frosh Ronnie Vinson, possibly expected to see some time at safety, did not figure into the action in Atlanta.

Youth movement

- It was no surprise. We knew before the game a number of true and redshirt freshmen would be a part of the two deep for LSU. Those two classes have a boatload of talented players who although they’re short on experience are pushing veterans in position races. The only lingering question which remained was: Which ones will Miles actually play once the lights go on? I’ll break that down for you below.

- At his press conference early this afternoon, Miles gave the following stat: LSU featured 8 first-time starters against UNC, 18 first-time players and 9 true freshman got game experience. The number I’ll focus on is the 9 true frosh, something I also tracked during the ballgame. The majority of them got in on special teams, but a few took snaps on defense as well while only two (the receivers, at least on my count) took offensive snaps.
  
    - The 9 were, in no particular order, Spencer Ware (RB), Alfred Blue (RB), Tyrann Mathieu (CB), Tharold Simon (CB), Eric Reid (S), Ronnie Vinson (S), Kadron Boone (WR), James Wright (WR) and Connor Neighbors (FB). Mathieu, Reid and Simon played some D while Boone and Wright each lined up several times - accumulating no catches - at wide-out on offense. The biggest impact player of the lot was Mathieu, whose sack/forced fumble on fourth-and-4 with roughly 90 seconds left in the game should’ve ended matters (without the Stevan Ridley fumble, that is).

Other notes

- TE Mitch Joseph, according to Miles, was voted by the team as the outstanding offensive performer of the week. His work in the passing game (3 catches, 41 yards) as well as blocking in the run game helped make up for the lack of Deangelo Peterson. It’s noteworthy that Joseph will probably usurp playing time from sophomore Chase Clement. Especially given LSU’s penchant for the two tight end offense, which I will GUARANTEE you’ll see tons of this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Joseph and Peterson end up lining up as the two once Peterson is healthy again (he sustained a foot injury a week ago today in practice).

- It took North Carolina until the 12:27-mark of the third quarter to realize it didn’t have to punt to Patrick Peterson. I find it amazing that they give him three cracks at it (as well as three kickoff returns on top of that) before they finally just booted it out of bounds on a punt at the above time marker.

- After starting the game at Will linebacker and recovering a first-quarter fumble, Lamin Barrow hardly saw the field again after his second quarter late-hit personal foul. Defensive coordinator John Chavis told me after the game that Barrow wasn’t in the dog house, but that he did have a chat with him at halftime on the subject. In his stead, Kevin Minter manned the Mike spot and Kelvin Sheppard primarily shifted over to the Will backer.

- Getting back to the two tight end point, that same formation - which LSU seemed to favor most of the night - also featured a modified version of the Pistol offense. Jordan Jefferson typically lined up maybe a step or half-step shy of what normal shotgun depth would be and the running back, mostly Ridley, would stagger himself one step back and one step to the left or right of the quarterback. The placement seemed to get Ridley running downhill fairly quickly, a good thing for the Tigers’ big back.

- DT Michael Brockers saw a ton of time inside spelling Pep Levingston and occasionally Drake Nevis, who played fantastically most of the night. Josh Downs also saw a good number of snaps and recorded a sack in the second half. Right now, it’s unclear if anyone has stepped up to provide defensive tackle depth outside of those four.

- One final note on true freshmen: A few that didn’t play, some of them rather surprisingly maybe, were linebackers Justin Maclin, Luke Muncie and D.J. Welter. I’d be surprised if Maclin does play this year (he looks the part of a redshirt candidate who could use some more bulk on that frame) but of the other two I did expect to see Muncie, particularly as he was listed as the starter at Will linebacker on a depth chart provided to the Chick-fil-A folks by LSU. Instead, the rotation at linebacker seemed awfully short and presumably will stay this way until Ryan Baker returns.

–

Editor Ben Love covers LSU football and basketball for Tiger Rag. Reach him at ben@tigerrag.com.

Tiger Rag News Services

Vanderbilt University and its Commodore athletics family looks forward to hosting LSU football fans at our upcoming game. The University wants to make your trip to Nashville as pleasant as possible. 
 
Parking and especially tailgating are limited on campus.  For fans planning larger tailgate pre-game parties or wishing to park recreation vehicles, we recommend contacting the Harris-Hillman School, located directly across from the south side of campus about three blocks from Vanderbilt Stadium.  The school typically hosts visiting fans; the school’s phone number is 615-298-8085 if you want to get further information.
 
There is also a nearby public park. Fannie Mae Dees Park is about a block east of Harris-Hillman. It provides an excellent picnic setting but alcoholic beverages and parking on the grass are prohibited.  In addition, the erection of tents or other shelters, open grilling, disposal of charcoals, etc. without a permit are prohibited.  Violators are subject to citations and/or arrest by Nashville police.  For more information, please visit: http://www.nashville.gov/parks/police/rules.asp

There is also ample passenger car parking available in the various on-campus parking garages. For further parking information, please visit: http://www.vucommodores.com/info/tickets/Parking.asp
 
Parking on Metro Streets

Limited parking is available on Metro Nashville city streets around campus.  If you park on the street, we ask that you please be considerate of residents and business owners in these areas by not blocking driveways and not impair drivers’ visibility by parking too close to an intersection.  Also, please be sure to not to leave behind litter or other debris. Metro Nashville Police will be patrolling this area during the game and violators are subject to ticketing and/or towing of their vehicle.

Coach Les Miles leads the Tigers out onto the Georgia Dome field Saturday (photo by Gail Chisum).

By MARTY MULÉ
Tiger Rag Featured Columnist

See Tiger fans, things could be worse.

The heat was turned up in Baton Rouge Saturday night after LSU held on by its fingernails to avoid perhaps its worse loss ever - even more embarrassing than the time-management meltdown at Ole Miss last year. As it is, things might be even hotter in Oxford, Miss., site of the mighty SEC’s biggest face-flusher (Jacksonville State 49, Ole Miss 48), losing to a lower-classification program.

But the football temperature is still pretty stifling in Louisiana, where the general prognosis was that LSU could return to a challenging position in the SEC West after a two-year hiatus.

Instead, based on a 30-24 squeaker against a decimated North Carolina team missing 13 players, seven starters, LSU prospects have the look of 2009 Part Two. Remember last season, when quarterback Jordan Jefferson showed flashes of above-average ability, but then of being confused and unable to pull the trigger in the pocket; of an offensive line that couldn’t consistently open holes for talented running backs like Charles Scott; of a defense that couldn’t ever clamp down on opposing passers?

Well?

Give the Tigers credit. They, somehow, got out of Atlanta with a victory. But who do you think impressed America’s college football fans more, the depleted Tar Heels taking the fight to favored LSU to the very end, or the victors, watching North Carolina tight end Zack Pianalto drop two catchable balls lobbed his way from the 6-yard line in the end zone in the final seconds?

But of the questions most asked in the preseason, here are perceptions:

Will Jefferson improve? Off Saturday night the answer would be no. There were times when he looked like the freshman he was when Les Miles handed him the reins, throwing a horrible interception, and grounding a ball that took LSU out of field position - and that was a field goal that could have provided the Tigers a cushion.

Will the offensive line improve? Didn’t really seem to against the ‘Heels. The LSU offense had no rhythm, timing, consistency, and five turnovers are troubling. Consider this: the Tiger return team had more yards (326) than the LSU offense (313).

Is the defense better overall? Well, UNC quarterback T.J. Yates, the Heels’ version of the inconsistent Jordan Jefferson who can’t make a decison, peppered the Tiger secondary for 412 yards.

Combined with 14 penalties, there seems to be the same lack of discipline that have been the hallmarks the last couple of Tiger teams.

That being said, let’s also acknowledge that Carolina held a psychological advantage from the get-go. Being told they had no chance fires up any competitor and often lifts them to higher performance. Also, the Tar Heel coaches knew they might have to play without certain guys for a week or more, so that time was spent preparing the ones likely to play, while the LSU players probably came to dismiss UNC’s chances, and the coaching staff was in a quandary about who they might face and how to attack them.

As it turned out LSU won on an 8:06 burst of blinding and sheer athletic ability in the second quarter. After falling behind 10-7, Russell Shepard’s 51-yard end around, a safety, Patrick Peterson’s 87-yard punt return and Rueben Randle’s long touchdown catch gave LSU its 30-10 halftime lead - and its ultimate point total.

Anyway, for the rest of the 52 minutes of the Kickoff Classic, a sloppy LSU team was outplayed and outcoached.

Here’s the bottom line: There is no possible way the Tiger team that showed up in Atlanta Saturday night can compete with Florida (who also won a raggedy game), Alabama, Auburn, or West Virginia.

So here’s looking at 2009 redux, where the Tigers win a lot of ho-hum games and lose the big games.

–

Marty Mule’ can be reached at MJM981two@charter.net

Sophomore Russell Shepard (10) gets some love from fellow wide receiver Rueben Randle (2) following Shepard’s second touchdown of the game vs. UNC (photo by Gail Chisum).

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

Lost in the shuffle of LSU’s 30-24 thrilling and frightening victory over North Carolina were some of the positives that the Tigers could take back home to Baton Rouge.

One of which would be the fantastic play-making ability of wide receiver Russell Shepard.

The sophomore electrified the Georgia Dome crowd by not only showing the potential he has in Purple and Gold, but also the game-changing ability he already has.

Shepard rebounded from a dropped pass that ended LSU’s first drive by catching a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Jefferson on LSU’s second.

The Houston, Tex., native lined up in the left slot and ran a slant route into the end zone on third and goal.

As a receiver who converted from quarterback following last season, Shepard has had to put quite a bit of work into fine-tuning the craft over the off season.

“I’ve never worked this hard for anything I wanted in my whole life,” said the sophomore.

In fact, Shepard said he made improving his pass catching ability a priority over the summer.

“This summer, the last day of the spring to this point, I catch anywhere from 75 to 150 balls a day, so that’s something that I definitely worked on and something I really improved on,” said Shepard.

The Houston native also pointed out wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales as being instrumental in helping him learn his new position.

“Coach Gonzales is a detailed coach. He expects a lot out of his players, and he sets the bar high for us,” said Shepard. “Coach Gonzales has coached so many great players, so you look at him and know he knows what he’s doing.”

Shepard added another catch in Saturday’s ballgame and finished with two receptions for 11 yards.

But when you have an athlete with Shepard’s talent, you’re going to get the ball in his hands as often as you can.

That’s why the Tigers also handed the ball off to the sophomore five times, where he did not disappoint, with 67 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run that gave the Tigers a 14-10 lead and put them up for good in the second quarter.

Even though Shepard had more touches on the ground than through the air against North Carolina, he knows his future is at receiver for the Tigers, and he must compete against the best to become the best.

Therefore, he and All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson have been sharing a friendly rivalry during spring and fall practices where both players keep track of how many passes the sophomore catches on the All-American when the two battle in one-on-one drills - a competition both men say they are winning.

“I don’t know what Russell’s writing down in his notepad, but it’s a great battle, and that’s what we need, to get each other better, to push each other’s buttons, just going out there and being competitive,” said Peterson.

But regardless of who wins competition, the main goal remains for each player to push each other so that LSU wins on the football field.

And with the two players combining for three touchdowns against the Tar Heels, the friendly competition may be paying off.

“I ask him to give me everything he’s got, and he asks me to do the same with him,” said Shepard. “Pat has really helped me take my game to another level, and I hope and pray that I’m taking his play to another level.”

After seeing the sophomore in practice everyday, Peterson feels the sky is the limit for Shepard.

“Russell’s going to be good. Russell’s a competitive guy. He’s so animated,” said Peterson.

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson (7) making an 87-yard house call on a punt return in Saturday’s 30-24 victory over North Carolina (photo by Gail Chisum)

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

In a game where the Tigers gave up 436 total yards including 410 through the air, it becomes difficult to find a defensive player of the game.

Especially when LSU’s defense seemed to put up next to no resistance to North Carolina’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.

But even through LSU’s struggled against North Carolina, big plays powered the Tigers to victory.

That is, if you can remember back to the first half.

All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson stole the show on special teams by returning a punt 87 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

This touchdown gave the Tigers a 23-10 lead following a Tar Heel three and out.

But that wasn’t the only impact the Pompano, Fla., native made on special teams, setting up other Tiger scores with the return game.

Peterson set up Russell Shepard’s 50-yard touchdown scamper with a 46-yard kickoff return all the way to midfield with only Tar Heel kicker Casey Barth saving the touchdown.

Then after Peterson’s touchdown punt return in the second quarter, the Tigers forced another three and out and another punt, and the All-American shifted field position yet again with a 37-yard punt return to the LSU 49 yard-line.

And just like his earlier kickoff return, it took the Tigers only one play to ride Peterson’s momentum into the end zone with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Jefferson to Reuben Randle.

All in all, Peterson amassed an LSU record 257 yards return yards and fell only nine yards shy of the all-time SEC record held by Nick Turner of Mississippi State.

“If you had to look at [Peterson] compared to anybody that could well win a national award, he fits,” said LSU head coach Les Miles following the game. “He’s pretty special. We’re going to give fits to our opponents whether they punt to us or how they punt to us or how they kick to us because our return yardage is going to be really good with the ball in his hands.”

After being named LSU’s No. 1 punt and kick returner during spring practice, the All-American said last week he decided to stay in Baton Rouge during the entire summer so he could work on his punt and kick returning skills.

“During the spring, I was working on kick returning and punt returning,” said Peterson. “I had the mind frame of saying that I had to be in tiptop shape to be where I want to be and where I need to be to play every single play. It’s tough out there playing both ways in the SEC, so I stayed up here conditioning myself physically and mentally.”

Prior to the season, Peterson said it was his personal goal for teams to kick away from him this season.

“If they’re not kicking away from me, I’m not doing my job,” said Peterson prior to the season. “I have to come out here, start off strong and start hot and fast and put my team in good field position and hopefully score and have a couple run backs. My goal is to have the opposing team kicking away from me by the fourth week.”

Safe to say Peterson easily achieved his goal by scoring a touchdown, setting up the Tigers in good field position multiple times and seeing the Tar Heels kick away from him in the second half of his first game as a returner.

Defensively, Peterson brought his typical stellar cornerback against the Tar Heels and added five tackles including a half tackle for loss.