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Disappointments
It hasn't been the best of times for LSU fans in 2008.
Then again, there is plenty of disappointment to go around.
Actually, not many people were expecting a second straight national championship in Baton Rouge. OK, noboby was expecting a 7-5 season either.
The Tigers gave up 19.9 points per game in 2007, marking the sixth consecutive season that LSU had surrendered fewer than 20 points a game.
They gave that up in individual quarters several times this past season.
LSU was picked No. 9 by Sports Illustrated in their college football issue which seems like eons ago.
Georgia graced the cover of the SI with linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, quarterback Matthew Stanford and running back Knowshon Moreno as the Bulldogs were picked as the best in the nation.
Georgia lost to Georgia Tech Saturday to fall to 93 on the season, including blowout losses to Florida and Alabama.
Auburn, which started out the season as the pick to win the SEC Western Division and was ranked No. 7 by Sports Illustrated, finished 5-7 and 2-6 in the West.
Southern California, which many figured would be playing for a national title, had to count on Oregon upsetting Oregon State so it could represent its conference as the champion, pending a win over UCLA.
Yeah, I know USC only lost one game - but hey, one game with that schedule is like three in the SEC. I would have loved to have seen Oregon State win the Pac 10 and go to the Rose Bowl and have the Trojans play the loser of the SEC Championship Game in the Sugar Bowl.
Of course, that probably would not have happened either. Stupid computers.
You can go on and on and look at teams like Tennessee (SI preseason No. 12), Michigan and even Ohio State (preseason SI No. 2) and see lofty goals not being reached.
And, of course, there's Notre Dame.
The question now is which of these teams can rebound and get back to the upper tier.
Obviously, if Les Miles loses four or five games next year the wagons will not be able to circle tight enough.
The main concern now is that the top-three recruiting class currently committed to LSU doesn't unravel and drop into the second 10.
Next year there will still be that sticky quarterback situation, but I truly expect Russell Shepard to come in and be what Terrell Pryor is at Ohio State.
The defense will be much better.
And there will be some assistant coaching changes that will benefit the program.
I expect Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn to bounce back next year and the SEC to be even more competitive.
Phillip Fulmer was on the hot seat this year and couldn't stand the heat.
Tommy Tuberville will be the coach on the hot seat next year, but Les Miles and Mark Richt cannot afford the same type of seasons next year they had this year.
Life is tough in the SEC. Just hope your players are not featured on the front of Sports Illustrated next year. |
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