FanNation - The Republic of Sport

" I???ve probably ticked of the Tulane, La Tech, ULL, and ULM fans "

What fans?

Most schools that don't have anyone chalenging them in-state, don't play in great football states, kinda like Kentucky, they pretty much are the only great school in the state, but there isn't much talent in that state, while schools like Baylor are in a state swamped with talent, but they hae to many other great teams chalenging for therein-state guys,

I think that LSU has kinda found the happy medium in having a great football state, and not having much competion,

another plus is that we are right beside, Missisippi and Texas, who are both great football states, so we kinda created a pipeline there as well, which as we have seen lately has hurt schools in Arkansas and Mississippi, because they seem to only be getting the guys that LSU didn't want.

Ok, everyone knows LSU is the only team worth talking about from that state. Sure, they''ve got loaded talent every year, but you've got to look into their roster and see where these players are actually from. For instance, Heisman Trophy winner from the mid 1950s Billy Cannon was from Mississippi and more recently Jamarcus Russell came from Alabama. Sure there is a lot of talent from in-staters like Jacob Hester, Glen Dorsey and numerous others, but you're just stating how the majority of big state schools produce better football programs if they're the ruling hegemon within the state.

This is nothing new, but you're also overlooking other schools like Appalachian State who find a way to bring in some big talent. Despite being clearly overshadowed by the Wolfpack and Tar Heels.

I think your point is valid 70% of the time, but it is cerntainly not the ruling theory. It's the other 30% is that makes College Football so great. A team like TCU can be a major power is a state filled with solid football programs when they land that single athlete nicknamed "LT," you may have heard of him.

Great point USMA07. Ya know, my brother-in-law teaches physics at West Point. He and my sister will be there until December. His name is Rothenbush. Your right. I grew up in Mississippi and I seem to recall a few great players coming from their that didn't exactly play for the Big name programs. Walter Payon, Jackson State, Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State, Steve McNair, Alcorn University, and Brett Favre, Univ of Southern Miss.

It makes me happy to see the starting lineups of certain teams and find out that the majority of those players are from that state, or at least, that general area.

But keep in mind something, and I don't mean this to be a knock, nor do I mean it to imply any sort of racial tension. In fact, I think it's really, really cool, given the history of the South:

Lousisiana is about a third black, and Mississippi is almost half (rough estimate). In a game like football, the majority of the players are black. When you have an area such as the South, which has the highest population of blacks in the country (especially per capita), you're going to be able to field the best ball players, particularly in the game of football.

Kind of like California has the best surfers, because we have the highest waves in the country; the Pacific is the biggest, deepest ocean.

I just think this stat should be something that should not be overlooked.

Before Nick Saban, LSU always had underachieving, middle-of-the-road SEC teams. For whatever reasons, I don't know why. I do know that great players from Louisiana, such as Marshal Faulk, Travis Minor, Anthony Thomas, Major Applewhite (he was good in college), Joe Perry, John Henry Johnson, Peyton Manning, and Warrick Dunn, just to name a few, always seemed to leave the state and play elsewhere. Joe Perry and John Henry Johnson played elsewhere, for obvious reasons, but those others came along after blacks could play in the SEC.

I'm so happy that LSU is now able to keep its talent at home.

In regards to the comment about some of LSU's players come from Mississippi or Texas (Y.A Tittle comes to mind, as does Matt Flynn), I think that's okay, too. In area, Louisiana is a small state. As is Mississippi. They all can't stay at home.

Look at Auburn; Auburn's almost on the Georgia line, and they're always getting players from Georgia.

Then again, take a state like California or Texas, both of which produce great ball players, I get steamed to see those kids go out of state. Because unlike Louisiana and Mississippi, California and Texas kids have many schools to choose from. And, both states are huge in area, and would have to travel a long ways from home just to cross the border to a different state.

Florida and Georgia are the largest states in the South, and I think that if you care to check any roster on any SEC team, you'll find several Louisiana kids on it. As many as any other state in the South.

I just wish Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Chokelahoma, Missouri and the Pig 10 schools would stop talking the Southern kids into going to their schools, and only recruit in their local areas.

But that ain't gonna happen.

I just re-read my last post and noticed that I jacked up a couple of words. It's You're not your and There not their. Sorry, had to point it out. That stuff just kinda bugs me. How funny is it that one of the words was in the sentence where I explained that I grew up in Miss! Ha! Sidedurnedhero is going to be a very welcomed participant on this site. Good comment.

Pineville Stu, don't sweat the typos, bud. I minored in creative writing, and I for one don't care, as long as the point comes across. People who complain and about semantic word etiquette are usually ones I tend to avoid; they're the brainiacs that'll point out the fact you got an elephant in your living room, as if they, themselves, are geniuses.

I am a little concerned about Les Miles at LSU. Personally, I don't like him. Never have. I have a sneaking suspicion he's gonna do the same thing with LSU that Coker did at Miami: Drive them into the ground.

But, I hope I'm wrong.

Last year, to me, LSU had the most talented team in the nation. However, I ain't sold on the fact they were the best team.

They escaped several games by the skin of their teeth, Auburn being a case in point. That last touchdown? With 3 seconds left? Are you kidding me, Les? That pass couldn't have been completed like that in 25 tries. And after the game he's being interviewed and he acts as if he knew without a doubt it would be completed.

And that loss to Kentucky? Where they lost in double overtime because "The Michigan Man Les Miles" elected to run the ball three straight tries, including 4th and 3? I couldn't believe that!

Personally, I think Georgia should have played Ohio St because they were on such a roll at the end of the year. I think even the best LSU fan in the world has to admit they were fortunate to play for the Title given the fact they're the only team in history to play for the National Championship after losing the last game of the year.

That said, I still think LSU had the most talent last year. I do, however, think they were poorly coached.

By the way, before I forget, you Ohio St fans need to know something, and this is for your own good: Please, drop the "Thee" when you're referring to Ohio St. This bogus junk just came about within that past five or eight years. "'Thee' Ohio State University"? I know you Buckeye fans think it's cute, and probably even think it's unique. It's not. It's pretentious ****. You're the only university that has such precious, arty banter when referring to your team, with the exception of Miami and the "U" crowd. But at least the "U" doesn't imply any sort of greater than thou, pseudo-prestige attached to it as if it has some sort of mental or athletic monopoly.

You're lost more Bowl games than you've won. Until you've won as many Bowls as Alabama, or have the winning percentage in important games such as Joe Pa or Southern Cal, drop the "Thee". It makes you sound like quaint dingbat 8-year-olds repeating some quote your Daddy has said time and time again, as if it's gospel.