Robinson camps at Texas, LSU in top 3 
May, 30, 2012
5/30/12
5:12
PM ET
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
The Longhorns will host one of the nation’s top 2014 offensive linemen on Saturday when Cameron Robinson (Monroe, La./Ouachita Parish) takes an unofficial visit.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Robinson will also participate in Sunday’s camp that will feature mostly 2013 Texas commitments and targets.
The man to thank for getting Robinson to Austin: offensive line coach Stacy Searels.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Robinson will also participate in Sunday’s camp that will feature mostly 2013 Texas commitments and targets.
The man to thank for getting Robinson to Austin: offensive line coach Stacy Searels.
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DESTIN, Fla. – Alabama coach Nick Saban hasn’t held back from talking about his disdain for placing only conference champions in a four-team playoff. He’s very much for a four-team playoff, but he won’t go for one that alienates teams by only picking the top four conference champions.
The whole reason any of this playoff talk even started is because people outside of the game are passionate about seeing one in college football. To take away the chance for the four BEST teams to play makes no sense to Saban.
“There’s no question that we’re even doing the top four because fans and the people who are interested in college football are interested in seeing the best four teams play in a playoff,” Saban said Tuesday at the 2012 SEC spring meetings.
“Now, we’re going to mess that up by saying you have to be a conference champion. I think somebody’s a bit self-absorbed and worrying about how it affects them and how they can best get somebody in the (national championship) all the time, rather than getting the best four teams. I don’t think that’s fair to the fans and the people who really have made it known that they want to see the four best teams play in a playoff.
“The bigger these conferences get the better chance you have to have two very good teams in that.”
Saban didn’t go as far as to name names, but anyone paying attention to all of this playoff talk knows he’s talking about Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, who has been extremely outspoken about having only conference champions represented in a four-team playoff and has taken a few shots at Alabama and its 2011 title along the way.
The whole reason any of this playoff talk even started is because people outside of the game are passionate about seeing one in college football. To take away the chance for the four BEST teams to play makes no sense to Saban.
“There’s no question that we’re even doing the top four because fans and the people who are interested in college football are interested in seeing the best four teams play in a playoff,” Saban said Tuesday at the 2012 SEC spring meetings.
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AP Photo/Dave MartinA four-team playoff shouldn't be limited to conference champions, Alabama head coach Nick Saban reiterated.
AP Photo/Dave MartinA four-team playoff shouldn't be limited to conference champions, Alabama head coach Nick Saban reiterated.“The bigger these conferences get the better chance you have to have two very good teams in that.”
Saban didn’t go as far as to name names, but anyone paying attention to all of this playoff talk knows he’s talking about Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, who has been extremely outspoken about having only conference champions represented in a four-team playoff and has taken a few shots at Alabama and its 2011 title along the way.
SEC hopes to have schedule format Friday
May, 30, 2012
5/30/12
12:48
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
DESTIN, Fla. -- When SEC commissioner Mike Slive and the rest of the SEC elites leave the 2012 SEC spring meetings later this week the hope is that there will be a concrete scheduling format for the 2013 football season and possibly beyond.
The addition of Missouri and Texas A&M means teams will have to play six divisional games instead of five, making things a little complicated.
Right now, it looks like the most likely format, which could be set as early as Friday, will be a 6-1-1 model. That gives teams six divisional games, one permanent crossover game and rotating crossover. The rotating crossover would no longer be a traditional two-year home and home series. It would simply be a one-year rotation. It’s the same model that will be used for the 2012 season.
LSU coach Les Miles said he’d like the structure of future SEC schedules to be “definable,” and wouldn’t mind if the league re-examined how it chose permanent crossovers.
"Legitimately tell me about how you're picking crossover games,” Miles said at the spring meetings Tuesday. “Is it the best team in the East, the best team in the West, top three and top three? OK, if you guys want to do that let's do that. It might change the matches, but if you want to say, 'Well, we really are going to seed the best teams verses the lesser teams,' well, OK, let's do that, but define the structure and let's stay with it.
The addition of Missouri and Texas A&M means teams will have to play six divisional games instead of five, making things a little complicated.
Right now, it looks like the most likely format, which could be set as early as Friday, will be a 6-1-1 model. That gives teams six divisional games, one permanent crossover game and rotating crossover. The rotating crossover would no longer be a traditional two-year home and home series. It would simply be a one-year rotation. It’s the same model that will be used for the 2012 season.
LSU coach Les Miles said he’d like the structure of future SEC schedules to be “definable,” and wouldn’t mind if the league re-examined how it chose permanent crossovers.
"Legitimately tell me about how you're picking crossover games,” Miles said at the spring meetings Tuesday. “Is it the best team in the East, the best team in the West, top three and top three? OK, if you guys want to do that let's do that. It might change the matches, but if you want to say, 'Well, we really are going to seed the best teams verses the lesser teams,' well, OK, let's do that, but define the structure and let's stay with it.
GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney discuss hot topics involving LSU athletics:
1) With three commitments in the last two weeks, what else should LSU be looking at for 2013?
Gary Laney: If the last couple of weeks showed us anything, it's that you can address missed needs later. By getting commitments from a junior college wide receiver and a juco tight end, LSU was able to fill a void from past recruiting classes. LSU's also shown it can recruit nationally, bringing in a quarterback from California and a tackle from Illinois.
1) With three commitments in the last two weeks, what else should LSU be looking at for 2013?
Gary Laney: If the last couple of weeks showed us anything, it's that you can address missed needs later. By getting commitments from a junior college wide receiver and a juco tight end, LSU was able to fill a void from past recruiting classes. LSU's also shown it can recruit nationally, bringing in a quarterback from California and a tackle from Illinois.
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It wasn’t too long ago that 2013 prospect Rashard Robinson (Pompano Beach, Fla./Blanche Ely) was still searching for his first offer.
Robinson, classified as an athlete, only has five offers. But when two of those first four include Florida State and LSU, that’s not a problem.
No. 5 isn’t too shabby, either, as Oklahoma is the latest team to offer Robinson. The Sooners see Robinson, who is 6-foot-2 and 161 pounds, as a cornerback.
Robinson, classified as an athlete, only has five offers. But when two of those first four include Florida State and LSU, that’s not a problem.
No. 5 isn’t too shabby, either, as Oklahoma is the latest team to offer Robinson. The Sooners see Robinson, who is 6-foot-2 and 161 pounds, as a cornerback.
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It’s not often that the Longhorns recruit outside of Texas’ borders. If they do, though, they’ll almost exclusively stay on the mainland.
But on Tuesday, Texas made contact with a four-star defensive lineman from the Aloha State. No, really.
Honalulu Monalua’s Scott Pagano, the No. 22 defensive tackle in 2013, spoke with Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and defensive ends coach Oscar Giles for about 10 minutes over the phone.
But on Tuesday, Texas made contact with a four-star defensive lineman from the Aloha State. No, really.
Honalulu Monalua’s Scott Pagano, the No. 22 defensive tackle in 2013, spoke with Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and defensive ends coach Oscar Giles for about 10 minutes over the phone.
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As far as bang for your buck, Raph Rhymes has to be the best deal in college baseball.
He is the best player in the mighty Southeastern Conference, at least in the eyes of the league's coaches who named him SEC Player of the Year on Tuesday.
He's also the nation's leading hitter, at .459, 29 points better than the second-best hitter.
And what does this cost LSU?
This season, nothing.
He is the best player in the mighty Southeastern Conference, at least in the eyes of the league's coaches who named him SEC Player of the Year on Tuesday.
He's also the nation's leading hitter, at .459, 29 points better than the second-best hitter.
And what does this cost LSU?
This season, nothing.
Rejoice, Tigers fans. As LSU's flurry of May commitments rolls on this month, the Tigers on Tuesday grabbed their most high-profile commitment to date.
By landing offensive tackle Ethan Pocic (Lemont, Ill./Lemont), LSU secured its first commitment from the ESPN 150 to its ever-expanding recruiting class. Pocic sits No. 72 overall in the 2013 class, and is considered the fourth-best offensive tackle in the class. Not that rankings are what any coaching staff aims for when building a recruiting class, but it certainly gives the Tigers a nice highlight to what is becoming an impressive group.
At N0. 72 overall in the country, Pocic is the most recognizable in what is now a group of seven four-star recruits for LSU. With plenty more opportunities to land ESPN 150 names like Kendell Beckwith and Tim Williams, the potential is there for the Tigers to pull in one of the nation's best classes. It's also impressive that in what appears to be a slightly down year for Louisiana talent, LSU was able to land a prized recruit from the middle of Big Ten territory.
By landing offensive tackle Ethan Pocic (Lemont, Ill./Lemont), LSU secured its first commitment from the ESPN 150 to its ever-expanding recruiting class. Pocic sits No. 72 overall in the 2013 class, and is considered the fourth-best offensive tackle in the class. Not that rankings are what any coaching staff aims for when building a recruiting class, but it certainly gives the Tigers a nice highlight to what is becoming an impressive group.
At N0. 72 overall in the country, Pocic is the most recognizable in what is now a group of seven four-star recruits for LSU. With plenty more opportunities to land ESPN 150 names like Kendell Beckwith and Tim Williams, the potential is there for the Tigers to pull in one of the nation's best classes. It's also impressive that in what appears to be a slightly down year for Louisiana talent, LSU was able to land a prized recruit from the middle of Big Ten territory.
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LSU coach Johnny Jones isn't done recruiting for the class of 2012, but that doesn't mean he and is staff aren't already working on the 2013 class.
LSU hosted three players ranked in the 2013 ESPN 100 during the weekend when members of the stacked Dallas-based Urban DFW Elite grass roots team made an unofficial visit to LSU on Memorial Day. Center Karviar Shepherd (Dallas/Grace Prep), the No. 29 player in the 2013 100, forward Jordan Mickey (Dallas/Grace Prep) the No. 41-ranked player, and guard Kendal Harris (Richardson, Texas/Berkner), the No. 93-ranked player, were among the players who made the visit.
Also notably present was guard Shirmane Thomas (Dallas/Skyline).
LSU hosted three players ranked in the 2013 ESPN 100 during the weekend when members of the stacked Dallas-based Urban DFW Elite grass roots team made an unofficial visit to LSU on Memorial Day. Center Karviar Shepherd (Dallas/Grace Prep), the No. 29 player in the 2013 100, forward Jordan Mickey (Dallas/Grace Prep) the No. 41-ranked player, and guard Kendal Harris (Richardson, Texas/Berkner), the No. 93-ranked player, were among the players who made the visit.
Also notably present was guard Shirmane Thomas (Dallas/Skyline).
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With media gathered at LSU's Alex Box Stadium Tuesday wondering who would get the nod on the mound for the Tigers in Friday's Baton Rouge regional opener against Louisiana-Monroe, the giveaway answer was down the right field line.
Freshman right-hander Aaron Nola was getting his bullpen work in with pitching coach Alan Dunn during a time when it's usually Friday night starter Kevin Gausman getting the work.
Indeed, it will be Nola (6-4, 3.93 ERA), and not staff ace Gausman, who will get the start when No. 7 LSU (43-16) opens the regional against No. 4 seed Louisiana-Monroe (31-28) at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. Nola, who pitched a pre-planned two innings in a Wednesday start against Mississippi State at the SEC tournament, should be fresh and ready to go, head coach Paul Mainieri said.
Freshman right-hander Aaron Nola was getting his bullpen work in with pitching coach Alan Dunn during a time when it's usually Friday night starter Kevin Gausman getting the work.
Indeed, it will be Nola (6-4, 3.93 ERA), and not staff ace Gausman, who will get the start when No. 7 LSU (43-16) opens the regional against No. 4 seed Louisiana-Monroe (31-28) at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. Nola, who pitched a pre-planned two innings in a Wednesday start against Mississippi State at the SEC tournament, should be fresh and ready to go, head coach Paul Mainieri said.
College Football Live's panel of experts discuss the upcoming season for the LSU Tigers.
Just when it seemed LSU had given up on the idea of a tight end as an offensive weapon, the coaching staff made a move to fix it.
The commitment of Northeast Mississippi Community College tight end Logan Stokes during Memorial Day weekend came as a surprise to many, considering the Muscle Shoals, Ala., native wasn't on many radars heading into the holiday. What makes the news even more surprising is the role Stokes is projected to fill. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Stokes could be the monstrous pass-catching threat the Tigers have been missing at tight end for years.
"I was looking for a little H back-type guy that can block for me and slip into the flats," said Ricky Smither, Stokes' coach at Northeast Mississippi. "But this kid has turned into something more than that -- he's a vertical threat as well. He runs well, and he's a big kid."
The commitment of Northeast Mississippi Community College tight end Logan Stokes during Memorial Day weekend came as a surprise to many, considering the Muscle Shoals, Ala., native wasn't on many radars heading into the holiday. What makes the news even more surprising is the role Stokes is projected to fill. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Stokes could be the monstrous pass-catching threat the Tigers have been missing at tight end for years.
"I was looking for a little H back-type guy that can block for me and slip into the flats," said Ricky Smither, Stokes' coach at Northeast Mississippi. "But this kid has turned into something more than that -- he's a vertical threat as well. He runs well, and he's a big kid."
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LSU was awarded the No. 7 national seed in the NCAA tournament Monday and will host a regional that includes Oregon State, Belmont and Louisiana-Monroe starting Friday at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.
The SEC champion Tigers (43-16) will host a regional for the first time since 2009, the last year LSU won a College World Series. The winner of the LSU regional gets the winner of the Miami, Fla., regional in a Super Regional. If LSU advances, it would host the Super Regional.
LSU, the region's No. 1 seed, opens postseason play at 7 p.m. Friday against No. 4 Louisiana-Monroe (31-28). The Warhawks got in the hard way as a surprising champion of the Sun Belt Conference tournament after a .500 finish in the regular season standings. ULM did win two of three in a series against Tennessee and two against Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State, which is at the Rice regional with an at-large bid.
The SEC champion Tigers (43-16) will host a regional for the first time since 2009, the last year LSU won a College World Series. The winner of the LSU regional gets the winner of the Miami, Fla., regional in a Super Regional. If LSU advances, it would host the Super Regional.
LSU, the region's No. 1 seed, opens postseason play at 7 p.m. Friday against No. 4 Louisiana-Monroe (31-28). The Warhawks got in the hard way as a surprising champion of the Sun Belt Conference tournament after a .500 finish in the regular season standings. ULM did win two of three in a series against Tennessee and two against Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State, which is at the Rice regional with an at-large bid.
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The following are capsules on the four teams participating in the NCAA Baton Rouge regional this weekend at Alex Box Stadium:
No. 1 LSU (43-16)
Conference (finish): SEC (20-10, 1st)
No. 1 LSU (43-16)
Conference (finish): SEC (20-10, 1st)
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It's no surprise. On Sunday, LSU was one of the 16 schools awarded a host site for an NCAA baseball regional next weekend.
LSU (43-16) won the SEC before going 1-2 in the SEC tournament over the weekend at Hoover, Ala. The Tigers will host a regional for the first time since 2009, which is also the last year LSU won a College World Series.
LSU is one of three SEC programs to host a regional along with Florida and South Carolina. Kentucky, which finished just a game behind LSU in the SEC standings, was not awarded regional.
LSU (43-16) won the SEC before going 1-2 in the SEC tournament over the weekend at Hoover, Ala. The Tigers will host a regional for the first time since 2009, which is also the last year LSU won a College World Series.
LSU is one of three SEC programs to host a regional along with Florida and South Carolina. Kentucky, which finished just a game behind LSU in the SEC standings, was not awarded regional.
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ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com