When you get inside the top-secret confines of the Charles McClendon LSU Football Practice Facility, what do you see?
If you were one of the more than 300 students who took advantage of LSU's invitation to watch the Tigers practice Thursday, you saw a lot of offense vs. defense fine-tuning in helmets, but no pads and no contact. You saw Brad Wing trying to punt footballs into a trash can from about 20 yards away.
But most importantly, if you were a hardcore LSU football fan, you finally got a chance to see where it all happens before Saturday.
If you were one of the more than 300 students who took advantage of LSU's invitation to watch the Tigers practice Thursday, you saw a lot of offense vs. defense fine-tuning in helmets, but no pads and no contact. You saw Brad Wing trying to punt footballs into a trash can from about 20 yards away.
But most importantly, if you were a hardcore LSU football fan, you finally got a chance to see where it all happens before Saturday.
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Miles wary of open practice for students
March, 29, 2012
3/29/12
9:41
AM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE -- LSU has become quite adept at keeping out prying eyes.
At the Tigers' Charles McClendon Practice Facility, there are enormous wooden fences surrounding every inch of the property. There are locks on every door and gate. There are special employees designated to keep an eye on visitors, such as high school recruits and reporters. There are sign-in stations and there are name tags used to identify outsiders.
All that precaution will be rendered moot this afternoon, however. For the first time, the Tigers are bursting the bubble that has long protected their routine. LSU is holding a student appreciation day of sorts, and any student with an LSU ID will be able to access the team's final practice of the spring.
It won't be a measly 25 minutes, as has been the custom for the Baton Rouge media, either. Any student in attendance will have the option to watch the team's full, two-hour practice. Thursday, the Tigers could (and should) have a large audience on them for the first time since January's BCS Championship game.
At the Tigers' Charles McClendon Practice Facility, there are enormous wooden fences surrounding every inch of the property. There are locks on every door and gate. There are special employees designated to keep an eye on visitors, such as high school recruits and reporters. There are sign-in stations and there are name tags used to identify outsiders.
All that precaution will be rendered moot this afternoon, however. For the first time, the Tigers are bursting the bubble that has long protected their routine. LSU is holding a student appreciation day of sorts, and any student with an LSU ID will be able to access the team's final practice of the spring.
It won't be a measly 25 minutes, as has been the custom for the Baton Rouge media, either. Any student in attendance will have the option to watch the team's full, two-hour practice. Thursday, the Tigers could (and should) have a large audience on them for the first time since January's BCS Championship game.
Matchup with ULL will be a "Pink Game" 
March, 28, 2012
3/28/12
4:23
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE -- As usual around this time of year, a monstrous SEC series looms large over LSU's midweek game on Wednesday.
The No. 14 Tigers (18-6) host the current SEC West leader in No. 3 Arkansas this weekend, something that looks likely to overshadow tonight's 6:30 p.m. start against Louisiana-Lafayette. As usual, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said his team can't afford to look past an instate rival. It doesn't look like the Tigers will be playing the revenge card, however. The Ragin' Cajuns embarrassed LSU 11-5 at Alex Box Stadium last season, but Mainieri had to ask reporters what happened when someone asked him if that disappointment was still fresh.
The No. 14 Tigers (18-6) host the current SEC West leader in No. 3 Arkansas this weekend, something that looks likely to overshadow tonight's 6:30 p.m. start against Louisiana-Lafayette. As usual, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said his team can't afford to look past an instate rival. It doesn't look like the Tigers will be playing the revenge card, however. The Ragin' Cajuns embarrassed LSU 11-5 at Alex Box Stadium last season, but Mainieri had to ask reporters what happened when someone asked him if that disappointment was still fresh.
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When he takes snaps during quarterback drills, Stephen Rivers looks impossibly tall, like a basketball forward in football pads.
At 6-foot-7, 212 pounds and noticeably long-limbed, he doesn't drop back after receiving a center snap, he unfolds.
"And handing off, for most people, it's right there," he said, holding out a lanky right arm waist-high to mimic the motion of a quarterback handing the ball to a running back. "For me, I have to bend down more."
At 6-foot-7, 212 pounds and noticeably long-limbed, he doesn't drop back after receiving a center snap, he unfolds.
"And handing off, for most people, it's right there," he said, holding out a lanky right arm waist-high to mimic the motion of a quarterback handing the ball to a running back. "For me, I have to bend down more."
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BATON ROUGE -- Reports surfaced early Wednesday morning that LSU had picked up another 2013 commitment in the form of Winnfield (La.) defensive end Michael Patterson.
While all indications seem to point toward an LSU commitment from the 6-foot-4, 240 pound defensive end, it seems Patterson will wait until the weekend to share any big news.
Winnfield coach Andy Pyles spoke with Patterson on Wednesday morning, and he said they plan to wait until Saturday to make any kind of public comment on a commitment, despite the reports that the commitment was already official. Patterson will be in attendance at LSU's spring game Saturday afternoon, which seems like a fitting place for a commitment to the Tigers.
Until then, however, Pyles said there is no official word.
While all indications seem to point toward an LSU commitment from the 6-foot-4, 240 pound defensive end, it seems Patterson will wait until the weekend to share any big news.
Winnfield coach Andy Pyles spoke with Patterson on Wednesday morning, and he said they plan to wait until Saturday to make any kind of public comment on a commitment, despite the reports that the commitment was already official. Patterson will be in attendance at LSU's spring game Saturday afternoon, which seems like a fitting place for a commitment to the Tigers.
Until then, however, Pyles said there is no official word.
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Stephen Rivers said he doesn't mind getting asked a lot about his famous brother, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
"It's not so bad," the LSU redshirt freshman quarterback said. "Pretty much every interview I do, there's a question about my brother. I don't mind it because there aren't really many negatives with it."
But there's one guy who's taken to giving Rivers a hard time about his brother.
"I keep busting his (chops) about getting his brother down here to throw with us," LSU starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger said. "I'd really like his brother to come down here and work with him."
"It's not so bad," the LSU redshirt freshman quarterback said. "Pretty much every interview I do, there's a question about my brother. I don't mind it because there aren't really many negatives with it."
But there's one guy who's taken to giving Rivers a hard time about his brother.
"I keep busting his (chops) about getting his brother down here to throw with us," LSU starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger said. "I'd really like his brother to come down here and work with him."
BATON ROUGE -- LSU's final week of spring practice started Tuesday afternoon, and once again it felt like an early preview of the Tigers' August camps. Temperatures climbed into the 90's as LSU went through its final Tuesday practice ahead of Saturday's spring game. The team will go through one final workout Thursday ahead of the game.
Here's a rundown of some of the usual tidbits from practice, as well as a few new sightings.
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LSU is trying to get its basketball program back to the glory days of the Dale Brown era.
Evidently, recruiting the kids of players from the Brown years is one way to try to get there.
LSU coach Trent Johnson and his staff have offered a scholarship to Shane Hammink, the son of former LSU center Geert Hammink and one of the top players in Europe.
Evidently, recruiting the kids of players from the Brown years is one way to try to get there.
LSU coach Trent Johnson and his staff have offered a scholarship to Shane Hammink, the son of former LSU center Geert Hammink and one of the top players in Europe.
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LSU is headed for the toughest stretch of its baseball schedule and will have to play that stretch, and the rest of its schedule, without its starting center fielder.
Freshman Chris Sciambra was lost for the season after breaking a vertebrae in his neck in a collision with the center field wall Sunday in LSU's 4-3 win over Auburn.
The university announced the injury - a non-displaced fracture of the C-1 vertebrae in his neck - Monday. An LSU news release said his spinal column was not affected by the injury.
Freshman Chris Sciambra was lost for the season after breaking a vertebrae in his neck in a collision with the center field wall Sunday in LSU's 4-3 win over Auburn.
The university announced the injury - a non-displaced fracture of the C-1 vertebrae in his neck - Monday. An LSU news release said his spinal column was not affected by the injury.
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Juco WR Leslie to visit for spring game
March, 26, 2012
3/26/12
8:31
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
Quantavius Leslie, a juco wide receiver prospect for 2013, already holds a scholarship offer from LSU.
This weekend, Leslie gets to see firsthand what exactly LSU can offer him. The Hinds (Miss.) Community College standout begins spring practice this week, but after that he said he's coming down to Baton Rouge for the Tigers' spring game Saturday. Leslie's visit will come a week later than he originally scheduled.
"I wasn't there this weekend, but I'm coming down next weekend for the spring game," he said.
This weekend, Leslie gets to see firsthand what exactly LSU can offer him. The Hinds (Miss.) Community College standout begins spring practice this week, but after that he said he's coming down to Baton Rouge for the Tigers' spring game Saturday. Leslie's visit will come a week later than he originally scheduled.
"I wasn't there this weekend, but I'm coming down next weekend for the spring game," he said.
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LSU has plenty of replacements on D-line
March, 26, 2012
3/26/12
6:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
The math, on the surface, didn't seem to add up.
LSU lost its star player, cornerback Patrick Peterson, after the 2010 season. Surely, the Tigers secondary took a step back in 2011. Right?
Wrong.
LSU lost its star player, cornerback Patrick Peterson, after the 2010 season. Surely, the Tigers secondary took a step back in 2011. Right?
Wrong.
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Tigers avoid sweep with Sunday win at Auburn
March, 25, 2012
3/25/12
5:38
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
The No. 13 LSU baseball team avoided a sweep Sunday against Auburn with the same clutch hitting that had proved elusive earlier in the weekend.
The Tigers (18-6, 3-3) broke a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale after two straight days of coming up short in similar situations. Jared Foster, who has struggled in recent weeks, proved to be the game-winning run when he walked to lead off the top of the ninth. After third baseman Tyler Hanover bunted Foster to second base, JaCoby Jones (who managed just three hits for the series) singled to bring him home for a 4-3 lead.
Kurt McCune, who lost his spot as the Tigers' Sunday starter to Aaron Nola last weekend, entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and earned the save by holding Auburn scoreless.
The Tigers (18-6, 3-3) broke a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning of Sunday's series finale after two straight days of coming up short in similar situations. Jared Foster, who has struggled in recent weeks, proved to be the game-winning run when he walked to lead off the top of the ninth. After third baseman Tyler Hanover bunted Foster to second base, JaCoby Jones (who managed just three hits for the series) singled to bring him home for a 4-3 lead.
Kurt McCune, who lost his spot as the Tigers' Sunday starter to Aaron Nola last weekend, entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and earned the save by holding Auburn scoreless.
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Mettenberger, offense shine at scrimmage
March, 24, 2012
3/24/12
5:00
PM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
Things seemed to be aligning for a big day for Zach Mettenberger and the LSU offense during Saturday's scrimmage at Tiger Stadium.
It was a picture-perfect day for football. The defensive line was, to use Les Miles' favorite phrase, "nicked." And the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu, was held out of the secondary because of injury.
Mettenberger and the offense did not disappoint. The Tigers' new starting QB completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions in the last scrimmage before the March 31 spring game
"I think we are competing in the passing game very, very well," Miles said after the 100-play scrimmage that was conducted outside of the view of the public and the media. Statistics were provided by Miles. "I think Mettenberger is a leader there. I think he enjoys his role."
It was a picture-perfect day for football. The defensive line was, to use Les Miles' favorite phrase, "nicked." And the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu, was held out of the secondary because of injury.
Mettenberger and the offense did not disappoint. The Tigers' new starting QB completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions in the last scrimmage before the March 31 spring game
"I think we are competing in the passing game very, very well," Miles said after the 100-play scrimmage that was conducted outside of the view of the public and the media. Statistics were provided by Miles. "I think Mettenberger is a leader there. I think he enjoys his role."
After pro day, Brockers back on the rise
March, 23, 2012
3/23/12
10:25
AM ET
By
Gary Laney | ESPN.com
Michael Brockers' meteoric rise up many an NFL draft board has seen one hitch this spring.
That came at the NFL combine when the early departing LSU sophomore defensive tackle, nervous and a tad overweight, did not perform as well as he would have liked.
Perhaps that was just a blip.
That came at the NFL combine when the early departing LSU sophomore defensive tackle, nervous and a tad overweight, did not perform as well as he would have liked.
Perhaps that was just a blip.
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Remember the crazy "Gorilla Ball" days when it wasn't unusual for a team to hit nine home runs in a conference series?
If you weren't already aware that those days are long gone, consider this weekend's series between No. 13 LSU (17-4, 2-1) and Auburn (13-8, 2-1) at Auburn. The series begins with a 6 p.m. opener today and continues at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Both teams have nine home runs for the season, the obvious result of repeated NCAA attempts to restrict bat performance. Both teams have staff earned run averages below 4.00, which would have been great a few years ago, but these days it makes LSU (3.17 ERA) and Auburn (3.42 ERA) eighth and ninth in the SEC, respectively, in pitching.
If you weren't already aware that those days are long gone, consider this weekend's series between No. 13 LSU (17-4, 2-1) and Auburn (13-8, 2-1) at Auburn. The series begins with a 6 p.m. opener today and continues at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Both teams have nine home runs for the season, the obvious result of repeated NCAA attempts to restrict bat performance. Both teams have staff earned run averages below 4.00, which would have been great a few years ago, but these days it makes LSU (3.17 ERA) and Auburn (3.42 ERA) eighth and ninth in the SEC, respectively, in pitching.
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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