LSU Tigers: Alabama
BATON ROUGE, La. -- On bowl selection Sunday, some LSU fans were fighting mad.
LSU, they felt, was one rival program and two games away from being the dominant program in college football right now. Yet, a loss in the BCS title game to Alabama in January and a last-minute, game-winning drive by the Crimson Tide this season combined to have the Tigers in the SEC's No. 5 bowl (Chick-fil-A) and just another team not in the BCS.
Never mind that the Chick-fil-A Bowl deserves to be much better than No. 5 in the SEC bowl pecking order (really No. 6 when you consider SEC is usually a lock to get two teams into BCS bowls). It's one of the best-run bowls out there, it's played in an NFL stadium and could well end up as host site for future national championship playoff games.
LSU fans get that. They honestly appreciate that a bowl matchup with Clemson is one of the best ones in the bowl season. And they are well aware that the SEC had six teams with double digit wins, all deserving of solid bowl matchups.
That's not really why Tigers fans were a little miffed about going to Atlanta and why there's a bit of a lethargy among them.
LSU, they felt, was one rival program and two games away from being the dominant program in college football right now. Yet, a loss in the BCS title game to Alabama in January and a last-minute, game-winning drive by the Crimson Tide this season combined to have the Tigers in the SEC's No. 5 bowl (Chick-fil-A) and just another team not in the BCS.
Never mind that the Chick-fil-A Bowl deserves to be much better than No. 5 in the SEC bowl pecking order (really No. 6 when you consider SEC is usually a lock to get two teams into BCS bowls). It's one of the best-run bowls out there, it's played in an NFL stadium and could well end up as host site for future national championship playoff games.
LSU fans get that. They honestly appreciate that a bowl matchup with Clemson is one of the best ones in the bowl season. And they are well aware that the SEC had six teams with double digit wins, all deserving of solid bowl matchups.
That's not really why Tigers fans were a little miffed about going to Atlanta and why there's a bit of a lethargy among them.
David Dawson mulls options after UF visit 
October, 24, 2012
10/24/12
8:18
PM ET
By
Tom VanHaaren | ESPN.com
Offensive lineman David Dawson (Detroit/Cass Tech) had been committed to Michigan since February, but recently parted ways with the Wolverines. Dawson promptly set up a visit to Florida for the South Carolina game, since the Gators and Dawson had been in communication for quite some time.
The visit went well for Dawson as he got to take in the game atmosphere, check out Florida's communication department and the athletic facilities. The visit didn't yield the results Florida fans were hoping for, though, as there were rumors Dawson would be committing on the visit.
"I rushed myself into a bad situation at Michigan earlier this year by not weighing my options, so I didn't want to make the same mistake," he said. "I want to look at a few other schools close to home, and that might play a factor in the long run. That's mainly because of all the things my family has been through in the last year, so I feel that maybe I should try to stay close to my support system."
The visit went well for Dawson as he got to take in the game atmosphere, check out Florida's communication department and the athletic facilities. The visit didn't yield the results Florida fans were hoping for, though, as there were rumors Dawson would be committing on the visit.
"I rushed myself into a bad situation at Michigan earlier this year by not weighing my options, so I didn't want to make the same mistake," he said. "I want to look at a few other schools close to home, and that might play a factor in the long run. That's mainly because of all the things my family has been through in the last year, so I feel that maybe I should try to stay close to my support system."
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Last week ESPN 100 point guard Tim Quarterman (Savannah, Ga./Johnson) expressed his intentions to commit in time for the early signing period. It didn’t take long for that thought to come to fruition. Quarterman committed to LSU today over offers from Alabama and South Carolina, giving LSU coach Johnny Jones his second top 100 commit in the last five days.
"LSU was the best fit and coach Jones has a plan for me. I was very comfortable there," says Quarterman, who will join fellow ESPN 100 standout Jordan Mickey in Baton Rouge.
Quarterman, who is the No. 65 player in the ESPN 100, had a terrific spring and a better summer and should pay immediate dividends for LSU both on and off the floor. Quarterman ran with the nationally renowned Atlanta Celtics AAU squad over the summer and his pledge could open the door for more recruits out of talent rich Georgia to land with a reloaded LSU squad.
Quarterman is a major sleeper among the guards in our ESPN 100, but he is one of the most versatile perimeter players in the class. He's also valuable on defense as he can defend all three perimeter positions.
"LSU was the best fit and coach Jones has a plan for me. I was very comfortable there," says Quarterman, who will join fellow ESPN 100 standout Jordan Mickey in Baton Rouge.
Quarterman, who is the No. 65 player in the ESPN 100, had a terrific spring and a better summer and should pay immediate dividends for LSU both on and off the floor. Quarterman ran with the nationally renowned Atlanta Celtics AAU squad over the summer and his pledge could open the door for more recruits out of talent rich Georgia to land with a reloaded LSU squad.
Quarterman is a major sleeper among the guards in our ESPN 100, but he is one of the most versatile perimeter players in the class. He's also valuable on defense as he can defend all three perimeter positions.
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Countdown to kickoff: Saturday nights
August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
7:00
AM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
GeauxTigerNation writers Gary Laney and David Helman get you ready for the season with a daily breakdown through August of what LSU is facing in the fall, from its opponents, to its road trips to who it's recruiting. In today's opening installment, Gary Laney looks at the return of something LSU fans cherish: Saturday nights in Death Valley:
It's right there on page 26 of LSU's football media guide.
Per tradition, as the afternoon light fades in Tiger Stadium and LSU emerges from the locker room to take the field before the start of a home football game, public address announcer Dan Borne tells the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's Saturday night in Death Valley, and here come your Fighting Tigers of LSU!"
It's right there on page 26 of LSU's football media guide.
Per tradition, as the afternoon light fades in Tiger Stadium and LSU emerges from the locker room to take the field before the start of a home football game, public address announcer Dan Borne tells the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's Saturday night in Death Valley, and here come your Fighting Tigers of LSU!"
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GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney break down the competitions, issues and talking points of LSU's August camp. Players report to campus Aug. 1 and we'll have a preview segment every weekday in July leading up to the day the players report:
Every artist needs a muse and if LSU's masterful 2011 regular season was indeed, a work of art, then Oregon filled the role of muse perfectly.
The Ducks were the Tigers' 2011 opening opponent, the preseason No. 3 team in the country and an opponent that could catapult LSU smack into national championship contention.
Every artist needs a muse and if LSU's masterful 2011 regular season was indeed, a work of art, then Oregon filled the role of muse perfectly.
The Ducks were the Tigers' 2011 opening opponent, the preseason No. 3 team in the country and an opponent that could catapult LSU smack into national championship contention.
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GTN writers Gary Laney and David Helman discuss issues around LSU football.
Question: ESPNU has been showing both LSU-Alabama games from last season. Looking back at them, what strikes you the most in retrospect?
Gary Laney: Just how badly the LSU offensive line was handled by the Alabama front. The Crimson Tide defense didn't just beat the LSU offensive line, they embarrassed the Tigers' front.
Question: ESPNU has been showing both LSU-Alabama games from last season. Looking back at them, what strikes you the most in retrospect?
Gary Laney: Just how badly the LSU offensive line was handled by the Alabama front. The Crimson Tide defense didn't just beat the LSU offensive line, they embarrassed the Tigers' front.
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Will LSU-UF remain permanent rivals?
May, 31, 2012
5/31/12
8:00
AM ET
By
Gary Laney and
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
The addition of Missouri and Texas A&M has necessitated a re-examination of the Southeastern Conference’s football schedule. One possible format would be a 6-1-1, meaning each team would play every team in its division, have one permanent foe from the other division, and play the remaining six teams in the other division on a rotating basis.
Florida-LSU is one of those permanent matchups, but there’s debate about whether the series should continue. The teams have met every year since 1971, but could 2012 be the end?
Here’s a look at it from each school’s perspective …
Florida-LSU is one of those permanent matchups, but there’s debate about whether the series should continue. The teams have met every year since 1971, but could 2012 be the end?
Here’s a look at it from each school’s perspective …
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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