Friday, May 9, 2008
FOOTBALL 2007
|
The LSU Tigers are entering their 114th season. The New Orleans Saints, their 41st. Two teams. One college, one pro. Both united by the unbreakable bonds of a state that loves its football.
So this is what it’s like in Miami when the Dolphins are swimming and the ’Canes are crushing. Or in Dallas when the Cowboys were on top and SMU was cheating its way up there. In a BCS world that requires high visibility for a shot at a national championship, the Tigers start the 2007 season with no external constraints. Once an admittedly chubby and bright-eyed freshman, Glenn Dorsey is now regarded as one of the best defensive tackles in the country and a possible first-round pick in the NFL draft. When Matt Flynn chose LSU five years ago, he knew playing time would never be guaranteed. Arriving with JaMarcus Russell in 2003 made sure Flynn’s opportunities to get on the field would always be a challenge. Nobody will dominate the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division this football season. Those exact words began our SEC East forecast a year ago, and there’s growing evidence it’s a sentence one could take out of storage each August for the foreseeable future. Talent alone won’t win the Southeastern Conference West Division this season. But having more talent than anyone else in all the right places will go a long way in that direction for LSU in a season when a division championship is only the tip of the expectation iceberg. What the Southern University football team has in its secondary maybe seems unique because, for so long, the unit has lacked a veteran core. If this is the last year for Southern University coach Pete Richardson, here’s a moment to remember what Richardson has done. Southern had not been relevant in the Southwestern Athletic Conference — not the must-see, yearly contender the Jaguars have become under Richardson — since the school’s other coaching legend, College Football Hall of Famer A.W. “Ace” Mumford left the sidelines in 1961. “Starting from scratch” isn’t what the Grambling faithful want to hear. But that’s where the Tigers find themselves after an implosion last season. NEW ORLEANS — Even New Tulane coach Bob Toledo is curious to see what the 2007 Green Wave looks like. A new coaching staff, new philosophies on both sides of the ball, a new starting quarterback, and nine new starters overall make it difficult to project what to expect from Tulane. Chris Scelfo was fired after his eighth Tulane team finished 4-8. It was the unpleasant side of football linebacker Brenton Burkhalter knew existed but had not witnessed. Senior running back Calvin Dawson said he knows the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s record a year ago could have reflected a more joyous time. However, the Warhawks’ 4-8 mark extended a dubious streak of consecutive losing seasons to 13 — a fact that’s not lost on this year’s team. “We know our record should have been better than it was,” Dawson said. “We’ve got learn how to finish and get the win.” It didn’t take long for senior defensive tackle Josh Muse to detect a different pulse beating within the Louisiana Tech football program. Newly hired coach Derek Dooley made his presence known after taking over for Jack Bicknell, who had been fired following a 3-10 record last season. Early in his career, Mike Lucas didn’t want to be a head coach. After he changed his mind, he turned down offers. LAKE CHARLES — Six of McNeese State’s past eight head football coaches were promoted from within the program. The latest is Matt Viator, a fill-in and eventual replacement for Tommy Tate, who resigned under fire Oct. 2. Viator, 43, became the stopgap coach. He won five of six games, and McNeese called off a coaching search and deleted “interim” from his title. Broderick Cole didn’t ponder long when asked what went wrong in 2006 for the Nicholls State football team. The realization arrived quickly that if not for a smattering of snaps, Cole and the Colonels could have carved out a much different fortune. The Colonels went 4-7 last season and 2-4 in the Southland Conference. No more excuses. When Northwestern State coach Scott Stoker gathered his team in early August, that was his to-the-point declaration. JACKSON, Miss. -- With a 10-6 record, NFC South title and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game one year ago, the New Orleans Saints did an effective job of burying the franchise’s often inglorious past. Considering the NFL season stretches nearly five months and includes games on 21 of 22 weekends between Sept. 6 and Feb. 3, the date of Super Bowl XLII, lots of questions will be asked well before the Vince Lombardi Trophy is hoisted. It’s still 16 days until the season officially gets under way. JACKSON, Miss. — To find out how competitive New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is, all you have to do is ask the nurse who checked on him following surgery on his mangled right shoulder Jan. 5, 2006. It definitely takes talent and skill. The right playoff draw, few injuries and a little luck never hurts. LSU football recruiting coordinator Josh Henson has heard the reports and begs to differ. When some observers present a case for the state’s overall talent level being weak — or being a down year — Henson’s not convinced. He’s got plenty of evidence that Louisiana can hold its own. The only Baton Rouge-based Class 5A football district won’t be the same. Destrehan coach Stephen Robicheaux figured it couldn't get any better than two years ago in a football district of river rivals and Jefferson Parish schools. Zachary High coach Bob Howell is officially the dean of football coaches in District 6-4A. Call it the Baton Rouge district in search of an identity. Two-time defending champion East Ascension is gone, having moved up to Class 5A. That leaves Broadmoor, Lee, McKinley, St. Michael the Archangel and Tara. In terms of rich traditions, District 8-3A is Baton Rouge’s undisputed high school football gold mine. Can traditional “money” teams, like Redemptorist and Parkview Baptist, hit paydirt again and make a play for another state title? That’s the major question coaches in this revamped six-team district seek the answer for. One change to note is the shift of two teams, Brusly and Plaquemine to the new 9-3A with defending state champion Lutcher. What do you get when you take two West Baton Rouge rivals, pick up a playing partner within proximity and add two teams from the tradition-rich River Parishes area? Clinton is the coaches' unanimous favorite. There are new coaches and new schools in District 7-1A, but the competition should be as fierce as ever. Southern Lab and Kentwood are traditional 1A powers. One new kid on the local 1A block and the district, Desire Street Academy, steps in to replace The Dunham School. |
WBRZ VIDEO 
ADVERTISEMENTS
Now on 2theadvocate.com
