LSU coaches talk up programs

• By SCOTT RABALAIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 20, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.

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It’s been a banner athletic year for LSU. Its four Southeastern Conference championships are one off the school record.

Of course, when it came time to compose a banner for the annual LSU Tiger Tour, the backdrop could be nothing else but former quarterback Matt Flynn raising the BCS trophy’s crystal football in triumph, and football coach Les Miles leading the Tigers onto the field for the game against Ohio State in the Superdome.

“I was about seven seconds from being up here,” women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor cracked, pointing to Miles’ image before a sold out crowd of about 260 Monday night at LSU’s Lod Cook Alumni Center. Chancellor referred to the Lady Tigers’ heartbreaking last-second loss to Tennessee in the Women’s Final Four.

New men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson took teams at Nevada and Stanford — his most recent stop — to the “Sweet 16” in the NCAA Tournament. But he went over and crouched in front of Miles’ image as to put himself in the picture.

“If you hear what I’m saying,” Johnson said, “the Sweet 16 is not good enough. I do want to get over here (playing for the national championship).”

When it was his turn to speak, Miles did his best to douse the start of a standing ovation. And downplay his part in leading the Tigers to the BCS national championship in January, their second national title in five seasons.

“It’s easy to do when you have all the tools,” Miles said of winning a national championship at LSU. Speaking to the other coaches in the room, a list that included D-D Breaux (gymnastics), Chuck Winstead (golf), Adam Schmitt (swimming and diving) and Brian Lee (soccer), Miles said: “I look forward to their success.”

This was the fifth of 12 stops on this year’s Tiger Tour, which brings LSU coaches and administrators face-to-face with fans each year across Louisiana as well as in Texas, Mississippi and Florida.

Johnson used to make three or four stops a year on a spring tour at Stanford, speaking to about 150 fans at most.

LSU officials said they had 800 at their first stop May 7 in Alexandria.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Johnson, who was hired April 10.

“In the coaching profession, everyone talks about the rabid support and the fan base in Louisiana and in Baton Rouge. It’s that and more. It’s been very, very interesting and exciting.”

Miles may have told Johnson a thing or two about interest and excitement, a 24/7/365 passion in Louisiana when it comes to LSU football. A passion that Miles has seen become heightened since January, when LSU became the first school to win two national titles in the BCS era.