LSU projected to finish 2nd in SEC West

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 25, 2009 - Page: 2C

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HOOVER, Ala. — Turns out LSU’s potential to make noise in the Southeastern Conference West Division isn’t ready to be buried, at least not by the media that covers the league.

The Tigers were slotted to finish second in the Western Division in a vote of 64 media members at the league’s Football Media Days, behind Alabama but ahead of Ole Miss — a media darling since the end of last year when the Rebels reeled off six wins in a row.

Coming off a disappointing 8-5 season, LSU received 15 first-place votes. Alabama got 33 and Ole Miss 16.

In the Eastern Division, Florida got all 64 votes as the division favorite, the first unanimous pick since divisional play started in 1992.

The reigning national champion Gators were also the run-away pick as the overall champion, getting 63 votes. Ole Miss got the lone dissenting vote.

The media also selected a preseason All-SEC team, which Florida and Alabama dominated with eight and six first-team picks, respectively.

LSU landed a pair of seniors on the first-team offense: Left tackle Ciron Black and tailback Charles Scott. No Tigers were chosen for the first-team defense.

On the second team, senior receiver Brandon LaFell earned a spot, while defensive tackle Charles Alexander and safety Chad Jones landed on the second-team defense.

In the wake of the controversy generated this week by

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow not earning every coach’s vote in their preseason vote, the Gators senior was named on 61 of 64 ballots turned in by the media.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry was the top vote-getter with 62, while Tebow and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes got 61 apiece, Black 60 and Scott 59 to top the list.