Tide and True

I realize I'm not that great of a blogger. I don't update too often and I'm not as familiar with LSU sports as I'd like to be, considering that before two years ago I hated LSU as I did any other SEC team than Alabama. I'm working on it though and hopefully within the near future I can be more knowledgable in what I write about.

So I can't truly give you a great analysis of the LSU 2007 recruiting class other than what Tigersmack, TigerBait and the Daily Reveille will give you, and to be honest I don't really know how these places and ScoutsInc. and Rivals.com do all their research, but it's impressive. I do wish to chide McKnight for following John David Booty over to the Evil Empire in Los Angeles. It's okay though, they'll be smacked with a sanction soon enough. I'm excited about our class and am looking forward to them ushering in the new era of Tiger football. Look for Jarrett Lee next season if this Perrilloux federal investigation heats up. He's the No. 10 of this year's class.

Back to the Bama references. I promised last time I'd talk about the Crimson Tide's hiring practices for coaches. The Alabama football program officially claims 12 national championships in its history, which is the most of any college since Notre Dame only claims 11. Paul "Bear" Bryant won six of those, 15 bowl games and 232 games overall as the Bama head coach in 25 seasons. Ever since, Alabama alumni and boosters have acted like spoiled children and gone through nine different coaches.

Truthfully, some of these coaches left on their own free will, including Bill Curry, Ray Perkins and Dennis Franchione, and one of them never coached a game (Mike Price) before being fired for poor conduct. You can't blame them for not wanting to deal with an alcoholic who ordered $1,000 worth of room service for a couple of strippers...

Regardless, there's been an air of negativity around that Alabama job for awhile now and it was further accentuated when Bama fired Mike Shula after a lackluster season this past year. Of those nine coaches, only Gene Stallings coached longer than 4 years (62-25 officially with a national championship win over Miami for the 1992 season). The Alabama program rightfully feels it is one of the top programs nationwide, and that number 12 speaks loudly, but coaches are never there long enough to make an impact, either because they're fired before they can use their own recruits or they're driven away by the athletic administration (MAL MOORE!!!). That includes contract clauses limiting the coach's ability to run his team (Bill Curry).

Mike Shula took over a program still mired in the wake of the Mike DuBose era, wherein they lost scholarships, bowl bids for two years and received five-year probation. They almost lost television broadcast rights for five years as well, but the NCAA realized the folly this would be and reinstated it (Bama rakes in money, folks). Prospects steered clear of Bama and it was hard to compete in the SEC West, which didn't stop Shula from going 10-2 in his third season with a Cotton Bowl victory over the incredible offense of Texas Tech. His team wasn't good enough the next season to replicate this success, but of course it was expected, and a 6-5 record had him fired. Joe Kines coached the bowl game in his place. The third-straight bowl game Shula led the Tide to, by the way.

The point was that Shula was, for the entirety of his tenure, at the mercy of Bama alumni and boosters. In their opinion, four years was all a coach needed to prove his worth, and even a 10-2 season wasn't enough to do so. A coach who takes the Bama job will always have Big Brother looking over his shoulder, watching his every move and with one finger on the trigger at all times. Regardless of what the length of their contract, job security does not exist there. Nick Saban is the highest-profile coach they have had in awhile, but don't be fooled into thinking if he doesn't meet immediate success that he'll be there longer than four years.

Many programs lure away coaches but Alabama has been notorious for doing so to programs in their prime. Frachione from TCU, Curry from Georgia Tech and Price from Washington State. Saban was stolen from the Miami Dolphins and they were not too happy.

As an LSU fan, and even as a person who maintains a minimal support for Bama, the attitudes of these boosters and alumni isn't surprising. Bama fans are some of the most spoiled and fickle fans in the nation. When their team is winning, everything is wonderful, but in dark times there's no moodier a fan than that of Bama. It's amazing the speed with which they turn on their own. LSU has not had the storied history of a Bama, but its fans are passionate as the sun rises. And while Les Miles was met with some resentment by many fans and alumni early on, I think he's won over the faithful with two 11-2 seasons.

In LSU-Related News:

• I went to my first Lady Tigers basketball game of the season on Thursday evening, which they won 79-66. While it wasn't as fast-paced as some of the men's contests and without the showy dunks and flips, it was an incredible time in which I saw more blocked shots than I've seen in awhile. A great show!
• The No. 7 Lady Tigers face No. 5 UConn tomorrow at 2 p.m. in a game which I will be attending and I urge you to do so also. This team is winning, and they're facing the perennial winner UConn which doesn't happen often. Also look for the matchup against the Tennessee women on Monday the 19th. If you're done with Mardi Gras, head back to Baton Rouge.
• The men's basketball team faces SEC West opponent Arkansas in about an hour here at the PMAC. Head out there if you don't have mass studying to do and support the Tigers as they look to break a losing streak. This is a must-win if LSU wants to get ready for the SEC tourney. LSU needs to basically win all its games down the stretch if they want to contend for the NCAA Tournament, and they're capable if they build some team unity.
• LSU's No. 12 Gymnastics team is moving back up the rankings with a win last night at No. 24 Kentucky by more than a point.
• Softball and baseball seasons are underway. Tiger baseball kicked off with a 4-3 win over Saint Mary's (Calif.) last night, and the Lady Tigers softball team has won their first two games in the Easton Tiger Classic.
• Five days until fantasy baseball season begins, and very soon pitchers and catchers will report to spring training. I absolutely can't wait for this upcoming MLB season.