The SEC is underestimating LSU

que the Bama fans

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The coaches see LSU as 16. The SEC media days predictions see something different I guess with LSU finishing 4th in the west. That s pretty large discrepancy in perception.

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Not really. Arky is 19th and AU 23rd in the coaches poll. Seven spots between 2nd in the West and 4th isn't a big difference.

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The coaches see LSU as 16. The SEC media days predictions see something different I guess with LSU finishing 4th in the west. That s pretty large discrepancy in perception.

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Regionally, the narrative is that Miles is a complete idiot. This is fueled by Paul Finebaum, Tony Barnhardt, Glen Guilbeau, etc. Add to that what he did at Ole Miss last year and the other mistakes the last few years and the regional media and opposing fanbases only think "Les Miles the town dunce" when they think of LSU now. That is coloring everything.

While I agree with much of that, you still have an extremely talented team and some very good coaches on that staff. You also have a QB with more experience and offensive weapons all over the field. The defense should be stronger this year, in my opinion, with one of the best secondaries in the nation.

I think that people are looking only at Miles and expect the downward trend to continue.

If LSU had beaten Ole Miss and Penn St. last year to finish 11-2 (games that they were seconds away from winning), where would perception be regarding this team? I doubt it would be 4th in the SEC.

good point. I did not look at it like that.

Sounds like that's a pretty good situation to be in. I realize that the past two seasons have left Tiger fans with a serious need for some kind/any kind of recognition, but I wouldn't be overly concerned with pre-season polls.

The one thing I never understood about the Les Miles is a joke argument is that he has a winning record against most SEC schools. So when Les beats your SEC coach, what does that make your coach?

Also, the Les Miles is a joke argument does not seem to be trickling down to the players, as recruiting has been exceptional the past two seasons.

I dont think anyone is underestimating LSU, its just that so many teams in the west are equal or better. Its going to be a bloodbath in 10.

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we're really not that concerned with recognition. improving the results on the field and the methods of the coaching staff would have a much bigger impact on the psyche of Tiger fans than what the media and other fan bases are saying about LSU.

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I agree. But the OP specifically mentioned regional commentators and opposing fanbases.

Regional commentators and opposing fan bases seem to have written LSU off. That is a mistake. I concede that Les Miles is not a coach that strikes fear in anyone. But, LSU is going to be formidable this year and are as talented as both Alabama and Florida. Those two teams are better (again, see coaching), but LSU can still beat them. Writing off LSU and putting Auburn, Ole Miss, or Arkansas ahead of them is a mistake, in my opinion. I'm not saying that LSU will beat all three of those teams. We seem to annually lose to one of them (last time we beat all 3 was 2005). But, they are all going to have a fight on their hands.

I don't know what our record will be and I don't know who we'll beat or lose to. But, every fan base on LSU's schedule has got to know that there is a good chance of losing when they play the Tigers.
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Honestly, I do not see a huge disparity in coaching. When I think of coaching, I think of the staff as a whole. Outside the lack of creativity in playcalling, our staff is pretty strong. CLM is more of a CEO. He knows how to treat the people that work with him and for him. He is not a "hands on" type by any means. However, he does know enough about football. In fact, I can only think of a few games in his tenure that we were totally out of the game and did not have a chance to win in the 4th quarter. Bama has been lucky two years in a row and Fla caught a break last year. I do believe LSU will shock a lot of teams this year (No. I'm not on the purple drank). I'm just waiting to hear the sounds from the bandwagon clan.

Here's to football