Rising Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide is the New York Yankees of college football. Most Division I schools can only dream about the money and resources this program has at its disposal. Like the Yankees, they can buy their way out of just about any slump or bad situation, and over the past two years they have used it to the best of their ability to rebuild and reorganize with one goal in mind: football glory. The University of Alabama went undefeated in 2009 and won their first national title since 1992. The Tide is rolling again.

All my LSU fans can close your mouth and wipe that look of worry off your face. Just because I am living in Birmingham does not, in any way, mean my allegiances have changed. The spirit lives within me, forever LSU. All I am doing is giving credit where credit is due.

Atop the mighty mountain that is SEC football, the Crimson Tide is king (at least for now). Many Bama fans are not unfamiliar with being at the top. In the 60’s and 70’s Paul “Bear” Bryant’s teams dominated college football unlike any team before or since. Bryant brought Alabama six National Titles (61’, 64’, 65’, 72, 78’ and 79’), unmatched by any other coach in the modern era. Bryant was larger than life and his influence went far beyond the state of Alabama. He was the mogul of college football turning the game into a business. His legacy has lived on long after his death (and not only in the minds of Bama fans).

After the era of the “Bear” came to an end, Alabama fans would not enjoy another National Title until 1992. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to the Sugar Bowl to face Miami, and college football fans were stunned as the Tide rolled over Miami 34-13. Alabama fans would have to enjoy this celebration for a long time because NCAA violations were soon to become a theme in Alabama athletics.

There was an incident shortly after the ’92 championship when the Tide was forced to forfeit nearly the entire 1993 season and put on a one-year postseason ban (which was effective for 1995). The NCAA considered cornerback Antonio Langham ineligible for allegedly signing with an agent.

But the most devastating blow came after the 2001 season. That was when the Tide became completely stagnant. Allegations were made in 2000 that a “rogue booster” named Logan Young paid approximately $150,000 to a Memphis high school coach to ensure that defensive tackle Albert Means would sign with Alabama. The NCAA took action by opening a full-fledged investigation. Probation sanctions were handed down by the NCAA in 2002, and Alabama was punished with a loss of scholarships and a 2 year post season ban. The humiliation continued when then head coach, Dennis Franchione abruptly left Alabama amid the sanctions telling player and fans to “hold the rope.”

Mike Price was hired to fill the void but lasted only a few months after being fired for running up the company credit card on some questionable purchases.
In May 2003, Alabama choose Mike Shula to lead the Tide. Bama fans promptly took a shot of bourbon and settled in for the most miserable football Alabama had experienced since the 1950’s. Shula’s tenure was lackluster, failing to beat Auburn or LSU in his 4 years as coach, he was fired. The glory days of expecting championships every year and being a fixture on national television seemed like a distant memory, especially in light of the circus that was their coaching search.

“We got Saban” were three simple words that for a time made LSU blood boil and felt like a slap in the face to every coonass. This is partly because we were hurt and partly because we knew what was coming. The Tide was going to rise again.

For all you Bama fans that think Nick Saban is the second coming of “Bear” Bryant, he is not. Nick Saban is the first coming of Nick Saban (I know from experience).

In three short years, he was able to bring Alabama out of football obscurity (“ala-who?”) to winning a BCS National Title. It was not an entirely smooth ride considering the 2007 loss to UL-Monroe, and the disappointments in 2008 when an undefeated Alabama choked in Atlanta and followed it up with a completely uninspired Sugar Bowl performance. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Alabama football in one season. Saban brought with him strict discipline, along with strong recruiting and a great coaching staff. This new swagger attracted talented recruits in droves. All of this paid off in 2009 when Alabama defeated the mighty Gators, en route to beating Texas (historically, someone they had never beaten) for the BCS title. The youngest generation of Alabama fans was finally able to understand their parents’ strong passion for the Tide.

The journey is only half the story and this one has a happy ending (that is… if you’re a Bama fan). For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the future is bright and for the time being out shines all other SEC teams. (stupid Dolphins!)

This is Part II in a three part series about the return of three legendary SEC programs.

Johnny Esfeller thanks for all your help with this one.

A Return to Glory

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska. For LSU Tiger baseball fans this day is one we will never forget. The unhappy memories of the recent troubled past disappeared in nine innings of baseball in Rosenblatt Stadium. Coach Paul Mainieri and his Tigers won a sixth national title. Now emblazoned in College Baseball history are the images of Lewis Coleman throwing a final strike that signified LSU’s return to baseball glory.

Before the pitch, before the pile on the mound, before the flag was raised, college baseball’s greatest fans believed. It didn’t matter where you were in town, if you talked about LSU baseball the feeling was always the same. No one talked about if the Tigers would win another National Title; they all talked about when the Tigers would win another National Title.

When Paul Mainieri was hired as the head coach of the Tiger baseball team, he made a promise to the fans. “Make no mistake about it,” he said. “The goal is to return LSU to the pinnacle position in college baseball. I have all the confidence in the world that we can do that here.” In just three short years, Mainieri made good on his promise. The Tigers were able to finish the year exactly where they had started, ranked No.1.

For all of you that may not be avid LSU Baseball fans, let me explain something. Just like Alabama and football, Kentucky and basketball, LSU is synonymous with baseball. Yes, I know some of you are shaking your heads and saying, “Wait! Football is the number one sport at LSU.” I understand that fact and I am in no way disputing it, but coming in a very close second is LSU baseball. There is a reason why we have led the nation in total attendance for the last 14 straight seasons. We are college baseball’s greatest fans.

In the 1990’s, LSU changed the game of college baseball. Under legendary coach Skip Bertman, the Tigers were able to bring home five College World Series championships, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000 and were easily the team of the decade. LSU ascended into the elite class of college baseball programs. Our boys were bigger, faster and stronger than any other team and were able to dominate the baseball world. “Gorilla Ball” is a phrase that was created to talk about the big bats that LSU brought to every game. In 1997, the Tigers hit 188 homeruns, shattering the old record of 161 set by BYU in 1988. Hitting a homerun for an LSU baseball player was as common as houndstooth hats on game day in Tuscaloosa. Bertman won 870 games while leading LSU to 7 SEC titles and 11 CWS appearances. His teams averaged 48 wins per year, and only failed to make the postseason twice during his 18 year career.

With Bertman’s retirement after the 2001 season, LSU baseball lost some of its moxie. From 2002-2006 LSU played host to a regional, three super regionals, and made it to Omaha twice where they went 0-2 both trips. For average college baseball programs, this would have been acceptable. But this was LSU, and average was not enough. The Gorilla Ball we were known for had faded, and big wins over big teams were few and far between. The trip to Omaha which had become the norm and was expected quickly became a wish the team couldn’t deliver. Fans could feel the title of elite college program slipping away. Yet, through all this, attendance was still the highest in the nation proving the idea of being on top was in the back of every fan’s mind.

Paul Mainieri breathed life back into the LSU program. Suddenly we are elite again and Omaha is expected every year. Last season, the Tigers made their way to the Heartland of America with one goal: a return to glory. Fans arrived in droves bringing purple and gold beads, cold beer and good food with them. Signs stating “Gorilla Ball is Back!” could be seen all over Omaha. Beating Arkansas in the semi-finals, LSU moved on the face the Texas Longhorns in a best-of-three series for the championship. The Tigers won game one 8-7 in a dramatic comeback win in 11 innings. The Longhorns beat the Tigers in game two 5-1, to force a third and final game. The Tigers out-slugged the Longhorns 11-4 to win their 6th National Championship and first since 2000. The legendary program of LSU is back on top.

So we begin the 2010 season with LSU ranked No.2. This roster is arguably the best in country and many believe better than last year. So, what do Tiger fans expect? That’s easy, a trip to Omaha, the destination for so many but reached by so few. This year Rosenblatt Stadium will host its final championship series and I think it would be fitting if the Tigers took the field.

If you have never been a fan of LSU baseball this is a perfect time to jump on the bandwagon and join college baseball’s greatest fans. I promise you it will be a hell of a ride.

“…When you guys play to the best of your ability nobody in the country can beat you.” –LSU Coach Paul Mainieri, prior to the 1st game vs. Texas of the 2009 CWS Championship Series

This is Part I in a three part series about the return of three legendary SEC programs.

AMEN! Saints March to Super Bowl Win!

OMG! HOLY CRAP! Hell has frozen over. Pigs have flown. WHO DAT BABY?! SAINTS WIN!

Now that I have all of that out of my system, I want to tell you about my Super Bowl experience. I made the trip down to New Orleans to watch the game with friends and to be part of history. We arrived on Saturday morning the city was the craziest I have ever seen it (this includes Mardi Gras). People were everywhere, decked out in Saints gear. There was an energy in New Orleans; Saints fans knew we were going to win.

The pre-game video about the team, Drew Brees and New Orleans evoked more emotion than I thought would be possible. I think outsiders often forget that not only have people residing on the Gulf Coast heard the story of hurricane Katrina, we lived it. So as you can imagine I was not excited to see another sad mini- documentary, but this was different. For once a piece about the city after the hurricane was about the positive progress we have made such as schools being rebuilt, people moving home, and all the good work that Drew Brees has been a part of. What Drew and his wife, Brittany, have done for the people of New Orleans is something we will never be able to repay. They love our city, our state, our home almost as much as the natives! All I can say is thank you Drew and Brittany for helping to bring us back to life.

On that note, please understand, this season, this team and this game are not about Katrina. The 2006 Saints were about Katrina. That team gave a region what it needed most in one of its darkest times. They allowed us to hope again. This team, the 2009 New Orleans Saints are about something very different. They are about fan base that has stood by a mediocre team for 43 years. I will now get off my soap box.

There was magic in the dome from the very first kickoff of the season. This magic carried not just the team but all of the Who Dat Nation through the season in a way that most of us had only dreamed about. Starting the season perfect at 13-0, this Saints team was able to win by every way possible. They won with offense, they won with defense, they won with the running game, the passing game and even with special teams. All the while giving fans a few highlights they will never forget.

We all know about Drew Brees and his unbelievable passer rating of 109.6, Darren Sharper’s nine interceptions, and Reggie Bush’s high flying touchdown leaps. We watched as Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith and Roman Harper made it difficult for opposing offenses to find a rhythm and for rookie quarterbacks to stay on their feet. The Saints combined for 64 touchdowns for the season with ten different players catching passes for touchdowns and six different players rushing for touchdowns. Jeremy Shockey, Marques Colston, Pierre Thomas and Devery Henderson made us stand up, scream and high-five as they drove the offense down the field. We all held our breath as Garrett Hartley kicked what will now be the most famous field goal in Saints history.

Fans screamed from the moment the team took the field till the early morning hours of the next day. You could hear “Who Dat” echoing into the night.

The Super Bowl got off to a rocky start for the Saints, down by ten, but the fans never lost faith. We knew this was our team’s night and the magic that had carried the Saints through the season would not let us down. There was not a dry eye in the house as the final seconds ticked away in Super Bowl XLIV. The dream was complete and our beloved misfit team had done the unthinkable. The Saints had won the Super Bowl. The demons of old are gone. The spirits that had been haunting the Super Dome for so many years have finally been put to rest.

The game itself was so much more than I could have ever asked for. Sean Payton's play calling will be remembered as one of the greatest coaching jobs in Super Bowl history. Risky plays payed off and it was clear that the Saint's magic would not be denied. To beat the Indianapolis Colts by two touchdowns left no doubt who was the better team and finally quieted the naysayers. We belonged there and we proved it. The Super Bowl victory was a perfect ending to an incredible story; a story that I will be sharing with my children and grandchildren someday. I can say I was a part of the magic.

Have the Tiger Faithful Lost Their Faith?

First of all, I am an LSU fan to the core. I was basically raised in Tiger Stadium, I bleed purple and gold and I name some of my pets after football players. I will support the team no matter what happens. I feel the need to defend my devotion, because what I am going to tell you may shock a few of you, and for the die-hard fans, could bring a tear to your eye.

I DO NOT LIKE Les Miles. There I said it, and the giant elephant in the room has finally vanished. Although for most of you who know me, this revelation did not come as a surprise. Les is a good person, just not a good coach for a top-tier Southeastern Conference team. I feel like the future of the program is in jeopardy. I don’t feel comfortable with my beloved Tigers running out of the tunnel to 92,000 screaming fans with Les leading the charge. After this past Wednesday’s festivities, I am realizing that I am no longer in the minority with my opinion.

For anyone who doubts my loyalty to LSU football, let me explain something; I love the program so much that I got on a plane at 5:05 pm Tuesday, February 2 headed for New Orleans and then got back on a plane at 9:40 am Thursday, February 4 bound for Birmingham. This means that I was in my home state for less than 48 hours just so that I could work the LSU Gridiron Club’s annual recruiting day party, the Bayou Bash.

For the third year in a row I donned my VIP Hostess t-shirt while serving food and beer to LSU fans, many of whom paid $2000 for a table right by the stage. Being that this wasn’t my first rodeo, I know what the atmosphere of this social gathering usually feels like, so I believed I knew what to expect. What I got, was nothing like I anticipated.

Most tables were not full, the food and beer barely seemed to be flowing and the usually rowdy crowd was surprisingly subdued all day. I have tried to figure out what could have caused the drastic mood change. I have come to the following conclusions: most of the recruits had signed before we were finished serving breakfast, the economy is bad and people felt it was difficult to leave work to come mingle, and Tiger fans may be losing faith in their beloved team.

The general consensus is the team has not performed up to their potential the last two years. I am not just talking about loosing games. Every team is going to lose a game now and then. In the modern era of football, in the toughest conference (SEC), being perfect is a daunting task. Even our two national championship seasons came with a loss or two. So what has changed, and why do we all feel so entitled to perfection?

For LSU, it is not the “L” in the column for a few games that hurts; it is the way in which we have lost those games. It is a 4th quarter loss when you have been leading all game, calling the option (which had not worked all season) on 3rd and long, to lose because our offense could not muster a touchdown, and losses due to poor clock management. These sorts of things have left a bitter taste in our mouths. I feel you can blame the majority of these losses on the coaching staff for not preparing the team.

Judging from the reaction of the fans at the Bayou Bash, many of them feel the same. As tradition, when the LSU head football coach would speak, everyone in the room would listen, and yes, I am counting the sad days of Curley Hallman and Mike Archer. During Miles’ speech people were texting and talking on their cell phones, and amongst each other. It was very clear that he did not have our undivided attention for his speech about things not “being good enough,” that felt rehearsed and insincere. In a room that would normally erupt with applause and cheers when every coach was introduced, the welcome was a bit icy. Few clapped and even less stood to offer support. If the coaches did not know before Wednesday that fans are unhappy, they know it now.

After such a calm, civil Bayou Bash, what does this tell us? Are tiger fans loosing faith?

Not yet! True Tiger fans will always be Tiger fans. Young children will grow up spending most of their Saturdays tailgating for games outside of Tiger Stadium. RVs will be adorned with LSU paint and stuffed tigers and will still drive hundred of miles to see the team play at opposing venues. That said, if Miles cannot find a way to field a more disciplined, better prepared and stronger team, his head will be on the chopping block. Fans young and old have no problem planting “For Sale” signs in coaches’ yards.

Soon, there may come a time when several million dollars for a buy-out seems like pocket change if it means luring a new head coach to Baton Rouge. After all, we have driven out better coaches for less (no pun intended).

Jeremy Shockey, Soul of the Saints

It’s the divisional playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals and the camera pans to Jeremy Shockey. Injured on the sideline, he points to his head and rocks his helmet like it’s a baby. He mouthed the words, “use your head, take care of the ball,” to his teammates on the field. At that moment Jeremy Shockey officially became my favorite NFL player. I wish I knew why that moment stood out to me, but I have no idea. That seemed to be the moment I realized what Jeremy Shockey meant to his team, the fans and to me.

I can honestly say, when the New Orleans Saints announced Jeremy Shockey would be dressing out in the black and gold; I was not jumping for joy. Want me to list the reasons?

First, my boobs are big and jumping can be painful. Second, I felt that the last thing New Orleans needed was another bad boy coming to town to stir up trouble. I will now take my serving of crow, fried, with a side of remoulade.

We all know the story: Jeremy Shockey sits in a press box with a broken leg watching his team, the New York Giants win the biggest game of the season, without him. After the 2007 Super Bowl he seemed to be biding his time till the Giants could work out a trade with someone. Turns out that someone would be the New Orleans Saints.

So what was New Orleans getting out of this deal with the New York Giants? A former first round pick in the 2002 NFL draft from the University of Miami, a four time pro-bowler and he had the bad-ass reputation to go along with all of it. The rumors of Shockey being a Giant distraction far over shadowed his career accolades.

I will admit, the only reason I was excited about Jeremy Shockey was because the blonde hottie was on his way to Louisiana to be eye candy for every female Saints fan. Thanks to a misdiagnosed hernia injury, that’s all he was his first season in New Orleans; a tight end with a great tight end that smiled pretty in pictures.

Now, all of that has changed. Any Who Dat can tell you that Shockey is a large part of this team on and off the field. This Saints team is different from the others. I don’t say that because they are winning, I say that because this team is a family.

What does Shockey mean to the Saints? He is the embodiment of the new attitude that resonates within the Super Dome; an attitude that has changed players and the entire Who Dat Nation. He has more fire on the sidelines, no matter if he is in pads or not, than any other player. When something goes wrong, Shockey is the first one there with words of encouragement to lift his team. In the NFC Championship game, Reggie Bush fumbled the ball on the 10 yard line. Bush made his way to the bench where Shockey was quick to be at his side with words of encouragement. This behavior has been the norm for him all season. I don’t remember this Shockey from the New York Giants. That would be because this isn’t the same Jeremy Shockey that played football in a Giants uniform.

We all know Shockey is an asset on the sidelines, but when he is on the field, the demeanor of the entire team changes. With the ball in his hands, Shockey is dangerously good. The opponent’s defense is forced to cover him at all times, often opening up other opportunities for the Saint’s offense. Look at the facts: the Saints record for the 2009 season with Shockey in the lineup, 15-0 and the Saints record without Shockey in the lineup, 0-3. The team plays better with him on the field. A healthy Shockey throughout this season has been the spark that New Orleans needed.

The New Orleans Saint, Jeremy Shockey, the one we watch on Sunday night, is a new person. He seems to have found a family with the Saints. So this weekend, Shockey will be right where he belongs, in Miami, on the field at the Super Bowl, dressed in Saints pads. He will hopefully bring the Lombardi Trophy home, to New Orleans for the first time. Win or lose, one thing is clear, moving to New Orleans has revived Jeremy Shockey’s soul and I for one cannot wait to see what the future holds for one of the best tight ends in the NFL.

Pearls and Bourbon

I hunt, I fish, I drink Bourbon and yes, I wear pearls every day. I love football, baseball and basketball. I may look cute, being only 5 feet 2 inches with blond hair and green eyes, but when it comes to watching my teams play, I can curse louder than any sailor. I am considered a Southern Belle by its very definition and at the same time it doesn’t bother me to be covered in mud while playing flag football with friends. Born and raised in the South means being a sports fan is a way of life. Of course I have my favorite teams, with whom my heart belongs and I follow religiously: LSU and the New Orleans Saints. There will be times when my bias gets the best of me.

The difference between most Southern girls and those that live north of the Mason-Dixon Line is that we would rather watch Monday Night Football than Desperate Housewives. When we say “that’s nice” we hate whatever you just said or showed us. We attend sporting events with full makeup, ready to drink and have a good time while we cheer for our team.

How many times has someone come up to you, while you were wearing your favorite team’s t-shirt, and asked if you could name a single player, with a sarcastic tone? Well if you’re a true Southern female sports fan the proper way to respond would be as my best friend, Lauren, did, ever so sweetly with a smile on her face, “Would you like offense or defense?”

That is exactly why I have begun writing; to prove a point, just because I am female does not mean I am ignorant about sports.

So I offer a new perspective, a Southern Belle’s view of sports.