Steve Kragthorpe is LSU's new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach!
LSU needs a coach that can develop solid quarterback play. Kragthorpe played quarterback at Eastern New Mexico University and West Texas State in the 1980s and then went on to coach quarterbacks at Boston College, Texas A&M, and the Buffalo Bills. In his role as the Buffalo Bills quarterback coach, Kragthorpe helped Drew Bledsoe achieve one of his best seasons. In 2002, Bledsoe threw for 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns and set a Bills single game record with 463 yards passing in one game. LSU may or may not have a future Drew Bledsoe playing quarterback but most of LSU nation would settle for half of those season and single game yards passing.
The other thing LSU's offense needs is an experienced coach that can take charge and call a solid game. Kragthorpe has been an offensive coordinator at Northern Arizona, North Texas, and Texas A&M. He also did well enough as the University of Tulsa's head coach to follow Bobby Petrino as the University of Louisville's head coach. Things did not go well at Louisville despite pretty good talent. Last year Kragthorpe was hired to be Texas AM's wide receiver coach but resigned last August to take care of his wife and their family when his wife, Cynthia, had to have heart surgery to help control her multiple sclerosis. Cynthia is reportedly much better now and LSU has an added benefit of having an additional coach that appears to have life's priorities in order.
LSU should certainly benefit from Steve Kragthorpe's ability to teach and get the most out of quarterbacks. And LSU ought to benefit from Kragthorpe's experience as a play caller, offensive coordinator and head coach. However, the young men on LSU's football team may benefit on a much deeper level by observing the way coach Kragthorpe conducts his personal life. I think this hire says a lot about coach Miles' character as well.
Welcome to Tiger Nation, Kragthorpes! My hopes and prayers are with you and your family. I think all LSU fans are excitedly anticipating LSU's offense reaching its potential under your able leadership. You have a great boss, the best college football players in the country, and a very passionate fan base. The 2011 football season may now begin.
Haven't gotten enough information about Steve Kragthorpe?
Here are some good links:
Wikipedia has a good general bio of Steve Kragthorpe.
The LSU sports information department has an excellent press release about Kragthorpe that includes Les Miles thoughts.
Here is a very good article about the Kragthorpe Hire by Jim Kleinpeter in the New Orleans Times Picayune.
Here is a good article from Tulsa World that recalls Kragthorpe's impact as Tulsa's head coach.
Texas A&M coaching great R.C. Slocum thinks LSU got a great catch in Kragthorpe. (Randy Rosetta Baton Rouge Morning Advocate Article)
4 comments:
When LSU ran for 288 yards in the Cotton Bowl I was very happy about seeing that..It gave me hope for more offense balance...Now with the added help of Steve Kragthorpe as the new LSU offense coordinator...I can see a LSU offense that is not so easy to read, a better operation.
And a better passer can move the football for first downs,touchdowns,with the help of a stronger running game.
Les Miles has showed the LSU football program some very sincere loyalty...There are no perfect people,so I think that the LSU tiger fans will also now show Les Miles some very sincere loyalty.
2011 could be a football season to remember.
My goodness the LSU tiger football team looked good in that victory over that Texas A & M team in the Cotton Bowl.
If LSU can be more unpredictable on offense the sky is the limit.
Geaux tigers.
LSU should have a great season in 2011 building off a great win in the Cotton Bowl. We saw a glimpse of the capability of this team in that game. With so much talent in place, now we should fully utilize our offensive talent. I feel with Steve Krathorpe we will have that. I also hope he runs an offense that is not so predictable. From what I've read about him, he is a great fit at LSU. LSU is certainly poised for a run at the National Championship in 2011
Wow I feel like we(LSU) just caught a flat pass there is nothing in front of us but green.
Roll Tigers.
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