Tiger Fan Talk: Featuring Mark Young

As you might imagine, I  know several people that know a whole lot about LSU football and for quite some time I have been toying with the idea of interviewing some of these "super fans".  Some of the people that have sent me some really good emails, like Howard A. Gordon and Michael Lann, remain on the short list of guys I would like to feature in an interview.  I also have an interview with an Oregon blogger already in the works.  However, as a personal favor I have asked LSU super fan, Mark Young, to answer some questions.
Mark is a graduate of LSU and LSU law school, a successful attorney in South Louisiana and a regular LSU season ticket holder.  Mark and I have been friends since we were about 9 or 10 years old.  Mark and I were later roommates in room 706A in E.Kirby Smith dorm at LSU which should now be designated a shrine to Bob's Sports Blog and Super Fan Mark Young.  This is a recent picture of Mark that I snag from his Face Book photos :

Mark Young LSU Super Fan

Since I have known Mark a long time I am going to use pictures from our youth to make the interview seem more like a conversation between the two boys we used to be.  We were so goofy as kids that the pictures will probably add some entertainment value, at least for us and people who know us.  And hopefully you will enjoy the interview more with our goofy kid pics. If you don't care for the pics, at least give me some leeway since this is "Bob's" Sports blog, I should get to include personal stuff occasionally.  Warning:  we have changed a little bit over the years.  

Young Bob

What is the answer to LSU's QB woes? Should coach Kragthorpe concentrate on developing Jefferson or try to develop one of the backups?

Young Mark Young

Jefferson is a senior and will be the man, whether Tiger fans like it or not. We have no experience with Kragthorpe, so we don't know how long (or short) his leash will be. If we lose a couple of games early, Mettenberger will get the call. Jefferson will carry the load for as long as the team is winning. And I am fine with that.

                                

Young Bob

Which player will have a surprise breakout season on offense this year?

Young Mark Young

No question about this one. Jakhari Gore will be the breakout player. Les has been talking him up, and he got a lot of touches in the spring game. He reminds me of a Dalton Hilliard with speed.

Young Bob

What will be LSU's biggest strength on defense - the line or the db?

Young Mark Young

Both will be solid, but I have to give the nod to the line due to the loss of Patrick Peterson. Sam Montgomery is a great pass rusher and should be 100% after blowing out his knee last year. Michael Brockers is an absolute beast who has not yet shown what he can really do. And true freshman Anthony Johnson is a man child who will be starting by the end of the year. Book it.

Young Bob

What are your expectations for the Oregon Game?

Young Mark Young

I think Oregon is good -- very good. I think it will be a good game, but our young linebackers will have a tough time with that horizontal read option game. I am predicting a loss, but it will be our only one for the year until we play for a national championship. Hope I'm wrong.

Young Bob

What do you expect the Tigers overall record to be this year?

Young Mark Young

12-2. This includes a loss to Oregon on the front end, and a loss to Oklahoma in the national championship game. Yes, the SEC's streak will be broken this year, and LSU will be to blame. Again, hope I'm wrong.





Thanks for the interview my friend for making my 100th post a special one.  I plan to do the interview thing at the most once or twice a week but I am strongly considering making this interviewing a real fan a regular feature on this blog.  I encourage you to click the "comment" button at the bottom of this article and respond to Mark's thoughts. And feel free to send me an email at bobwynnster@gmail.com if you think you might be one of those "real" Tiger fans who might like to participate in a discussion or interview.

By the way, if you have an awkward youngster, you might show him/her mine and Mark's "young" pictures. Mark has been happily married and has happy, brilliant, well adjusted children.  I also have been happily married to a beautiful woman for more than 20 years and have two children that are brilliant, fairly well adjusted, and happy more often than not.  Tell your kids that a great life follows the awkward years.

If you are looking for even more discussion, here is a pretty good video I found on ESPN: