College Football without The Honey Badger

Thanks to Les Miles and the LSU sports information department for waiting until August 10 to drop this bomb on us.  Had they announced the dismissal of Tyrann "the Honey Badger" Mathieu from the team four days earlier, on August 6, generations of LSU fans would be confused and possibly miss out on millions of dollars on game shows when asked "What major bomb was dropped on August 6?"  Luckily the correct and only answer to that is still "The U.S. dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan marking the end of World War II."  I should also extend a personal thanks because this year August 6 marked 24 years of blissful marriage to my wife, Kim.

Some that are reading this stopped in the first line at the word "waiting" and are still asking "Bob, how do you know that Miles and the sports information department waited?"  The answer to that is clear, in retrospect.  Tyrann Mathieu, probably the most interesting person in college football these days,  was not invited to be a part of SEC media days.  Practices were closed to the media.  When asked about how Tyrann would be utilized this year the coaches gave some sort of vague "we might put him just about anywhere in the defensive backfield".  And even before August 10, Coach Miles mentioned that freshmen would get more opportunities to play in the defensive backfield this year.  That last one caught my attention but, at the time, I thought "well, surely we aren't going to keep the starters in the entire game against the Towson State."  The signs were there that something was up but; I think  most of us that noticed thought that maybe LSU was trying to tone down and polish up the image of the Honey Badger;  priming him for a better shot at the Heisman this year.  

Let's face it once he moved on to the NFL, Mathieu was a lock for future Androgel/Testosterone commercials or that "most interesting man in the world" commercial .  The Honey Badger was a game changer that provided college football fans with over-the-top moments last year.  My favorite moment was in the Oregon game when he stripped the ball, recovered it and walked in for a touchdown.  That was the best way to start an almost perfect season.  My second favorite moment was at West Virginia when he tipped and caught a pass and nearly scored a touchdown. 

I read in an article from The Sporting News yesterday that no one told Tyrann that they loved him until he was 5 years old.  That's messed up.  I hope Tyrann gets the message that Tiger Nation loves him and not just because of the highlight moments.  We love the fact that Tyrann brought a passion to the game and was an example of what happens when you have an enduring faith that you can make things happen.  The way he made things happen on the field gives the rest of us hope that we can fight through our struggles.  

If the Honey Badger were a Hollywood celebrity, he would just check into the Betty Ford clinic and be back by the beginning of the season.  But he is just poor young man from New Orleans.  Surely someone had mentioned to Tyrann that if he tested positive for drugs that he would be kicked off the team.  Undoubtedly someone sat Mr. Mathieu down and said plainly that if he did not totally quit drugs that he could not play LSU football ever again.  To have knowingly given all of that up, his passion, for drugs suggests that Mathieu may have a serious problem.  Is LSU and the rest of the sporting world handling this kind of problem in the right way?  Where are those people that claim that drug addiction is a disease?  By the way, I am not one of those people.  I think doing drugs is a choice and very different from say, getting cancer.  On the other hand, Mathieu brought lots of money to those that make money off of college football.  Don't those people have a moral responsibility? Shouldn't someone provide an all expenses paid trip to a reputable drug addiction program?  It cannot be an LSU booster.  But honestly, drug abuse or alcohol abuse is not like other crimes.  Fighting, theft, inappropriate touching all by nature have immediate and direct victims.  Drug abuse often leads to others becoming victims but the person in all cases directly being hurt is the drug user himself.  It is hard for me to see the Honey Badger as a victim but his actions have proven to be very self-destructive.  He did not beat any body up, he didn't sexually abuse anybody, and he didn't steal anything and somebody not connected to LSU, that loves college football, and that has more money than I do should put this guy through drug rehab and once declared drug free the Honey Badger should be allowed to play football for LSU. 

LSU will be fine without Mr. Mathieu.  It was not too many seasons ago that the big story was that a young cornerback named Morris Claiborne was going to be "picked on" because no one was going to throw a football in Patrick Peterson's direction.  Trust me, LSU has very capable defensive backs with or without the Honey Badger.  LSU also has capable return men and big time play makers. Tyrann Mathieu is a special football player.  Mathieu will be missed very much but; by nature, college football only allows us to count on having a great player four and more often than not, only three years.  All major college programs are constantly in reload mode.  And Les Miles has always kept the cupboard of talent in LSU football filled and overflowing.  But now is the time for LSU players to step up and fill a huge void left in the wake of the Honey Badger.

Super Fan, Howard Gordon, Gives his take on LSU vs. Mississippi State

I receive a number of emails each day.  Every now and then I receive an email that I think most LSU fans would like to see.  This email from Howard Gordon concerning the LSU/Miss St. game is one of those emails.  

Good Morning Bob ...

 

It's certainly good to have you "back" my friend.  I've certainly missed your insights. 

 

This is my take on the Miss. State game.  Miss. State has improved immensely under Mullen, and they looked pretty good against Auburn ... right up until the last play of the game.  However, as you said, they have not played a defense like LSU's.  Auburn's defense did not impress me.  Matter of fact, there was little or no defense in the entire game as far as I could tell!  This is what I think will happen Thursday night:

 

LSU will have a good night rushing the football.  Both Spencer Ware and Michael Ford will have good games as will Alfred Blue.  The offensive line will shine!

 

LSU should pass for at least 200 yards given the Miss. State secondary. 

 

The defense will shut down the Miss. State rushing game, although not to the degree in the NSU game.  That will force State to pass more than they would like.  Our secondary will be up to the task of taking care of things there. 

 

The offensive line for State is big as usual.  However, the athleticism and strength of our d-line will also be up to the task and should control the line of scrimmage limiting State's rushing attack.  LSU will put pressure on Relf all night long.

 

State will keep the game interesting for 2 1/2 quarters or so before LSU pulls away with a convincing victory.  I don't think 40 points is out of the question.  If we don't score 40, I won't be disappointed ... just give us an SEC victory!

 

All in all, this team has talent, size, power and maturity.  As you said, that maturity really showed up in the NSU game.  In the past, LSU has played those games good enough to win and that was about it.  They showed a great deal of maturity playing that game.  Now it's time for the real games ... SEC competition!  I feel as good about this team as any I've witnessed in my 53 years of LSU football!

 

Geaux Tigers!
Howard

Thanks for checking in Howard!  I really enjoy reading your emails.

The Next Test for the LSU Tigers - Mississippi State

LSU's first two games were a real treat for Tiger fans and expectations of a national championship appear to be reasonable.  I was glad to see LSU ranked #2 after dominating a very good Oregon team but understood that Alabama fans might be miffed at having won and dropped in the polls.  It was not hard to predict that Alabama would beat Penn State and jump back up to #2.  Considering LSU plays a ranked team and Alabama plays North Texas, we will see if the trend continues.  First, LSU will have to face a very good Mississippi State team in Starkville.  

Mississippi State's defense gave up 14 points to an over matched Memphis team and 41 points to a solid but rebuilding Auburn offense.  I think it is reasonable to expect LSU to put up 40 points.  LSU's first two games would indicate that 40 points is a benchmark of what to expect.  It will be interesting to see if LSU's offense will be able to keep showing improvement against a ranked SEC West team.  Mississippi State gave up two passing touchdowns in each of the last two games and I would like to see Jarrett Lee throw at least two TDs and zero interceptions this Thursday.  By the way, if you did not get to see the NSU game, LSU's quarterback future looks bright.  Zach Mettenberger delivers the football quickly and on target.  By comparison, Lee's pass seems to be thrown more on an arc and floats.  Don't get me wrong, Lee's passes were on target and his decision making has been stellar in the first two games but I expect Mettenberger to be playing on Sundays for a number of years.  Provided he has matured enough to stay out of trouble.  The real story in the LSU/Miss. State game is not LSU's offense versus Miss. State's defense.  I expect LSU's offense to have a solid showing.

The real match up of the LSU/Miss State game will come down to the ground game.  LSU's rush defense versus Miss. State's rushing attack.  Mississippi State's passing game will keep LSU honest.  Miss. State QB, Chris Relf, has completed just over 61% of his passes accounting for 397 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception but, even with an improved Auburn pass defense, I feel that LSU will significantly cut down that nearly 200-yards a game passing average.  The threat of a passing game will only keep LSU from crowding the box to defend the run.  Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard is on a mission to improve his NFL draft status and he is looking every bit like a first round draft choice so far.  So far this year, Ballard has rushed for just over 150-yards a game, 4 rushing touchdowns while maintaining a 9.7 yards a carry average.  I have watched significant portions of both of Auburn's games and in the Mississippi State/Auburn game Vick Ballard took over the game in the fourth quarter.  Ballard rushed for 94 yards including a touchdown in the fourth quarter and accounted for another 21 yards receiving.  It looked like to me that on the third to last play of the game Ballard launched himself through the end zone for a second fourth quarter touchdown before going out-of-bounds but, the ball was marked at the one yard line.  No part of Ballard's body touched the ground out-of-bounds before the ball broke the plain of the end zone.  I think at a neutral site or at Starkville Mississippi State would have beaten Auburn in overtime.

While Vick Ballard may be one of the best running backs in college football this year,  we will not know just how good he is until he has met the LSU Tigers' rush defense.  Auburn is a solid team, however; I was a bit embarrassed for them in their opener against Utah State mainly because Utah State seemed to be able to run almost at will against Auburn's defense.  Utah State may be a very good team too.  But,  I suspect that Auburn may be having troubles with their rush defense and if that is the case Ballard's ability to run all over Auburn in the 4th quarter may not be quiet as impressive as it seems at first glance.

Another thing to consider in this key match up of LSU's defense versus Miss. State's ground game is the size of Miss. State's Offensive line.  So far LSU has faced two opponent offensive lines that they outweighed at key interior line positions.  Oregon is having to play less experienced interior offensive linemen that may have needed a game to get their legs under them and let's face it - NSU O-line did not belong on the same field with LSU's D-line.  I am not sure how many teams, if any, will be able to handle the size, strength, and speed of LSU's D-line.  Thursday will serve as a big test to evaluate just how good LSU's defense really is.

Note:  Thanks to the many of you who have written me with concerns about my silence and encouragement for me to keep writing my thoughts down about LSU football.  I guess I was so elated about the Oregon game that I didn't show up to write about the next game.  Better I not show up for the NSU game versus LSU not showing up.  I did have concerns that LSU might come out flat after the victory over the Ducks.  It seems that these Tigers are mature enough to know that they have a target on their backs.  I am also glad to see that there is a "real want" for these Tigers to prove themselves on the field each and every week.