Monday, December 31, 2012

The powerful LSU fighting tigers college football team is loaded with talent. But keep losing because of a lack of coaching.


Tinker Town: "The powerful LSU fighting tigers college football team, ran thru the oh so very proud Clemson tigers football team from South Carolina in the second half. Just like everyone thought that they would do before the game started. The outcome of the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl game was very much in doubt before then. The LSU tiger was simply a much better college football team then Clemson was. The better LSU athlete showed that fact very clearly to the new years eve viewing audience all over America. That is why the college football program in the bayou of Louisiana is so advanced at playing college football today. Big and strong, quick and fast, with depth.

That is the quality high school football players that LSU has been investing into to maintain a real college football program decade after decade.
That has the upper hand in the LSU college football schedule, seasons, after season. That we see on the HD TV screens every year. That simply keeps attracts the general public to gladly keep spending lot's and lot's of big dollars to see LSU play college football.


The TV Networks are further adding to the really big college football shows for the America people, with the flash and sounds of television. All of it making college football so colorful and full of fun. For me it was some very colorful TV viewing. The 2012 Chick-Fil-A peach Bowl was an exciting fun football game, of thrills, and spills. What more could a college football fan really want to see? Hail to the victor!
The South Carolina Clemson Tigers
- Clemson 25, LSU 24 final score. Clemson won the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl game on the excellent QB play of Tajh Boyd who rallied Clemson in the second half in time for a dramatic last 2 second 37 yard FG victory over LSU.

Coaching really matters, Clemson had that advantage over this LSU tiger in this football game all night long. Until the LSU football program finally fixes the offense of the LSU fighting tigers football team. No matter how good the LSU football players are. The LSU college football program will remain heart break hotel for the LSU tiger football fans for years to come. Because frankly, that lack of
not fixing that offensive problem (unable to make first downs if their life depended on it). In the LSU college football program is getting very old. I'm starting to feel like Rhett Butler at the end of Gone With The Wind. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

Something got to be done about that LSU football program problem. Because LSU is a very big time University, and deserves  much better.
"

First Half:
Screenshot2012-12-31at6

----------------------
STATS / A.P. / ESPN Music City Bowl: North Carolina State 24 - Vanderbilt 38

STATS / A.P. / ESPN Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech 21 - USC 7

STATS / A.P. / ESPN Liberty Bowl: Iowa State 17 - Tulsa 31

----------------------
http://espn.go.com/college-football/
Tajh Boyd
  • LSU24
  • CLEM25

New Year's Rockin' Eve

Tajh Boyd rallied Clemson in the second half in time for a dramatic victory over LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Blog coverage »Bowls home »
Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

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 http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=323660228

ESPN College Football


Final

(8) LSU 24

(10-3, 6-2 SEC)

(14) Clemson 25

(11-2, 7-1 ACC)

32°
Broken Clouds


7:30 PM ET, December 31, 2012
Georgia Dome, ATLANTA, GA



1 2 3 4 T
#8LSU 7 7 10 024
#14CLEM 7 6 0 1225

Clemson edges LSU on last-second field goal

Tajh Boyd Guides Clemson To Winning Field Goal
Highlight Of The Night: Chandler Catanzaro's 37-yard field goal caps off a 60-yard drive to lift Clemson to Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over LSU.Tags: Clemson, LSU

ATLANTA -- Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 14 Clemson a wild 25-24 win over No. 9 Louisiana State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Monday night.
Trailing 24-22, Clemson (11-2) took possession on its 20 with 1:39 remaining. Tajh Boyd completed a pass for 26 yards to DeAndre Hopkins on a fourth-and-16 play during the decisive 10-play drive.
Catanzaro's kick set off a wild celebration on the field and in the stands. Some players collapsed on the field in apparent disbelief while most of Clemson's orange jerseys met in a midfield circle.
Hopkins, who had 13 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns, also had receptions for 7 and 13 yards in the final drive. LSU safety Greg Reid was flagged for pass interference while defending Hopkins.
Jeremy Hill ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns for LSU (10-3), which carried a 24-13 lead into the final quarter.

After Hopkins' second TD catch, LSU got the ball with 2:43 remaining and threw three straight passes. Only one was complete in the three-and-out series that took only about 1 minute off the clock, leaving Clemson with enough time for its winning drive against LSU's exhausted defense.
Hill did not have a carry in the fourth quarter. Zach Mettenberger was sacked six times.
"We had to throw the football," LSU coach Les Miles said.
"It's a tough thing to figure our pass protection was as poor as it was. That's the piece that needs fixing and frankly we've got some young players here we'll address and improve and make some strides going forward."

Boyd completed 36 of 50 passes for 346 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He set career highs for attempts and completions while winning the game MVP award.
LSU scored 10 points off Clemson's two lost fumbles, including one by Sammy Watkins on the second play of the game that set up Hill's first touchdown.

Hopkins scored on an 11-yard reception in the second quarter and a 12-yard grab in the fourth. LSU's Bennie Logan blocked Catanzaro's extra point attempt following Hopkins' first touchdown.
Clemson had a chance to tie it after Hopkins' second TD, but Boyd's pass for the 2-point conversion was incomplete.

Michael Ford had a 43-yard kickoff return for LSU to open the second half. On first down, Hill broke through the line for a 57-yard touchdown run. His 12th rushing touchdown broke Dalton Hilliard's LSU record for a freshman set in 1982.
Clemson lost Watkins to a right ankle injury on his early fumble. Watkins, a wide receiver, took the handoff as a running back and fumbled when he was hit by defensive end Barkevious Mingo. Safety Craig Loston recovered at the Clemson 23.

LSU needed only two runs by Hill to move in front. His 17-yard scamper made it 7-0.
Watkins could not put pressure on his right foot as he was helped off the field and then driven to the locker room. Clemson announced X-rays were negative but Watkins would not return. No further details were released.
Clemson already was without backup receiver Martavis Bryant, who was suspended for the game for failing to meet academic requirements.

Clemson's second costly fumble came midway through the third quarter. Running back Andre Ellington ran for 8 yards but lost the ball when hit by defensive end Sam Montgomery. Reid recovered the fumble at the Clemson 29, setting up Drew Alleman's 20-yard field goal.
The injury to Watkins left the spotlight on Hopkins, Clemson's leading receiver. He had catches of 17 and 12 yards as Clemson pulled even with an 11-play drive capped by Boyd's 11-yard touchdown run.

After LSU regained the lead on Mettenberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry, Hopkins had a 31-yard catch to set up his 11-yard score late in the second quarter. Hopkins' sliding grab gave him TD receptions in 10 straight games to set an Atlantic Coast Conference record. Virginia's Herman Moore had touchdown catches in nine straight games in 1990.
Mettenberger completed 14 of 23 passes for 120 yards with an interception.
-------

Team Stat Comparison

LSUCLEM
1st Downs932
Total Yards219445
Passing120346
Rushing 9999
Penalties7-666-47
3rd Down Conversions3-138-18
4th Down Conversions0-01-3
Turnovers12
Possession 23:3936:21

Passing Leaders


LSUC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Mettenberger 14/231205.211
ClemsonC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Boyd36/503466.920

Rushing Leaders


LSUCARYDSAVGTDLG
Hill1212410.3257
Ware 393.005
ClemsonCARYDSAVGTDLG
Ellington11504.5012
McDowell7263.7011

Receiving Leaders


LSURECYDSAVGTDLG
Beckham 34013.3026
Landry 4379.3117
ClemsonRECYDSAVGTDLG
Hopkins1319114.7231
Ford9697.7020

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTERLSUCLEM
TD14:05Jeremy Hill 17 Yd Run (Drew Alleman Kick) 70
TD09:46Tajh Boyd 11 Yd Run (Chandler Catanzaro Kick) 77
SECOND QUARTERLSUCLEM
TD13:12Jarvis Landry 6 Yd Pass From Zach Mettenberger (Drew Alleman Kick) 147
TD05:43DeAndre Hopkins 11 Yd Pass From Tajh Boyd (Pat Blocked) 1413
THIRD QUARTERLSUCLEM
TD14:43 Jeremy Hill 57 Yd Run (Drew Alleman Kick) 2113
FG04:49 Drew Alleman 20 Yd 2413
FOURTH QUARTERLSUCLEM
FG09:26Chandler Catanzaro 26 Yd 2416
TD02:47DeAndre Hopkins 12 Yd Pass From Tajh Boyd (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) 2422
FG00:00Chandler Catanzaro 37 Yd 2425

Research Notes


DeAndre Hopkins torched the LSU defense for 190 receiving yards in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. It was the most yards by an opposing receiver against LSU since Jheranie Boyd had 221 yards for North Carolina in 2010 - a game that was played in none other than the Georgia Dome, site of Monday night's thriller.
  [+]
In the 4th quarter, Clemson held LSU to a single yard to rally from a 24-13 deficit to win the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
  [+]
DeAndre Hopkins has set a Chick-fil-A Bowl record with 190 receiving yards. The bowl was first played as the Peach Bowl in 1968.
DeAndre Hopkins has caught a touchdown pass in 10 straight games, breaking the ACC record. Virginia's Herman Moore caught a touchdown pass in nine straight games in 1990. Hopkins has touchdown receptions in 12 of Clemson's 13 games this season. No other ACC player has caught a touchdown pass in more than 10 games in the same season.
-------------------------------------------
http://bleacherreport.com/college-football
bleacher report
---------------------
Video of LSU QB commitment Hayden Rettig who was a standout at Monday's first U.S. Army Bowl practice. 
http://lsu.247sports.com/Article/A-look-at-LSUs-latest-commitment-offensive-tackle-Ethan-Pocic-75698
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ5ICXMC4xY
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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tonight the night:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZr6AE-u2UM
GoldRing:
"Stay away from my window,
Stay away from my back door too.
Disconnect the telephone line
Relax, baby, and draw that blind.

Kick off your shoes and sit right down
Loosen up the back of your pretty French gown,
yeah Let me pour ya a good long drink
Ooh, baby, don't you hesitate


Tonight's the night
It's gonna be alright
'Cause I love you, girl
Ain't nobody gonna stop us now


Hurry, and turn on the
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl,
it's the LSU tigers
vs the Clemson tigers
football game."
-----------------------------
 Tinker Town: "I am starting to remembering something, that I want to have again... I can feel it building strongly up inside me, raging. Lets go tigers!!!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY_hKAmUU4U
-----------------------------
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2012/12/30/3819610/lsu-vs-clemson-the-2012-chick-fil-a-bowl-what-to-watch-for
And The Valley Shook, a LSU Tigers community

LSU vs. Clemson, the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl: What to Watch For

By

LSU puts a bow on the 2012 season while we celebrate wrapping the year itself? Eh, why not.
We may have our complaints with the 2012 bowl process, but let it not be said that we aren't excited about this matchup. LSU and Clemson have more juice than two of the BCS bowls this postseason. It features two ranked, 10-win squads that are fairly evenly matched with some complementary strengths and weaknesses and coaches known for their..."colorful" personalities.
And besides, New Year's Eve is a party night anyway, we might as well make the best of it with a great football game, right?

What to Watch For Monday Night

Rug Burns

The Georgia Dome fast track could have a whole lot more mileage on it after this one.
Both of these teams can put a whole lot of speed on the field. Clemson's big-play credentials are known. DeAndre Hopkins was one of the best deep-threat wideouts in the country this year, averaging 17.5 yards per catch and find the endzone 16 times. Andre Ellington averaged over five yards per carry, and Sammy Watkins, despite struggling with some injuries and discipline issues this season, is a threat to go long any time he touches the ball.

Tahj Boyd has executed this offense exceptionally well this season, with about 4,000 yards or total offense and 42 combined touchdowns. We've discussed the Chad Morris running game, but the passing game has to be a major concern, especially given how LSU's defense closed out the season. The Tigers allowed 1,144 passing yards in the month of November -- that's just 44 yards less than they allowed in September and October combined.

Morris' passing game relies on a lot of the Air Raid standards we're used to watching now and even got to see LSU employ this season. Vertical, stick and drag concepts and an interesting variant on the "smash" corner-route concept known as the three-man snag. FIGUREFOUR from Shakin' the Southland illustrated it to demonstrate a big play Sammy Watkins made versus Auburn.
Typical_three_man_snag_medium_medium
via assets.sbnation.com
It's a play primarily designed to conflict zone defenders, though it can work just as well versus man coverage with the right matchup. The quarterback can read short-to-deep, starting in the flat then moving on to the curl and corner, depending on his pre-snap coverage read. The corner route is such a great deep throw because it has a low interception probability if the route and throw are executed correctly. As long as the defense doesn't have outside position, the throw should either be completed or have the ball sail out of everybody's reach.
Read ,more...http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2012/12/30/3819610/lsu-vs-clemson-the-2012-chick-fil-a-bowl-what-to-watch-for
------------------------------
 http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/chick-fil-bowl-preview-lsu-vs-clemson-032527014--ncaaf.html

Chick-fil-A Bowl preview: LSU vs. Clemson

By | Dr. Saturday 
(USA Today Sports Images)
Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU (10-2) vs. Clemson (10-2)
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
About the (LSU) Tigers: LSU was once again among the nation’s best teams thanks to its stellar defense. The Tigers ranked among the nation’s leaders in points allowed (16.9), total yards (297.8), defensive passing efficiency and rushing defense (103.1). The LSU defense has 18 interceptions this season. The offense has been another story. First-year starter Zach Mettenberger struggled early, but found some offensive rhythm after the Tigers nearly defeated Alabama in early November. Even though the offense still isn’t lighting up the scoreboard, it’s doing just enough to give the defense a cushion.


About the (Clemson) Tigers: Clemson is one of the more entertaining sides to watch because of the Tigers’ offense. Quarterback Tajh Boyd was the ACC Player of the Year with 3,550 yards, 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His favorite target was DeAndre Hopkins, who had 1,214 yards and 16 scores. But as dangerous as the passing game has been, the rushing game has been equally as potent. Andre Ellington was second in the ACC with 1,031 yards and eight scores. Boyd also added nine rushing touchdowns. And of course Sammy Watkins is one of the nation’s most dynamic all-around players, who could break the game open at any time.

 
(USA Today Sports Images) 

Key number: 508 and 6,220
Clemson has set school records with 508 points and 6,220 yards this season.

The breakdown: This game is widely considered one of the best of the bowl season because both of these teams are ranked and both could have easily been playing in BCS bowls. Earlier in the season, this game would have been Clemson’s offense vs. LSU’s defense, and while that’s probably still the main matchup, both of these teams have gotten better on their weaker sides of the ball as the season has gone on. But Clemson’s defense has allowed 27 points in six games this season, including 37 in a loss to Florida State and 27 in a season-ending loss to South Carolina. But it’s unclear whether LSU will be able to take advantage of Clemson’s defense. Mettenberger is only completing 58.7 percent of his passes.
Predictions
Frank Schwab: LSU 28, Clemson 21


It's hard for me to forget how uncompetitive Clemson was in its two games this year against elite opponents. Florida State beat Clemson easily, but the game that's really a red flag is the Tigers' loss to South Carolina. In a rivalry game, at home against the Gamecocks' backup quarterback, Clemson got pounded by a more physical SEC team. LSU can do the same.
Graham Watson: LSU 24, Clemson 21

Clemson has a fantastic offense, but it’s going to have a tough time against its second consecutive SEC defense (it only had 17 points against South Carolina – a season low). While I don’t see Mettenberger lighting it up, he’ll do enough to get LSU a close win.
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 http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/50573/clemson-faces-another-physical-test

ACC Blog

Clemson faces another physical test

December, 30, 2012

By Andrea Adelson and Heather Dinich | ESPN.com
 
Nobody has to tell Clemson coach Dabo Swinney what the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against LSU comes down to on Monday night in Atlanta.

The more physical team will win.

To that end, Swinney ratcheted up the physicality during bowl practices leading up to the game. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris told local reporters in South Carolina earlier this month, "Coach Swinney’s got his foot up our butts, basically, and he doesn’t plan on taking it out for about four days."



Dabo Swinney
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images"This is a game that's won and lost in the trenches for sure," Clemson coach Dabbo Swinney said of the LSU game. "No doubt about it."

Swinney's reaction was only natural, after watching his team lose the battle up front in the regular-season finale against South Carolina. Jadeveon Clowney owned Clemson, getting 4.5 of his team's six sacks. Tajh Boyd had no time to set his feet and throw, and the Tigers' offense completely stalled, gaining 165 yards over the final three quarters of the 27-17 loss.

Now the Tigers are facing a team just as physical in LSU, another huge test against an opponent from the SEC.

"This is a game that’s won and lost in the trenches for sure," Swinney told ESPN.com. "No doubt about it. This is a team that’s going to line up and just challenge you physically and come right at you. You can either match that or you can’t. Very few teams have been able to match that versus LSU. We’re going to have to play great up front. Our guys are going to have to play great and learn from the two games we’ve lost because we’ve had the lead in both our losses in the third quarter but we haven’t been able to quite finish in the fourth quarter. It’s a big challenge for us, as big of a challenge as we’ve had in a long time here at Clemson."

While Swinney called Clowney the best player in the country, the Tigers counter with one of the best defensive end duos in the country in Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo. Clemson center Dalton Freeman said in a phone interview that LSU has better interior defensive linemen than South Carolina.

"They’ve got really good players in their front seven," Freeman said. "Their secondary is extremely athletic. They play a lot of man coverage with one safety over the top, a man free kind of look that gives you the one-on-one matchups. They feel so confident in their guys, and rightfully so, they can go out there and match one-on-one and put seven or eight in the box and force us to throw the ball. I think there is some similarities with South Carolina but again, this is a pretty stout LSU defense."

So what did Clemson learn from its game against South Carolina to apply against LSU?

"We just have to be physical back," Clemson running back Andre Ellington said. "We have to take on the challenge, to understand that football’s a physical game. Just going against a team like that is definitely not going to be easy. We just have to execute the game plan." Read more...
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/50573/clemson-faces-another-physical-test
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http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/football/article_063103e0-52ea-11e2-8917-001a4bcf6878.html
The Daily Reveille

Opinion: Bowl not just about game for student-athletes

LSU will prevail, but players’ experience is more important
Posted on December 30, 2012
ATLANTA, Ga. – When LSU coach Les Miles and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney took questions at their joint news conference Sunday, they looked more like best buddies than two coaches vying for a Chick-fil-A Bowl title.

Miles and Swinney arrived to little fanfare and proceeded to answer multiple questions with effusive praise for one another. They could have well been old pals sitting in that conference room between recycled answers, watching about looking in on the opposing team’s practices, Spygate-style.

What else could they say?
They’ve had a month to talk to the media about one another’s teams in the lead-up to their New Year’s Eve bowl game. That’s a whole lot of time to get their overarching clichés straight and regurgitate them to the media.

When it comes to the actual game, it also means they’ve had plenty time to formulate and perfect their teams’ game plans. With school being out since early December, there’s been nothing for the coaches to preach besides beating the other team.

Their players were undoubtedly listening. But how much are they actually following that advice, especially now that they’re in this unfamiliar city with much to offer?
Focus has been a bit of a problem for the Tigers from Baton Rouge this season. Players have dropped like flies for team rules violations, the most recent being redshirt sophomore Brad Wing, one of the best punters in the country, less than two weeks from kickoff. They were blindsided by 

Florida early in the season after weeks of underperformance.
And you’ve got to think it’s been even more difficult to focus given the situation.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl berth seems to have been a disappointment for both those associated with the team (Miles said it “would be fine” if they played in Atlanta prior to the announcement) and the fans. LSU, with its infamous traveling fan base, has sold just 10,500 tickets of its allotment of 16,000.

The teams have been here for a week, during which bowl officials schedule events for the players each day. LSU players’ solicitations for nightly plans have been apparent to anyone who knows how to work Twitter and a city like Atlanta holds plenty of distractions, especially when the sun sets.

When I asked Miles about his team’s focus leading up to the game, he said there was a “strong center core of [his] team that’s about playing the game”. That must mean he knows there are players in it for the trip. No player is going to say that explicitly, but it’s apparent.
I don’t blame them.

Ask yourself what bowl games are for and there’s no other logical answer but money. Sponsors like Chick-fil-A splurge for exposure, coaches have incentives for bowl victories and television contracts, and as we all know, that makes the world of collegiate football go ‘round.
The players see none of that. For their months of unpaid labor, this is the fruit.

They were brought to Baton Rouge to win games. Put yourself in their collegiate shoes before judging though. Years removed from what will be an irrelevant bout, would you want to remember a win in a bowl you didn’t think you should be in, or would you rather recall enjoying yourself with your closest friends after you’ve spent the distant past with them in the trenches? Read more...http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/football/article_063103e0-52ea-11e2-8917-001a4bcf6878.html

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http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4789094-123/chick-fil-a-bowl-notebook-miles-swinney

Chick-fil-A Bowl notebook: Miles, Swinney trade final compliments

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, left, shakes hands with LSU coach Les Miles on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.


By scott rabalais
Advocate sportswriter
December 30, 2012

ATLANTA — If there was any tension Sunday on the eve of their team’s Chick-fil-A Bowl showdown, LSU’s Les Miles and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney didn’t show it.
Both men spent more of the final pre-bowl news conference praising each other and each other’s programs than they did talking about the actual game.
“He’s got a great family,” Swinney said, “and I’m recruiting his sons.”
“I met his wife and his family, and they can hang out with us now,” Miles said. Then he added, “I’m not ready to go vacationing yet.”

Maybe after Monday’s game.
First, of course, is recruiting. One of the top targets for both schools will be the nation’s consensus No. 1 prospect, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) from nearby Loganville, Ga., just west of Atlanta.
Nkemdiche initially committed to Clemson but decommitted in November.
LSU and Ole Miss are now considered two of his favorites along with Alabama and Georgia, though Clemson remains in the mix.

Despite what could be a potentially bitter battle, Swinney said he respects the way Miles and LSU recruit.
“He does it right. His staff does it right,” Swinney said. “I can’t say that about everybody in this business.”
Said Miles: “I’ve only ever seen Dabo Swinney’s operations to be done right and correctly and with the best interests of the player in mind.”

Swinney on SU’s Odums

A reporter covering LSU asked Swinney about his route to becoming Clemson’s head coach being similar to that of new Southern coach Dawson Odums. Both were first named interim coach, then got the full-time job. Reas more...http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/4789094-123/chick-fil-a-bowl-notebook-miles-swinney
------------------------------
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121230/SPORTS0202/121230012/

Shreveporttimes.com

Clemson's offense will try to spread LSU thin

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis (right) is tasked with slowing Clemson's high-powered spread offense in Monday's Chick-fil-A Bowl.
LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis (right) is tasked with slowing Clemson's high-powered spread offense in Monday's Chick-fil-A Bowl. / US Presswire

ATLANTA – LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis may have to wear a hat tonight. Either that, or some Grecian Formula 16.
No. 14 Clemson (10-2), which plays the No. 8 Tigers (10-2) at 6:30 tonight in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on ESPN, is one of the best college football teams in the nation behind multi-talented quarterback Tajh Boyd at running the spread offensive attack that has been sweeping the nation for years.
Boyd, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency at 168.54 with 251 completions in 377 attempts for 3,550 yards and 34 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. He is No. 15 in the country with 295 yards passing a game.

Chavis’ pass defense, meanwhile, slipped late in the regular season to No. 20 in the nation with 194 yards allowed a game after being among the best in the Southeastern Conference and the nation in that category. Using mainly the spread or pass-dominated offenses, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas each threw for 300 yards or more against LSU to end the regular season.
“I’ve been focused to improve on the mistakes we made in the past weeks,” junior free safety Eric Reid said. “It’s a running thing for us to always be improving. So we find out what we did wrong in the previous game to try to get it corrected for the next game. Coach Chavis does a great job of that.” Read more...http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20121230/SPORTS0202/121230012/
------------------------------
 http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1454369
Rivals.com Home | Network Index | High School | Mobile | Video | Radio RSS | Subscribe | Shop

Jason Howell
Recruiting Analyst



MORE: U.S. Army All-American Bowl
 
When New Iberia (La.) Westgate offensive lineman Josh Boutte gave the LSU Tigers his commitment in February, Boutte he viewed it as a chance of a lifetime. Nothing has changed. 

"I was a huge fan since I was in the seventh grade," Boutte said. "It was a dream, and I never thought I'd get a scholarship to go there." 

Josh Boutte said he has been an LSU fan since he was in the seventh grade.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive line standout has been watching Chris Faulk closely and is ready to join him next year in Baton Rouge. 

"It feels great," Boutte said. "It's big relief, and I can't wait to play for LSU. Just a couple of months. That's all I have left."
The early commitment allowed him to concentrate on other things, including his senior season. 

"It was a big relief," Boutte said. "I committed very early, but just the fact of me getting it out of the way early, I was able to focus on my season and in the weight room. I did pretty well this year, and it was pretty stress free." 

Since his pledge, other programs have continued to keep in touch. While he is not saying whom he will visit, he has plans in the works.
"There's a few schools trying to weasel their way in, but I'm pretty solid on LSU right now," Boutte said. "I would like to visit other colleges just to make sure my decision is 100 percent what I want. As of right now, LSU is all the way 100 percent."
Boutte would not name names, but he said they were "big schools." He also said he has talked to the LSU coaches about his decision to take visits. 

"They understand, and Coach Miles is very confident I am going there," Boutte said. "I kind of know that myself. I just want to make sure."
------------------------------
http://www.livestream.com/orangeandwhite/video?clipId=pla_ac0a47b7-04da-4cf5-a5bf-23610531a4c7
Channel Banner orangeandwhite

cfafinalpsr

Orange and White Video (55 min, 44 sec): Les Miles, Dabo Swinney press conference (starts at 14 min)

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ahjqy0SenM&sns=tw

LSU Football Specialists Bowl Practice "Spoof"

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Bayou Bengals Insider Defensive Breakdown: Clemson

Bayou Bengals Insider Offensive Breakdown: Clemson

Bayou Bengals Insider Coach's Take: Clemson

Bayou Bengals Insider Players' Take: Clemson

Times Picayune LSU vs. Clemson: View from the other side

LSU Video (4 min, 4 sec): Behind the scenes with MikeTigerVI
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Heart Of The Tide

Behind a talented O-line, RBs T.J. Yeldon and Eddie Lacy drive Alabama's attack. Edward Aschoff » Schlabach: NIU's place in BCS history »Gemmell: Cardinal O-line flourishing »Bowls home »
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Saturday, December 29, 2012

LSU vs Clemson Chick-fil-A Bowl Breakdown




GoldRing: "I keep seeing the people of our country trying to stay safe behind the barricades of fear, over losing control against harmful aggression. But they of course have carried their sense of safety into the foolish fantasies of self denial, to the realities in their real world. Gun control, disarming the citizens working to keep the country safe is a very dumb thing to do. Not showing the military power of our army's in parade form. Is just some more timid fear, not good for our society. When in fact we all must live in the same neighborhood of sick people, with desperate emotions, we need to defend against them as best we can. To stand naked in front of a crazy person, unarmed, defenseless is plain stupid. Why give up our life to a nut with out fighting if we still have the ability to makeup for our mistakes. Hiding behind imagined barriers is suicide.

For the eagle, the flag, and our sacred honor, right or wrong. We should fight with our last dying breath for our friends, and country. Gather to each other like before, we will never surrender. Fight, fight, fight, for victory.  I might be old. But I still have a few hidden pipes behind bushes, and weeds. Something to hit them very hard with. If they get close enough to hurt me. And of course I am very armed inside my own home and car."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCWjutbIA_o
 
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Andy Staples
Andy Staples
LSU vs Clemson Chick-fil-A Bowl Breakdown


Defensive end Sam Montgomery led LSU's defense with seven sacks this season.
Defensive end Sam Montgomery led LSU's defense with seven sacks this season.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
No. 9 LSU (10-2) vs. No. 14 Clemson (10-2)
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

 
BOWL PREVIEW HUB | BOWL FAQ HUB
 
• Reason to watch: Because if the BCS were more of an open-market system -- as it will be following the 2014 season -- these two would be playing in a bigger-money bowl. The Cotton Bowl (Texas A&M-Oklahoma) and this game are the two best matchups outside the BCS, and this one has the potential to be the most fun. Clemson's offense won't hang its usual one million points on LSU's excellent defense, but Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd -- the reigning ACC player of the year -- has the pocket smarts and mobility to keep LSU's horde of swamp monsters at bay long enough to throw to Sammy Watkins and Nuke Hopkins. Meanwhile, Clemson's defense is shaky enough to turn LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger into Dan Marino for a night. Besides, Mettenberger is better than his reputation indicates. His attempts-to-interceptions ratio of 55-to-1 is the best in LSU history for any quarterback with more than 300 attempts. 

• Keep an eye on: Clemson receiver Watkins. As a freshman in 2011, Watkins was one of the nation's most electrifying players, averaging 176.5 all-purpose yards a game and 15.6 yards a touch. In 2012, Watkins was suspended for the first two games as punishment for a drug-related arrest. He missed another game in late September because of a virus that caused him to lose 10 pounds. Because of the missed time and the accelerated rhythm of the season, Watkins never really found his groove in Clemson's offense. With more than a month between the season finale against South Carolina and the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Watkins has had time to readjust. "Everyone should see that old Sammy," Watkins told The Post and Courier of Charleston, S.C., last week. 

• Did you know: LSU is 9-1 in games played in the Georgia Dome. The Tigers are 4-0 in the Peach/Chick-fil-A Bowl, 1-0 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic and 4-1 in the SEC Championship Game. The only team to beat LSU in the Georgia Dome was Georgia in the 2005 SEC title game. 

• Final analysis: Clemson's two losses have come to an SEC team (South Carolina) and an ACC team built like an SEC team (Florida State). Unfortunately for Clemson, LSU is a better version of those teams with the same concept. LSU defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo should offer flashbacks to Florida State's Bjoern Werner and South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. Meanwhile, LSU has a stable of tailbacks (Jeremy Hill, Kenny Hilliard, Spencer Ware and Michael Ford) that should allow the Bayou Bengals to control the clock as well as South Carolina did during the Gamecocks' 27-17 win against Clemson on Nov. 24. In that game, South Carolina hogged the ball for 39 minutes and 58 seconds. To keep Clemson's offense off the field, LSU's attack may be equally greedy. 

• The pick: LSU 34, Clemson 24
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20121229/chick-fil-a-bowl-preview/#ixzz2GTyO8ArT
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http://www.tigerrag.com/?p=238102



SEC BOWL PREVIEW: Chick-fil-A Bowl 

Tigers duel in what figures to be high-scoring affair



By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Associate Editor


This is part six of a nine-part series that will preview the bowl matchups for all the SEC teams in action. You can also find this particular breakdown in our Bowl Preview Issue of Tiger Rag Magazine. Check back to TigerRag.com every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday up until the end of bowl season for the latest installment. Up today is LSU versus Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU vs. Clemson
Atlanta, Ga. - Georgia Dome
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. (ET) - ESPN


LSU rushing offense versus Clemson rushing defense
Despite the emergence of Jeremy Hill in the second half of the season, LSU’s rushing attack floundered a bit down the stretch. LSU didn’t break 150 rushing yards in any of its final four contests and even didn’t break 100 at Arkansas. However, I’d attribute that to fatigue on the O-Line’s part - something that won’t be an issue with over a month of rest. LSU still finished fifth in the SEC at 179.92 rushing yards per game. Clemson has allowed 160.67 rushing yards per game. That’s eighth in an ACC that isn’t exactly murders’ row in terms of physical football teams. Give LSU the advantage in this category on the faith that SEC teams typically pound ACC teams into the ground.

Advantage: LSU

LSU passing offense versus Clemson passing defense
Clemson’s pass defense has simply not been very good in 2012. Part of it can to attributed to the fact that teams are often throwing on them because they’re in catch up mode, but that doesn’t excuse three passing touchdowns from South Carolina’s backup quarterback Dylan Thompson and five passing touchdowns from N.C. State’s Mike Glennon in Clemson’s last two games. This group has issues. LSU’s passing offense has improved tremendously. The overall stats still don’t show it, but Zach Mettenberger, his receivers and his offensive line have made serious strides. With over 200 yards in four straight games, these units are going in opposite directions. LSU gets the advantage, but Clemson’s pass rush can get to you with 2.33 sacks per game.
Advantage: LSU
Read more...http://www.tigerrag.com/?p=238102
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http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/12/bowl_game_breakdown_lsu_vs_cle.html

Greater New Orleans

Greater New Orleans 

Chick-fil-A Bowl breakdown: LSU vs. Clemson


georgia dome.jpg
(Photo by (Photo provided by the Chick-fil-A Bowl))
Randy Rosetta, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Randy Rosetta, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

clemson logo.gif
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WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday
WHERE: Georgia Dome/Atlanta
RECORDS: LSU 10-2, Clemson 10-2
RANKINGS: LSU - No. 9 AP, No. 7 USA Today; Clemson No. 14 AP, No. 13 USA Today

TV: ESPN
RADIO: WWL 870 AM/105.3 FM (New Orleans), 98.1 FM (Baton Rouge), Sirius channel 84, XM channel 84
ONLINE & TWITTER: NOLA.com/LSU, @RandyRosetta, @JimKleinpeter
LAST MEETING/SERIES RECORD: LSU held off Clemson, 10-7, in the 1996 Peach Bowl and also clipped CU, 7-0, in the 1959 Sugar Bowl in the only two matchups between the two programs.

INJURIES (as of Friday)

LSU -- RG Josh Williford (concussion) probable, RB Alfred Blue (ankle) out, OLB Luke Muncie (illness) out, OT Alex Hurst (personal reasons) out, LT Chris Faulk (knee) out, DE Jordan Allen (knee) out, WR Travin Dural (knee) out
Clemson -- CB Bashaud Breeland (abdomen) out, CB Martin Jenkins (groin) out, CB Darius Robinson (ankle) out
Read more...http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/12/bowl_game_breakdown_lsu_vs_cle.html
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqTWWTkMn90

LSU Football Team Steak Feast

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http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/dec/29/clemson-defense-confident-it-can-rise-chick-fil--c/

OrangeandWhite

Clemson defense confident it can rise to Chick-fil-A challenge


Robert Smith (27) and Xavier Brewer leap to break up a pass at their first bowl game football practice session on Dec. 8th
Photo by Mark Crammer // Buy this photo
Robert Smith (27) and Xavier Brewer leap to break up a pass at their first bowl game football practice session on Dec. 8th

ATLANTA - The offense that produces 42.3 points per game is confident it can light up the scoreboard often enough to keep No. 14 Clemson in the hunt against No. 9 LSU in Monday’s Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The defense?
Actually, defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ crew is pretty confident, too.
The Clemson “D” yields 24.9 points and 411 yards per outing, and the Upstate-based Tigers’ unit is nowhere to be found when eyeing the top of the stat leaders. It ranks 48th in points allowed, 62nd in rushing defense, 81st in pass defense and 74th in total defense.


But even though the numbers aren’t impressive there is no lack of determination in a Clemson resistance hoping to show a packed Georgia Dome (and national TV audience) it can pass a few licks against top-notch competition.

“Our defense has a chance to finish the year showing what we can do,” said Tiger defender Travis Blanks, who is expected to play safety in tomorrow night’s matchup. “It would definitely be a big momentum builder to be able to stop them. Coach Venables just tells us we have to make sure the Clemson defense doesn’t beat Clemson, so that’s the mindset we have going in to the game.” Read more...http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/dec/29/clemson-defense-confident-it-can-rise-chick-fil--c/
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBRRA3FJeA8

LSU vs. Clemson 2012 : Chick-Fil-A Bowl Trailer [HD]

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Finishing Kick

Michigan State's late field goal made the difference against TCU.
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