Yeah, that’s right. There’s no missing apostrophe “t” in that headline.
The LSU Tigers finished the 2007 season as the National Champions for the second time in five years. In most years, I am chomping at the bit for the college season to start—but not this year.
Someone mentioned to me last week there were less than two months until football season, and my reaction was, “Already?”
In most years, people that know me would ask if I had taken any blows to the head recently. In fact, I’m one of those guys who watches the kickoff countdown ticker while salivating uncontrollably (and unattractively I might add).
Usually there are some fixes to help me get by. College basketball and football recruiting tides me over for the first few months. College baseball keeps my cravings at bay a little.
But then comes June. I have to wait a month for EA Sports' NCAA Football to come out and occupy my thoughts throughout the month of July.
But then comes August. Stupid never-ending August! August is the Christmas Eve to September’s Christmas morn. You have to relive your childhood all over again back when waiting for Christmas day felt like a slowly unfolding agony. There’s so much hype and so much buildup for both football season and the holidays.
Of course, I never had ESPN predicting what I’d get for Christmas or how they thought the turkey would turn out the next day—although it makes me chuckle to think back and set Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit on play by play for my gift opening.
Brent: And little Justin tears into another box. Uh oh, this gift looks a little soft. This one’s not going to be a toy.
Kirk: Oh no, it’s a sweater!
And it would replay over and over like a tailback tearing his ACL. And during slow motion the following exchange would take place:
Kirk: Wow, Brent, this couldn’t have turned out any worse for the little guy.
Brent: You thought this kid had all the adversity he could handle when he opened up that six-pack of tube socks from his Aunt Lucille.
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Kirk: Well, it’s all in how he recovers from here. If he can get a G.I. Joe Hovercraft here and maybe a Castle Grayskull along with some other gifts he asked Santa for, he may be able to turn this thing around. He usually saves the biggest presents for last, so maybe there’s some hope for this kid to bounce back from this.
Brent: Let’s hope so, the young man’s parents are watching. For more on this, let’s go down to the sidelines with our own Jack Arute.
Jack: Things do not look good from down here, guys. This young man obviously made a carefully planned out list for Santa in which a sweater never had a remote chance of being included, but here it is plain as day. It appears to be a plaid turtleneck. Wow. You could see the disappointment and disgust on his face. This is last year’s footie pajamas and green corduroy pants incident all over again fellas.
But I digress.
My point is, this is the absolute worst time of year for a fanatic. It’s enough to make someone insert the ABC broadcast team into his holiday memories.
So this is where we get back to the beginning of this column and where I turn all of you against me.
I, a rabid LSU fan, am not waiting anxiously for all the preseason magazines. I’m not nervously counting down the minutes until the first “ESPN College Gameday.” Although I love football season, it will get here in due time.
I don’t need college football season to get here in a hurry because my team won it all.
Pause for jeers, boos, and insults.
Many teams try to do it, but only one can make it. The National Championship trophy can quell your football cravings for next season, I promise you. A beautiful crystal football sitting atop a black stand that proclaims the LSU Tigers were the best in 2007.
Gotta love the crystal.
It’s so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
Or two.
When your team wins the National Championship, all is right with the world. The air smells sweeter, people seem nicer, and the little things that used to get you down don’t seem to matter much anymore.
Everything is enhanced when the fact that your team won it all probably ticked off people like Lou Holtz and Paul Finebaum.
That’s the cherry on top. If that doesn’t make you happy down deep in your purple and gold heart, I don’t know what will.
Living well is the best revenge.
But let’s not get crazy—it’s not like I’m a Boston fan or something. Don’t hate me that much. I’ve been a loyal New Orleans Saints fan for my entire 32 years. I was due some happiness.
LSU had some good runs in the '80s with two SEC titles in '86 and '88, both of those seasons ending with Sugar Bowl losses to Nebraska. But the early '90s were rough. The mid '90s put the program back on the map before suffering two terribly disappointing seasons in '98 and '99.
But then came our most recent decade, and someday Tiger fans will talk of Nick Saban and Les Miles like they spoke of Paul Dietzel and Charlie McClendon.
The '07 season will be one that’s hard to top.
Of course, with the number of starters that the Tigers have to replace, especially at quarterback, I know the chances to repeat are slim. I’m not delusional. That’s another reason why I’m so hesitant to jump feet first into next season. When you reach the mountaintop, there’s nowhere to go but down.
I felt the same way after the 2003 season after LSU beat Oklahoma. I was in no rush for 2004 to get there.
But you know what? It did. And for all you guys and gals waiting with bated breath for the '08 season, it’ll be here soon. I promise.
But it’ll probably be a little sooner for me than you.
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2 months ago
Good article, fun read
from 2 months ago
thank you.
2 months ago
ESPN Classic and FCSP for the win!
2 months ago
You scared me! I thought you took a blow to the head. But I get it. You're the champ. It's all good, and I understand completely.
In fact, I wish I had that happy feeling...I'm worried about Virginia and OSU as USC's first two games.
Enjoy your crystal. It's suh-weet!
My pick of the day (for tomorrow, as I already cast a vote today) and five stars. Great tease lead-in in the beginning. ;p
Now quit scaring me!
from 2 months ago
thanks!!
no more scares.
2 months ago
A good Ferris Bueller quote always completes an article.
Well played, sir.
from 2 months ago
"I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me.
John Lennon said that.
He was 'the walrus.'
I could be the the walrus.
It still doesn't change the fact that I don't have a car."
2 months ago
"Gotta love the crystal.
It’s so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
Or two."
A Ferris Bueller quote and a funny line from an LSU fan?
My pick of the day.
2 months ago
Great article as always Justin! You are right about the crystal. I remember after the 1998 season when my Vols won, nothing could bring me down and I could wait for the 1999 season because I really enjoyed my time at the top.
All the prediction mags and Gameday people asked before the 1999 season was if the Vols could repeat and the answer was always no. I wanted to keep my happy thoughts from the previous year, not hear all the doubters (unless of course the Vols proved them wrong)
2 months ago
At first I had to make sure I didn't put too much Jameson's into my morning coffee, but I see your point. However, after watching 3 games on Big Televen network I realized that I need new football. Damn the NFL for pulling NFL Europe!!!
I feel like Cameron lying in bed saying that he's sick. I'm waiting for Ferris to tell me that I'm not sick and that I just can't think of anything good to do....
2 months ago
Beautifully put. I'm anxious about the season, but ALOT less anxious than usual. This explains why. Another great article. Thanks!
about 1 month ago
Haha good article. I feel the same way about EA Sports' NCAA Football and recruiting getting me through the off-season. I can't wait for '09 to come out next week.
I wish I had the NCAA Championship-winning feeling but I don't think my Syracuse Orange is gonna win it anytime soon, we won the Lax championship tho so that helped a little hah.
from about 1 month ago
I guess it's funny which teams we root for and which teams we don't. i always kinda root for the orange. i don't know why. i remember macpherson and macnabb and harrison. always liked those players too.
i have absolutely no connection to the school at all whatsoever.
oh also, the bball teams too. when keith smart hit that shot in my hometown, i gotta tell ya, i was little heartbroken. moslty b/c i hate bobby knight, i pulled for the cuse so hard in that game.
about 1 month ago
Very good article. I know exactly where you are coming from when you said you were not looking forward to the '04 season after the '03 NC. I felt the same way. There was no eagerness like there usually is. This year seems a bit different. Maybe it's those tailgating olympics I am gearing up for!
Lastly, we didn't lose to Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl after the '88 SECC. We played the 'Cuse in the Hall of Fame Bowl. We got spanked by them, thus beginning the downward spiral lasting through much of the 90's.
from about 1 month ago
thanks for correcting me on that one i was too lazy to look it up. i just figured we'd gone to the sugar on the two sec title years.
from about 1 month ago
I don't know why we didn't go to the Sugar Bowl that year. I know we tied for the SEC Title that year. I suppose whoever we tied with got the nod instead of us.
about 1 month ago
Congrats on getting pick of the day...well deserved!
from about 1 month ago
thanks a lot!!
about 1 month ago
Man, as an OSU fan...I've tasted what you're tasting, but on the other hand, there's nothing quite like getting it handed to you two seasons in a row and having everyone laugh in your face until the next season! Here's to hoping for "third times the charm"!
Great article though, I enjoyed it.
about 1 month ago
Don't even mind my picture Justin... it's embarassing which is why I kinda feel a little like you. I mean it's football season and there is nothing better in life itself than when football season is around... but I am scared being a buckeye fan haha... I know my team is good but they seem to choke when it matters lately... I remember what it was like after beating Miami in the NC back in 02 and you described the feeling to complete 100% perfection. When your team wins it all nothing else seems to really matter around you haha. Great article.. loved the commentating part it was pretty funny. Best of luck to LSU this year.. I'm pretty sure they will rebuild in no time if not this year already.
about 1 month ago
I was right there where you were last summer, and I felt a lot of the same things. Especially whenever I looked at the defense and realized I wasn't familiar with the names of some of the starters.
Ultimately excitement over the dawn of the Tebow era shook me out of it. You'd probably be there too if Ryan Perrilloux didn't have a terminally sprained brain. Still, you have a nasty defense and one of the least boring coaches in the country. I'm sure you'll snap out of it in no time...
from about 1 month ago
FLORIDA GATORS FOOTBALL
A TRADITION . . . SINCE SEPTEMBER 7, 1991
about 1 month ago
Congrats on winning "Pick of the Day", broseph.
about 1 month ago
The champ is here, nice article I loved the play-by-play.
from about 1 month ago
thanks, i told my wife when i wrote the play by play that no one would enjoy it as much as I did.
if you're a fan you've seen that broadcast team a lot so you can actually hear them doing it, their cadence and their demeanor.
i once watched a "deadliest catch" marathon and had mike rowe in my head narrating my life for about the next three days.
about 1 month ago
I CAN'T WAIT!!!
"USC Football Is Life" (nike sign)
about 1 month ago
from one LSU fan to another...fantastic article and it is so true. I have several friends that are fans of other SEC schools(mostly UGA) and they are chompin' at the bit to get the season rolling while I on the other hand am pretty patient about it. Nice point of view.
about 1 month ago
Congrats and well-deserved!
about 1 month ago
Justin, a very funny and engaging piece! I too love your play by play here.
about 1 month ago
Of course, this article is NEVER complete... WITHOUT me saying this:
LSU FOOTBALL
A TRADITION . . . SINCE AUGUST 2003
from about 1 month ago
i'd thought you'd never show up.
however i would avoid reading baby tate's latest article about our NC in '58 if you want to keep believing your statement.
from about 1 month ago
Hey, I just created this new saying:
FLORIDA GATORS FOOTBALL
A TRADITION . . . SINCE SEPTEMBER 7, 1991
Did you see this one yet??? If so, do you think that this is as funny as the LSU one???
from about 1 month ago
i like it only because it makes fun of florida, but i don't think it's true.
about 1 month ago
You won a national title, but you couldn;t take down DMac!
from about 1 month ago
yeah, because "he got dat wood"
i can't tell you how glad i am that he went pro. dude's amazing.
that was the only game this season that our defense looked tired, and they still didn't play a horrible game. the score got out of hand b/c of 3OT's.
about 1 month ago
funny article, sreiosly though. I Love the play-by-play
about 1 month ago
nice article. I just hope I am feeling what you feel this time next year.
Go Bucks!
about 1 month ago
You're a fan of LSU and the Saints. I have the Buckeyes and the Bengals. I win in terms of who deserves it more...but yet I still lost. Explain that karma!
from about 1 month ago
the bengals have made it to the SB twice, granted they haven't won.
how many nat'l titles does OSU have, LSU has 3?
from about 1 month ago
Actually, the Ohio State Buckeyes have 7 National Championships :)
from about 1 month ago
7 NC's and two SB appearances and karma owes you ryan???
i respectfully disagree. lol.
about 1 month ago
I think that the Saints could be Super Bowl bound this year... you might get LSU one year and New Orleans the next?... imagine how you will feel if that happens haha.
from about 1 month ago
i think my impending death would follow.
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