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Revision as of 23:47, 25 November 2007

{{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]]
Ranking
BCSNo. 5
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 5

The 2007 LSU Tigers football team will represent Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's Head Coach is Les Miles who is entering his third year at the helm of LSU Football. They play their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Previous season

In his second season as head coach, Les Miles had another terrific year leading the Tigers to back-to-back 11 win seasons. The Tigers finished 2006 with a record of 11-2 (6-2 SEC) and were invited to the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl to play Notre Dame. The Tigers went on defeat Notre Dame 41-14 to cap a 7 game win streak to end the season. The Tigers headed into the off-season with higher hopes for the 2007 Season.

Pre-season

LSU was ranked #2 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll and the preseason AP Poll.[1]

In the pre-season, returning quarterback Matt Flynn was named one of the top-10 impact seniors for 2007.[2] Senior tailback Alley Broussard left the team on July 24 to concentrate on academics. Broussard had started eight games, but was not expected to start in 2007.[3]

Coaching Changes

  • Jimbo Fisher decided to leave LSU after seven years as the offensive coordinator to take the same position at FSU. He was replaced by Gary Crowton who was the offensive coordinator for Oregon in 2005 & 2006.
  • Todd Monken, who came to LSU with Les Miles in 2005, decided to leave after just two years as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach. It is rumored that Monken was unhappy that he was not chosen as the OC.[citation needed] He was replaced by D.J. McCarthy.
  • Stacey Searles, the offensive line coach, was replaced by Greg Studrawa who had been the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green the previous four years. Searles left LSU to take the same position at Georgia.

2007 Recruiting Class

LSU signed a total of 26 players for the 2007 recruiting class. The 2007 class is another solid recruiting class for Les Miles and the LSU Football program. The class is headlined by safety Chad Jones, wide receivers Demetrius Byrd and Terrance Tolliver, quarterback Jarrett Lee, and defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale. LSU did miss out Joe McKnight, the top recruit out of Louisiana who decided to commit to USC instead. Overall the 2007 LSU recruiting class was ranked #4 by rivals.com and #5 by scout.com.

College recruiting information (2007)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kentravis Aubrey
DE 		Bastrop, LA Bastrop High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Mar 11, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Joseph Barksdale
DT 		Detroit, MI Cass Technical High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 323 lb (147 kg) Jan 6, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
DeAngelo Benton
WR 		Bastrop, LA Bastrop High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) May 25, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Will Blackwell
DT 		West Monroe, LA West Monroe High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 296 lb (134 kg) Jan 14, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Delvin Breaux
DB 		New Orleans, LA McDonogh 35 Senior High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jun 13, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Ron Brooks
ATH 		Irving, TX MacArthur High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jan 11, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Demetrius Byrd
WR 		Poplarville, MS Pearl River Community College 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jan 20, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Shomari Clemons
DB 		West Monroe, LA West Monroe High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 229 lb (104 kg) N/A 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Jordon Corbin
TE 		Lakeland, FL Lakeland Senior High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jun 2, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Sidell Corley
DE 		Mobile, AL McGill-Toolen High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Feb 4, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Andrew Crutchfield
K 		Concord, NC Northwest Cabarrus High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Aug 3, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Josh Dworaczyk
OL 		New Iberia, LA Catholic High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 263 lb (119 kg) Aug 2, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Stefoin Francois
DB 		Reserve, LA East Saint John High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Feb 5, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
T-Bob Hebert
OL 		Norcross, GA Greater Atlanta Christian School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 256 lb (116 kg) Oct 26, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Josh Jasper
K 		Memphis, TN Ridgeway High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Aug 31, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Chad Jones
ATH 		Baton Rouge, LA Southern University Lab School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Feb 7, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Jarvis Jones
OL 		Rosenberg, TX Lamar Cons High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Dec 4, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 71
Phelon Jones
ATH 		Mobile, AL McGill-Toolen High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Dec 10, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Mitch Joseph
TE 		New Iberia, LA Catholic High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 243 lb (110 kg) Apr 1, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Jarrett Lee
QB 		Brenham, TX Brenham High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) May 31, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Ernest McCoy
OL 		Belle Glade, FL Glades Central High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 330 lb (150 kg) Dec 4, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Drake Nevis
DT 		Marrero, LA John Ehret High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 281 lb (127 kg) Dec 10, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Stevan Ridley
ATH 		Natchez, MS Trinity Episcopal School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 211 lb (96 kg) Mar 27, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Alex Russian
TE 		Round Rock, TX Round Rock High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 231 lb (105 kg) Jun 19, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Terrance Toliver
WR 		Hempstead, TX Hempstead High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Feb 6, 2007 
Star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 86
John Williams
ATH 		Breaux Bridge, LA Breaux Bridge High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Mar 4, 2006 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: #5   Rivals: #4
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "LSU Commit List 2007". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  • "Scout.com Football Recruiting: LSU". Scout.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  • "2007 Player Commitments - LSU". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  • "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2007-10-05.

Key Losses

Schedule

The schedule was ranked as the #3 toughest home schedule.[9]

August 307:00 pmat Mississippi StateNo. 2

ESPNW 45-0 50,112 September 88:15 pmNo. 9 Virginia Tech*No. 2

ESPNW 48-7 92,739 September 157:00 pmMiddle Tennessee*No. 2

  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA

PPVW 44-0 92,407 September 222:30 pmNo. 14 South CarolinaNo. 2

  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA

CBSW 28-16 92,530 September 2911:00 amat Tulane*No. 2

ESPN2W 34-9 58,769 October 67:28 pmNo. 7 FloridaNo. 2

  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA

CBSW 28-24 92,910 October 132:30 pmat No. 18 KentuckyNo. 1

CBSL 43-37 3OT70,902 October 208:00 pmNo. 19 AuburnNo. 5

ESPNW 30-24 92,630 November 34:00 pmat No. 18 AlabamaNo. 3

CBSW 41-34 92,138 November 107:00 pmLouisiana Tech*daggerNo. 2

  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA

PPVW 58-10 92,512 November 172:30 pmat Ole MissNo. 1

CBSW 41-24 60,850 November 231:30 pmArkansasNo. 1

CBSL 50-48 3OT92,606 December 13:00 pmNo. 15 TennesseeNo. 7

CBS   TBDTBDTBD

TBD  

Template:CFB Schedule End

Schedule Source: 2007 LSU Football Schedule @ LSUSports.net

Rankings

See also: 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking Movement
Poll Pre 9/4 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4 11/11 11/18 11/25 Wk 15 Final
AP #2 #2 #2 #2 #2 #1 #1 #5 #3 #3 #2 #1 #1 #5
Coaches #2 #2 #2 #2 #2 #2 #1 #5 #3 #3 #2 #1 #1 #7
BCS Not released #4 #3 #3 #2 #1 #1

Game Notes

Mississippi State

See also: Mississippi State Bulldogs football
1 2 3 4 Total
Louisiana State 3 14 14 14 45
Mississippi State 0 0 0 0 0

LSU and Mississippi State kicked off the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season in a Thursday night SEC matchup broadcast on ESPN. The Tigers started out slow, only scoring a field goal in the first quarter but eventually took over the game, routing MSU 45-0.

Virginia Tech

See also: 2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Virginia Tech 0 0 7 0 7
Louisiana State 14 10 10 14 48

The ESPN College GameDay crew was in Baton Rouge, LA for this important non-conference matchup between two top-10 teams. LSU entered the game ranked #2 while Virginia Tech was ranked #9. With both teams having excellent defenses the game was expected to be a low scoring affair. LSU, however, on their first possession drove the ball 80+ yards for a touchdown. The next time they got the ball they did the same thing. LSU continued to shock the Virginia Tech defense all night as it racked up 48 points to eventually win the game 48-7.

Middle Tennessee State

See also: 2007 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Middle Tennessee State 0 0 0 0 0
Louisiana State 10 13 21 0 44
Second ranked LSU comes onto the field at the start of the game versus Middle Tennessee State.

Second ranked LSU played Middle Tennessee State in front of a sold out crowd in Tiger Stadium. Head coach Les Miles didn't play starting QB Matt Flynn because of an ankle injury he suffered during the week, and to rest him for next weeks game at home against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Instead he started Sophomore Ryan Perrilloux who threw 20-26 passing for 298 passing yards to help lead LSU to a 44-0 win against MTSU. Senior WR Early Doucet didn't play to rest for next weeks game as well. LSU held Middle Tennessee to a total of 90 yards on offense. LSU only allowed 9 yards rushing in the game against the same MTSU team that put up 264 yards of total rushing against Louisville the week before. LSU won the game 44-0.

South Carolina

See also: 2007 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 7 0 0 9 16
Louisiana State 7 14 7 0 28
LSU WR Trindon Holliday returns a kickoff in the second half against South Carolina.

#14 South Carolina, coached by Steve Spurrier, came into Tiger Stadium on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The game, broadcast nationally by CBS, was messy due to the wet conditions, and South Carolina took and early 7-0 lead. LSU responded by scoring two unanswered touchdowns to make it 14-7. LSU again drove down into South Carolina territory but the drive stalled and the Tigers lined up to kick a field goal. The kick was a fake, perfectly executed by QB Matt Flynn and K Colt David, which saw David take an over-the-head no look toss from Flynn into the end zone for a touchdown. The play would go on to be selected as the ESPN/Pontiac Game Changing Performance for week 4 of the 2007 season.[10] South Carolina would score again late in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough and the Tigers won the game 28-16.

Tulane

See also: Tiger Rag (LSU-Tulane)
1 2 3 4 Total
Louisiana State 7 3 10 14 34
Tulane 0 9 0 0 9
LSU QB Matt Flynn drops back to pass against Tulane.

LSU played Tulane in a recently renewed rivalry that stretches all the way back to LSU's first football game in 1893. Even though the game was played at the Louisiana Superdome, Tulane's home stadium, it was a virtual home game for LSU considering it is only approximately 80 miles away from Baton Rouge. The Tigers started out slow and Tulane took a 9-7 lead late in the first half. LSU would score a field goal to go into halftime with a 10-9 lead. The second half saw the Tigers pull away from the Green Wave and LSU won the game 34-9.

LSU and Tulane both wore special uniforms designed by Nike to honor Hurricane Katrina victims. The new designs will be sold at stores throughout the city and proceeds will benefit Nike’s Let Me Play New Orleans fund to help rebuild New Orleans through Sport.[11] LSU's uniforms consisted of white pants and a purple jersey and a white helmet. This is only the second time in history that LSU has worn a white helmet. The other time came in the 1997 Independence Bowl against Notre Dame.[12]

The LSU victory, along with Southern California's close game with Washington, pushed LSU to the #1 ranking in the AP Poll, with 1,593 points and 33 first-place votes just over Southern California's 1,591 points and 32 first-place votes; however the Trojans remained #1 in the Coaches Poll, keeping a more substantial lead: 1,483 points and 45 first-place votes to LSU's 1,454 points and 14 first-place votes.[13]

Florida

See also: 2007 Florida Gators football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Florida 3 14 7 0 24
Louisiana State 0 7 7 14 28

In the pre-season, this game was named as one of candidates for the 10 most important games of 2007, with the 2006 contest having made a significant impact on determining the national championship (Florida finished #1, LSU #3); it would also serve as the first true road test for Gator's starting quarterback Tim Tebow.[14]

In preparation for the matchup, CBS staged The Early Show from the LSU campus on the Friday morning before the game.[15] ESPN also chose LSU as the site for College GameDay.[16] It was the second time in the 2007 season that ESPN College GameDay was broadcast from LSU.

Kentucky

See also: Kentucky Wildcats football
1 2 3 4OT2OT3OT Total
Louisiana State 0 17 10 0730 37
Kentucky 7 7 7 6736 43

After suffering their first loss of the season to #17 Kentucky, LSU fell to #5 in the polls.

Auburn

See also: 2007 Auburn Tigers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Auburn 7 10 0 7 24
Louisiana State 7 0 6 17 30

One week after their brutal triple overtime loss to Kentucky, LSU returned home for another tough matchup: number 17 Auburn. Auburn jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when Brandon Cox found Montez Billings. A 46 yard screen pass to Keiland Williams for a TD tied it, but Auburn took a 17-7 lead into halftime when LSU backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux fumbled, and Carl Stewart ran for a one yard touchdown after LSU's Trindon Holliday had saved a touchdown. Wes Bynum's field goal capped the first half scoring. Two Colt David field goals pulled LSU within four before Matt Flynn hit Jacob Hester on a five yard screen and David kicked another field goal to put LSU on top 23-17. But, Auburn wasn't done, as they drove down the field and scored a touchdown. LSU had 3:13 left, and they put themselves in good position to kick a game winning field goal on Auburn's 22 yard line. However, with a chance to make the kick and a timeout, LSU coach Les Miles chose to gamble (as he has so often during the year) and go for a touchdown. It turned out as he planned however, as LSU won on Matt Flinn's 22 yard pass to Demetrius Byrd. Miles later said he thought he had plenty of time, but it is believed that if the ball was tipped and incomplete, Auburn would have won and ended LSU's title chances.

Alabama

See also: 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Louisiana State 10 7 7 17 41
Alabama 3 17 7 7 34

Louisiana Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Louisiana Tech 0 7 0 3 10
Louisiana State 10 17 17 14 58

Ole Miss

See also: Ole Miss Rebels
1 2 3 4 Total
Louisiana State 14 0 10 17 41
Ole Miss 7 0 3 14 24
Tyson Jackson (93), Glenn Dorsey (72), Marlon Favorite (99) and Kirston Pittman (49) line up against the Ole Miss offense on November 17, 2007.

Arkansas

See also: 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team and Golden Boot (LSU-Arkansas)
1 2 3 4OT2OT3OT Total
Arkansas 0 7 14 7778 50
Louisiana State 6 0 15 7776 48

Roster

Coaching Staff

Name Title First Year at LSU
Les Miles Head Coach 2005
Gary Crowton Offensive Coordinator 2007
Bo Pelini Defensive Coordinator 2005
Josh Henson Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator 2005
Earl Lane Defensive Line Coach 2006
Doug Mallory Defensive Backs Coach 2005
D.J. McCarthy Wide Receivers Coach 2007
Bradley Dale Peveto Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach 2005
Larry Porter Asst. Head Coach/Running Backs/Special Teams 2005
Greg Studrawa Offensive Line Coach 2007
Tommy Moffitt Strength & Conditioning Coordinator 2000

References

  1. ^ 2007 AP and Coaches preseason polls
  2. ^ Mark Schlabach, Amendola, Brinkley highlight seniors to watch in '07, ESPN.com, June 22, 2007.
  3. ^ "LSU running back Broussard leaves team". ESPN. 2007-04-24.
  4. ^ http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index
  5. ^ http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index
  6. ^ http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index
  7. ^ http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index
  8. ^ http://louisianastate.scout.com/a.z?s=107&p=8&c=1&nid=1911907
  9. ^ Steve Megargee. "Road to glory will be tough one for Seminoles". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  10. ^ ESPN/Pontiac Game Changing Performance
  11. ^ LSU to Wear Special Uniform to Benefit New Orleans
  12. ^ http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/sec.htm
  13. ^ 2007 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 5 (Sept. 30), ESPN.com, Accessed September 30, 2007.
  14. ^ Stewart Mandel, Momentous matchups, SI.com, June 21, 2007.
  15. ^ CBS 'Early Show' Airs Live from Tiger Stadium
  16. ^ ESPN GameDay Makes Return Trip to Baton Rouge
Preceded by LSU Tigers football team
2007 		Succeeded by
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