http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers CST LSU Tiger Blog en paul@coxsportstv.com Copyright 2009 2009-10-23T02:54:13+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/new-season-new-faces-new-hope/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/new-season-new-faces-new-hope/#When:02:54:13Z By: Paul Boron, CST reporterIn Birmingham, Alabama at SEC Media Day It’s that time of year, when hope springs eternal across the hardwood in SEC country.  Everyone is 0-0 and dreaming of cutting down the nets in Indianapolis.  But, after a sub par year in the league, just getting more teams into the big dance may be a more realistic expectation. Last season just 3 teams made it to the N.C.A.A. tournament and none made it to the second weekend.  But the common theme here in Birmingham is that everyone was young last year and so every team will be better this year.  Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said his team will be better this year but could have a worse record because of the maturing depth around the league. Then there are the new faces on the coaching… 2009-10-23T02:54:13+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/no-safety-net/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/no-safety-net/#When:18:10:05Z LSU is no longer working with a safety net in its quest for an SEC West championship.  It's nearly certain that LSU's first league loss against Florida will be the only one the Tigers can absorb and still play for the SEC championship.  Alabama , which may well be the top team in the SEC, isn't likely to stumble twice, especially after another dominating defensive performance against Ole Miss.Still, the "what if" game yields a potentially intriguing scenario.  It goes like this.  What if the Tigers win their six remaining games to win a tiebreaker trip to Atlanta over Alabama?  What if LSU is triumphant in a return tilt with the Gators, this time for the SEC championship?  And, what if that seven-gane winning streak propels LSU into the national championship game?  At worst LSU would play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and a BCS bowl is not… 2009-10-20T18:10:05+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/lsu-earns-national-championship/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/lsu-earns-national-championship/#When:14:30:49Z No computers, no media, no BCS, just college sports the way it should be played on Wednesday night inside Rosenblatt Stadium. Wasn't that refreshing?? LSU rolled up its sleeves, grabbed its lunch pale and simply went to work against Texas. They were the better team, the more complete team and in the end the Number One team in the country. The Tigers in effect went wire to wire, starting out as the preseason number one and finishing up as the postseason number one. This team always played with pressure and these guys proved over and over again they could handle it. Even though he won't take it, Paul Mainieri deserves so much credit. The LSU Head Coach had all the right moves this season from giving his team a facelift before the stretch run, to saving Anthony Ranaudo for the final game, to inserting Sean Ochinko in the cleanup spot… 2009-06-24T14:30:49+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/all-in-time-for-the-tigers/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/all-in-time-for-the-tigers/#When:15:05:02Z Its funny how sports can be. You can play months of regular season baseball. You can win your conference tourney, steamroll through your regional and bulldoze your way through the Super Regional. Follow it up with 4 straight wins in the College World Series and still for LSU, it all comes down to one game. One game for all the CWS marbles will take place today in Omaha where LSU has a chance to win its first national title in 9 years. A long wait for a program which is growing impatient! As good a team effort as it was on Monday, the tigers pulled together for a team loss on Tuesday. The hitting and pitching shared this defeat. Longhorn pitcher Taylor Jungmann was the difference silencing the Tiger bats with 9 K's in 9 innings of work. It gave the Texas bullpen the night off and gave his school… 2009-06-23T15:05:02+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/extra-special-win/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/extra-special-win/#When:15:07:40Z The LSU Tigers have showed us they can overpower teams at the plate and on the hill in this postseason, but they were in an unfamiliar position on Monday, they were actually trailing! Good teams can win under any circumstance and the tigers proved they can comeback not once (Jared Mitchell's triple tied it in the sixth) not twice (DJ Lemahieu's double tied it in the ninth) but three times (yes Mikie Mahtook's 11th inning single was the dagger) Three gutty comebacks which left Paul Mainieri full of adjectives after this one. The LSU coach called it "one for the ages" and the "most courageous comeback in his 27 years of college coaching." Hard to argue with that. It would be impressive against any club but doing it against Texas on this Omaha stage made it sweeter. Coming back against Texas is like keeping John and Kate off the cover… 2009-06-22T15:07:40+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/fathers-day-mainieri-style/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/fathers-day-mainieri-style/#When:15:08:03Z LSU's Paul Mainieri spent Father's Day exactly where he wanted, inside Rosenblatt Stadium on Sunday. He spent the day with his coaches and players but they aren't his only support system here in Omaha. His dad Demi is here, which has made this whole experience that much more special. Demi Mainieri was one of the best small college coaches in the history of the sport, He transformed Miami-Dade community college into a national power leading them to the 1964 JUCO World Series and churning out future major leaguers like Mike Piazza, Bucky Dent and Mickey Rivers. He also had the most profound impact on a future coach, some guy named Paul. In an ironic twist of fate, it was Demi Mainieri that introduced his son to Skip Bertman way before either would take LSU to Omaha. Bertman was the head coach at Miami Senior High when he built a relationship… 2009-06-21T15:08:03+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/some-rest-for-the-weary/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/some-rest-for-the-weary/#When:15:10:58Z Omaha, Ne--It's a decision every coach wrestles with when he or she come to a national championship or bowl game. How do you keep your eyes on the prize but also let your kids enjoy a once in a lifetime experience? LSU Head Coach Paul Mainieri seems to have found the right balance between work and fun. After the team's first game, a win over Virginia Saturday, the Tigers went to a Sunday Luncheon with the Exchange Club of Omaha, then hit the practice field that afternoon. Monday, the Tigers knocked off Arkansas, and were faced with 3 days off until their bracket final--trust me a nice problem to have. Once again Mainieri proved he can orchestrate a ballclub and a vacation at once. Tuesday-practice in the morning and then a team dinner at Sullivan's, a local restaurant. Wednesday-practice in the morning and then a trip to Omaha's very popular… 2009-06-20T15:10:58+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/king-louis...-simply-dominating/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/king-louis...-simply-dominating/#When:15:11:18Z Omaha, Ne----The numbers are staggering, Louis Coleman's record is 21-3 over the last 2 years, an ERA under 3.00 and most eye-popping 187 strikeouts against just 29 walks. It's no wonder the Tigers and their fans are feeling pretty secure heading into their showdown with Arkansas Monday night. The senior right hander from Schlater, Mississippi hasn't lost a game in nearly 2 months becoming the foundation for the LSU pitching staff. But, Coleman easily could be well into a pro career by now. He was drafted out of high school by the Braves, the first player taken from his home state in that draft. Instead he came to Baton Rouge, where he has been both a starter and an effective reliever. The pros came calling after his junior year--a 14th round selection. But rather than going to the Nationals, not exactly an attractive choice these days, he came back for… 2009-06-19T15:11:18+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/lsus-main-man/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/lsu-tigers/lsus-main-man/#When:15:12:21Z Expectations are taken different ways by different coaches but its clear Paul Mainieri has always embraced them. He knew when he took the job a new ballpark was in the on-deck circle and the "Skip" super-sized shadow was still looming large. The truth is Mainieri knows he will never replace Skip Bertman but that doesn't mean he couldn't carve his own niche, which he already has. His second straight trip to Omaha is proof LSU's "Main" Man can win, adjust, rebuild and ultimately revive one of college baseball's best programs. His second trip to Omaha as LSU coach is just beginning but the journey to get here wasn't without speedbumps or a few early potholes on the road to recovery. He arrived in Baton Rouge knowing he had to change the mindset of the Smoke Laval regime so he immediately cleaned house after Year 1. He scowered his squad of… 2009-06-18T15:12:21+00:00