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re: Arnsparger--Forgotten era
Posted on 8/15/16 at 7:42 am to cypresstiger
Posted on 8/15/16 at 7:42 am to cypresstiger
He was a very good coach who turned the program around after Stovall's final disastrous season in 1983.
My main memory though is of the disappointing 1986 season in which the team had two (2) regular season losses, both at home. One of the losses was to Miami (Ohio). Yes, Miami (Ohio). The other was to Ole Miss.
That Miami (Ohio) loss remains completely unacceptable to this day.
My main memory though is of the disappointing 1986 season in which the team had two (2) regular season losses, both at home. One of the losses was to Miami (Ohio). Yes, Miami (Ohio). The other was to Ole Miss.
That Miami (Ohio) loss remains completely unacceptable to this day.
2
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:25 am to cypresstiger
I didn't forget. He had the Tigers in good shape.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:42 am to weptiger
quote:I was one of the unlucky ones at that game. LSU was flat as a pancake -- five fumbles and two interceptions. Tigers outgained Miami like 425 yards to 200. Miami had a good QB and receiver that hooked up for an 80 yard TD pass in the 3rd quarter, and LSU just kept shooting itself in the foot.
That Miami (Ohio) loss remains completely unacceptable to this day.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:45 am to 75503Tiger
quote:
I was a student at LSU during this time. Archer was getting a lot of play in the media as a great young coach. This was before 24-7 coverage so maybe the reporting was biased. It all felt good, we commoners just knew that Bill had saved our program after the Rein tragedy, installed the next great young coach and then he had gone home to retire. None of that held true.
I was there, too. There was a press conference outside the stadium right after Jerry Stovall was fired, and we were yelling out the window "We love ya Jerry!" from a North Stadium dorm room. Arsparger turned out to be an odd but good "temporary" solution, but the fact that he even wanted to be a head coach at the college level was a little strange. Certainly in those days when there wasn't so much money at stake, these decisions didn't get the scrutiny and public buy in that's required today. No way you could hire an Arnsparger-type coach at an elite program today.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:49 am to cypresstiger
Those were the first teams I remember as a little kid and went to both of the losses to Nebraska. Years later, I read that SI article about the Auburn strength coach that was supplying Nebraska (and a couple of other programs) with steroids during the 80s.
We used to hear how Nebraska had those big corn fed O-Linemen but they were fed with something better than corn.
We used to hear how Nebraska had those big corn fed O-Linemen but they were fed with something better than corn.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:50 am to TigerintheNO
quote:
LSU interviewed three coaches Mike Archer, Steve Spurrier, and Mike Shanahan.
Pete Jenkins was interviewed,too.
With that said, whereas nothing is as fun as LSU fans bashing LSU keep in mind that after the 1986 season Alabama, Southern Cal and Texas also had job openings for head football coach. Those teams have a pretty good history and alums with deep pockets.
Wonder why those three didn't contact Spurrier or Shanahan?
Posted on 8/15/16 at 8:55 am to tigger1
quote:
Bob hired near all the who's who of LSU coaching in the off sports at the time, Skip, Henry
Henry was hired by Dean. That said, Bob hired Seagrave, Seames, etc. who actually built the national championship program that Henry inherited.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 10:10 am to Carville
quote:
Pete Jenkins and Jerry Stovall put up a fence around this state
Don't forget Sam Nader...recruiting savant!
Posted on 8/15/16 at 1:16 pm to cypresstiger
probably posted, I ain't looking, but he used Stovall's recruiting, got the praise then bolted, he didn't recruit, recommended Archer as his replacement, so he might be solely responsible for the worst era ever in LSU football 
Posted on 8/15/16 at 4:22 pm to weptiger
That loss to OM was really dirty! I recall preparing for a friend bachelor party that evening and it just completely blew everyone away that was ready to party and put a damper for just a bit. Until the entertainment arrived later finally and brought everyone back up!
Posted on 8/15/16 at 6:50 pm to cypresstiger
As good as Arnsparger was, he won a number of games with Stovall's recruits.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:00 pm to 75503Tiger
quote:
Archer was getting a lot of play in the media as a great young coach
Wasn't he being considered by Miami during his first year as LSU head coach? I remember being pissed that he was almost bragging that they were wanting him. In hindsight I wish they would have taken him.
Posted on 8/15/16 at 9:07 pm to jhhingle
Arnsparger's main problem was recruiting. He had a lax attitude. He figured the quality players in LA would automatically gravitate to LSU. So some high profile recruits went elsewhere after not being courted by Arnie's staff (Neil Smith to Nebraska is an example.)
Also, the performances in the bowls were embarrassing.
Also, the performances in the bowls were embarrassing.
Posted on 8/16/16 at 6:53 am to Fishhead
[quote]I don't know if it's true, but I've always heard that when arnsparger left to be the athletic director at Florida, he hand-picked Archer as his successor.
True. He also refused to let Steve Spurrier interview but a few weeks later hired him at Florida. He also left us just before signing day. However, he was an exceptional coach.
True. He also refused to let Steve Spurrier interview but a few weeks later hired him at Florida. He also left us just before signing day. However, he was an exceptional coach.
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:36 pm to LSU GrandDad
quote:
I remember the Hall of Fame bowl in Tampa when we played Syracuse, which was a triple option team at the time. Arnsparger, an ex pro coach, had no idea how to defend that kind of offense and man did it show. we had great athletes and that's the only reason Syracuse didn't score 50 on us
That was two years after he left, genius.
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:42 pm to damnedoldtigah
quote:
As good as Arnsparger was, he won a number of games with Stovall's recruits.
Maybe, but freaking Mike Archer went 10-1-1 in his first year with Arnsparger's players.
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:49 pm to TigerintheNO
quote:
LSU interviewed three coaches Mike Archer, Steve Spurrier, and Mike Shanahan.
Spurrier was up and coming and really was a hot commodity at the time. He had just coached Tampa Bay of the USFL and was pretty successful there. I worked for one of the BOS members who really wanted him there because he believed that the football program would have been secure for 20 years if he came. Guys like Shelly Beychock and Charles Cusimano put the kibosh on that. Shanahan was a different story. At the time he was a protege of Bill Walsh and Walsh was grooming him for a pro position. Shanahan would have come , but at the time he wanted big money...500K/yr which at the time was unheard of for a college coach
Posted on 8/19/16 at 4:00 pm to Lee Chatelain
quote:
No, the LSU football team hand-picked Archer.
With an assist from Beychock, Cusimano and acquiesence from Andonie. Archer was selected because he came in on the cheap.
Posted on 8/19/16 at 5:08 pm to cypresstiger
quote:
Your memories of that era?
"This is Jim Nasium and this week's Tiger Track...Head Coach Bill Arnspargerrrrrr" (canned applause, whistles)
ETA: ...Miami (OH) was my first game in TS.
This post was edited on 8/19/16 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 8/19/16 at 6:11 pm to Carville
quote:
Harvey Williams came partly due to Mrs Arnsparger
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