Having been around LSU football since the the Alan Risher era, I've seen a lot of embarrassing things from our "student" athletes donning the purple and gold. When I read about Janzen Jackson's arrest on Thursday, I recall a "great" LSU running back we had that stole a girls purse on campus and was tackled by a number of students as he ditched and hurdled benches etc. to escape(kind of like a former OJ Hertz Commercial - er that's another story...).

While we didn't have the hugely negative issues that faced SMU long ago, we still put a lot of our stock in players such as this that seemingly got in trouble with the law, couldn't pass their courses and the team most always seemed to be playing with about 9 SEC caliber starters while hiding a few lesser skilled players on the field.

It was a really tough 10-12 years to endure (some with hope only to be followed by a year where we went totally flat).

Today, we graduate Tiger football players at the highest rate, when a player breaks the team's rules (not the law), they are disciplined. The players respect the coach and play for the team. They aren't out there all wanting a football in their hands at the same time.

Also, I am a firm believer that Les CAN prepare our team as well as any coach when he's got a month to put a game-plan together.

Are we dinged up? Young and inexperienced at key positions? Holding back that little extra bit of talent in exchange for a full redshirt year? Unwilling to put a kid like Shep out there for a couple of complete series when Lee goes 3-and-out series after series (and when we all believe Shepard has the resilency to dig down deeper to make success a reality even if he's knocked down for one play and pulled?)? Yes, Yes, Yes and Absolutely. There is frustration with all of us.

Still, please recognize how much time it takes to put a "program" (not just one good year) together where you can, seemingly, "reload" instead of "recruit" freshman to fill holes (the latter with the hope they can pass enough classes their spring semester to have standing for a second year with the team).

Just watch - the present "greatness" of the Cincinnati's, TCUs and others ranked above the Tigers (presently) will only be a memory by 2013. Where are all the folks clammoring for Texas Tech's coach? Glory fades quickly...

Be patient folks; And Les, please be willing to take more chances to help us get to 11-2 this year instead of 9-4.