Every LSU game is a "big game" as far I'm concerned...

The LSU Tigers are, and always will be, the love of my life as far as sports are concerned.

I realize it's become widely popular among those on the radio on the Rant to be critical of our coaching staff - particularly our head coach - and the state of our program. And I must admit, whether it's right or wrong to let it affect me, the negativity does affect me as a fan and certainly takes away some of my enjoyment of something that I really cherish: LSU football. So congratulations to you, negatigers - you have helped to dimimish the enjoyment of the game for one of the biggest LSU fans in existence. You've succeeded.

All that said, this LSU team and this LSU coaching staff is not perfect. For that matter, there is no perfect team or coaching staff in the country. We obviously had our struggles in 2008, and we obviously have continued to have struggles on the offensive side of the ball since then. Nonetheless, there are many positive things happening around this LSU football program:

--We are currently 7-1, with a great chance to contend for a BCS Bowl in 2010, a year most - including myself - projected us at 9-3 (at best) prior to the season.
--The groundwork has been laid for a legitimate shot at the national title in 2011 (of course depending upon how 2010 plays out, it appears we have a great chance to be PreSeason Top10 headed into 2011 with two senior QBs)
--recruiting is still year-in-year-out second to none. This cannot be understated. Anyone that follows college football regularly knows that recruiting is the crucial component to consistently winning games in college football.
--We're still one of the winningest programs in the toughest conference in the country, despite many predictions that had Miles "in over his head" in 2005 when he was hired. Here we are, nearly 6 years later, still sitting in prime position to compete for championships this year and into the future. Despite many predictions otherwise, the program has not collapsed and will not collape, that much is evident.
--Our program has reached a point to where Miles and the LSU name have become media darlings in terms of the amount of coverage and airtime we get. Go to Montana and ask a random person who Les Miles is. Also ask them who Gene Chizik is just for kicks.
--Our athletes stay out of trouble. While Florida and Georgia have trouble fielding a team because their guys have yet to be bailed out, under Miles we have had - with few exceptions - basically no off-the-field issues to speak of
--Miles has done it all with class and integrity. There were definitely moments where Miles could have thrown coordinators, players, and our own fans under the bus. He has not, and has handled every bit of adversity thrown his way with the utmost class and integrity. At the end of the day, our main priority is to win, but if we can do that with class - as Miles has done - then it just makes it that much more to be proud of.

It doesn't matter who LSU's coach is, I will always root for the guys wearing purple and gold. Always. Les Miles may or may not be our coach well into the future, but I do know that regardless of who is coaching at LSU in the future, Nick Saban AND Les Miles have laid the groundwork for the LSU football program to have great success. Much like when Miles took over at LSU, our next coach will also be taking over an incredibly great situation at LSU. Anyone could likely step in here and be successful, and while Saban built that, Miles hasn't missed a beat and has certainly maintained that and has arguably raised the bar a little since Saban's departure. Our own fans' expectations are evidence of such.

All I ask is for some of you to chill. Let's watch it all play out, and most importantly: enjoy the spectacle that is LSU football. We are truly in the golden years of LSU football. Never in our history have we been such a centerpiece in the college football landscape as we are now.

Enjoy it, Tiger fans. If you've got constructive criticism(s), as we all do, that's one thing. But to continually attack and ridicule our program and coaching staff is not only aggrivating to many of us, it's quite simply unproductive. If you want LSU to win, which I believe most of you do, you would understand this.