The KNOW YOUR PLACE Thread: Up Pg 12: Will Blackwell Knows His Place

ETA: New topics on Page 8 (Coach Miles) and Page 11 (The Rematch and 2012)

I've been a poster here for years and I've come here many times and spewed garbage on various boards for my personal entertainment. I'm sure we are all guilty of it. This time is different. This time, I'm being sincere. I'm doing this to try and help many of you out who seem to have trouble coming to grips with LSU and it's place in the College Football World.

Prepare yourself my fellow Rantards. This could be long, but I will try to keep it short.

"Know Your Place" is a motto I live by. Whether at work, at home, or out with friends, I ask myself this question before asserting my opinions/beliefs on anyone. With this in mind, let me help all of you with LSU's "place".

One thing I want everyone to keep in mind: THIS IS NOT A WHINING RANT. These facts are what they are. In my humble opinion, it just makes being a tiger fan, especially in the BCS era, that much more rewarding. I have accepted our place, I've embraced it, and I have to tell you: I FREAKIN' LOVE IT.

So, without further ado, here are two truths you need to learn and love....

1) LSU will never gain the respect of the media many feel they deserve.

Why? Baton Rouge. That's why. We are poor, podunk Southerners in a state in the union whose only claim to fame when it comes to jobs, education, quality of living is that "well, at least we aren't Mississippi". Sorry, this is the truth. Because of this, the media will never put us on the same level as the traditional powers. Our market is much too small. If your job is to sell papers, will you market your story to 500,000 readers, or millions? Yeah, we all love football, but we love money more.

Our media darling in the SEC is Bama. Bama has more "tradition" (this is loosely defined) and a larger faux fan base. Yes, much larger than LSU's.

This is why we didn't "win" the game of the century. This is why "LSU must beat UGA to earn a rematch with Bama". I could go on and on.

Outside of the SEC, we will never be USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio State. I'm sure I'm missing one or two, but you get the point.

So, with this in mind, would you really want to be one of these teams? Do you really want Les Miles whining for a shot at a game/trophy that we didn't win, or have no right to? I don't. I want my team to earn it. With our "place", we have to do just that.

2) LSU's opponents never lose to LSU because LSU is better, they lose because of mistakes made by the opponent.

Why? Again, when you are not a traditional/entitled/media darling, you are constantly having to prove yourself.

Currently, LSU is on pace to have the best season in the history of the sport. (Notice I said SEASON, and NOT TEAM). We are blowing out ranked opponents left and right. Yet, every week, excuses are made for the blowout, and LSU is put on upset alert for the following game.

Contrast this with Oklahoma in 2003 and USC in 2005 as being labeled "the greatest teams of all time" before they ended up losing.

Why is this not happening for LSU? Well, it is easy. In order to distract everyone from this historical accomplishment, you must downplay the acheivement.

Here is a perfect example: When LSU beat Bama in the "Game of the Century" it is argued by the pundits that Bama really won the game because they outgained LSU by a little over 50 yards, and had a 12 second differential in TOP. This is the arguement for putting Bama in the BCSNCG, despite the fact that they finished 3rd in the SEC.

Contrast this stupid arguement with the stats from the SECCG where Jawja clearly dominated LSU. This poster illustrates this point perfectly in this thread:

Using Entitled Team/Media Darling Logic, Jawja Dominates LSU To Win The SEC Championship!

How to prevent it? Keep winning, and keep winning big. Wasn't it great to blow up Arkansas last week after being picked to lose by so many? Wasn't it great to win the most irrelevant "Game of the Century" after everyone picked us to lose? Isn't it funny how now this game never happened?

I think so.

Well, EZE, what can I do in order to get my head straight?

Here is a quick list of things I do:

1) QUIT WATCHING ESPN outside of game broadcasts. ESPN is there to make money, not support a podunk BR media market. I quit watching Gameday in 2003. You should too. ESPN's commentary is like the nightly news: I know what they will say before they say it. None of the BS people are whining about today regarding what ESPN is saying about LSU surprises me. I find it funny.

2) LEARN TO LAUGH at the entitled/media darling schools. NOTHING in the this world diminishes another person more than laughing at them. NOTHING. When Nick Saban or his players are on TV whining about their right to play in the title game despite their weak schedule and loss to LSU, I'm reminded of my 3yo son when he doesn't get his way. I literally laugh my arse off.

In 2003, when Pete Carroll whined about winning a title despite not playing in the title game, I laughed my arse off.

3) Enjoy the moment and keep yourself in a bubble. This is my last bit of advice: There is plenty of positive to focus on outside of the negative media. Just read LSU publications, player tweets, etc. Keep yourself in an LSU bubble. Watch the games on mute, or listen to the radio broadcast during the game. If I'm not at the game and am watching at home, my TV is muted. I'm not joking. I started this years ago.

I have more to add but don't have time at this moment. If anyone appreciates what I've stated so far, I'll take the time to share more.

If not, oh well. Geaux Tigers. Beat UGA and Beat BAMA.

Yes, I want Bama. I want to beat an entitled school. BAD.

ETA:

Thanks to guys like Just Me, Doc, YA, etc and other posters who gave this a thumbs up. I know you guys know where I'm coming from. We may have disagreements in other threads over trivial things, but we are all TIGER FANS in the end. It's not often I'm serious on here, but I really meant what I said in this post.

We are witnessing history my fellow Tiger fans. We may never see another team in our lifetimes have the season LSU is having in 2011. As tiger fans, this is easily the best team we may ever witness as well. (Again, I stress SEASON, and TEAM with two separate and distinct meanings).

ENJOY THIS! Don't let morons in the media distract you from this.