re: Hammond star Jeremy Smith visits LSU after catching the eye of coaches

The last time my alma mater lost to them was my sophomore year (2004), and we weren't nearly the program we are now.

That 2004 Hammond team may have been the last playoff team they have had too.

Matt Betts was a Jerome Bettis-type, bowling ball of a back, and Troy Giddens (one time LSU player) was nasty at LB (although he was much better that year than his senior year in 2005). They also had a WR that signed with A&M and another receiver that signed with SELU.

A guy that graduated in 2008, Robert Alford, went virtually unnoticed in the recruiting world, signed with SELU and got drafted this year.

They always have talent, but coaching is usually the main thing holding them back.

And another poster addressed that getting the athletes to suit up for football is a big issue as well. I believe that goes hand in hand with coaching. You'd be surprised how far a good motivator goes.