re: 1969 tigers no bowl??

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Lots of myths about the 1969 team. First of all, the highest that team was ever ranked in that season was8th, which the '68 team accomplished as well. That's not to say they weren't outstanding, in fact Las Vegas had LSU only behind Ohio State and Texas as the best teams.

Remember the bowl culture was different,too. Big 10 and then Pac 8 were tied to the Rose. SWC champion was tied to the Cotton. Orange and Big 8 had an arrangement of sorts,but not binding.

Also the 1969 season had ranked teams that were a who's who of that decade, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, Arkansas and LSU. In early November of 1969, the Sugar Bowl offered LSU a bid but LSU turned it down hoping to play Texas in the Cotton. Penn State had already turned down the Cotton so LSU and the Cotton indeed had talks.

Notre Dame had been seriously considering going to bowls for years. They decided to go to bowls again to help fund minority scholarships and women's sports. The Cotton then picked Notre Dame over LSU. LSU went back to the Sugar and the Sugar said "sorry" that they had chosen Ole Miss.LSU tried to persuade the Sugar into a rematch like in 1960.The Sugar declined wanting the Texas-Arkansas loser.

The Astro-Bluebonnet and Sun Bowls offered LSU and invitation, but LSU declined. One thing people need to understand, is with the loss to Ole Miss even if LSU had played and beaten Texas in the Cotton Bowl, LSU would not have won the AP National Title. Southern Cal or Penn State would have.

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