re: How close did Arnsparger have us to a NC??

Didn't say it want his contract. Doesn't it make it a smart contract.

Can't argue w/ his record ... didn't care for his read and react bend don't break defensive philosophy, but again, the record was good.

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You nailed the big difference between the 82 and 87 teams. The 82 team probably could have played with anyone in that season; their losses (other than Nebraska) were underachieving performances. The 87 team record was a function of a weak SEC and few fans had the illusion that we could compete with Oklahoma or Nebraska that year




Whoa, hold on a second there hoss. Its not just the record, the 87 team had a ton of talent (as did 82). Their only loss was to Alabama when Tommy Hodson was hurt. They tied tOSU who was ranked in the top 10 at the time, but fell apart. We should have won that game but for bad coaching.

82 lost to 2 losing teams, MSU and Tulane and tied a 6-5-1 UT.

As for the SEC being weak in 87. LSU was 10-1-1. Auburn 9-1-2, Tenn 10-2-1 UGA 9-3. All finished in the top 15. Now 82 was a little deeper with UGA 11-1, LSU 8-3-1, AU 9-3, Bama 8-4, UF 8-4 and Vandy 8-4 (Vandy was 8-4? )

Sory, I'll stick by statement best team between 69 and 2003 was 1987.

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I will concede that my argument is based on the 82 teams performance against Nebraska, who many will argue was the best team in CFB that season. the 87 team did not get a chance to face such an opponent, so it may not be fair that I am speculating they would not have fared as well. However, with the 82 team I do not have to speculate - the game was actually played.

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My point here was that the 1982 team was stronger even though there record was not as good as the 1987 team.



82 was a great team, but 87 was better imho. I'll look at the rosters later.


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LSU was in line to play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.




hum, I don't remember that, seems like back then the Sugar Bowl didn't want LSU and there was not the push to have a 1 v 2 match up like there is now.

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The LSU-Georgia Sugar Bowl possibility came up after LSU beat Alabama (a top 10 matchup) which propelled LSU to #5 in the rankings. Penn State moved into the Sugar Bowl picture after LSU was upset at Miss State the next week, and Penn State went on to the National Championship.

best chances were 1982 and 1987. The 1982 team was as explosive and physical team LSU has ever had. That team gave Florida and Alabama (both ranked in the top 10 when we played them) brutal beatdowns on the road much more so than the final score may indicate. The 55-21 win over Florida State in a game for the Orange Bowl or Gator Bowl speaks for itself . But the -2-1 defies logic. Never should have been tied by a 6-5-1 Tennessee team and lost to Mississippi State and Tulane. While State had been to two straight bowls and still had some talent on their 1982 team, they had key injuries all year. Of course, the LSU game was when every one was back. Still shouldn't have lost to them,but they really weren't that bad of a team. Now, Tulane was putrid and that loss was unforgivable.

As others have stated in this thread, for whatever reason LSU was just awful in bowls under Arnsparger. The best effort was the '85 Sugar Bowl vs maybe the most talented team that year, Nebraska.Baylor was 'good' but they killed us. Our only points were a punt return by future Lowsman,Norman Jefferson. An 'equal' 1986 Nebraska team smothered us.

With that said, I think somehow Arnsparger might have gotten us to 11-0 in 1987. Still,its important to note at the time how the bowls and polls worked. We would have gone to the Sugar and Oklahoma and Miami would have still met in the Orange. Had we beaten Ohio State,its conceivable that we would have been ranked ahead of Miami and stayed ahead of them and gotten a split after their Orange Bowl win.

As for the "Stovall Recruits", go back and look at a 1986 or 1987 media guide or program and see how few Stovall players made a dent on those teams.

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best chances were 1982 and 1987. The 1982 team was as explosive and physical team LSU has ever had. That team gave Florida and Alabama (both ranked in the top 10 when we played them) brutal beatdowns on the road much more so than the final score may indicate. The 55-21 win over Florida State in a game for the Orange Bowl or Gator Bowl speaks for itself . But the -2-1 defies logic. Never should have been tied by a 6-5-1 Tennessee team and lost to Mississippi State and Tulane. While State had been to two straight bowls and still had some talent on their 1982 team, they had key injuries all year. Of course, the LSU game was when every one was back. Still shouldn't have lost to them,but they really weren't that bad of a team. Now, Tulane was putrid and that loss was unforgivable.

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I am not sure if Arnsparger would have gotten us to 11-0 in 1987. One theme in each of his seasons is that he lost at least one game he shouldn't have lost. In fact, losing a game you shouldn't is a common thread in every LSU season I remember with the possible exception of 2010.

W

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ith that said, I think somehow Arnsparger might have gotten us to 11-0 in 1987. Still,its important to note at the time how the bowls and polls worked. We would have gone to the Sugar and Oklahoma and Miami would have still met in the Orange. Had we beaten Ohio State,its conceivable that we would have been ranked ahead of Miami and stayed ahead of them and gotten a split after their Orange Bowl win.

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would we have gone to the sugar then?? Auburn was undefeated also in the SEC. Sugar might have still picked Auburn cause their fans would stay in the hotels.

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would we have gone to the sugar then??

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SEC Champ had to go to the Sugar

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Auburn was undefeated also in the SEC

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But they had a tie. 20-20 in Knoxville, oddly enough the same day of our tie with Ohio State.

There goes Sammich, posting more misinformation.

No, Arny had stabilized LSU's level of success after Stovall's rollercoaster yrs. However, Arny, was out of touch w/ the trends of NCAA FB. I remember reading about his program to make players lose weight in the pre-season Tiger Rag. That's why the off. & def. lines were dominated by teams up north where weightlifting was emphasized. Anyone remember Nebraska (twice), ND in '84 & Miami (Ohio) in '86? Even the wins vs. ND in '85 & '86 were narrow escapes vs teams that finished w/ losing records.
Also, the SEC wasn't as dominant in the mid 80s so LSU was just in the upper echelon of decent conference. Remember, the '85 team only played 3 teams finishing w/ a winning record: shutout @ home by UF, blew win vs. Bama by missed chip shot FG & phoned in Liberty Bowl vs. Baylor.
Had Arny stayed, he would've been another Charley Mac. LSU would've won 8 or 9 games/ season w/ an occasional SEC title but never seriously contend for a nat'l title.