Throwing the Christians to the Tigers

-The SEC Riviera Roundup-
By Chris Warner

August 17, 2013

The Romans made the mass slaughter of animals and humans a big business, and an integral part of their ancient, civilized culture. So important was this popular, real-time, persecuting blood sport that it spawned a massive, architectural wonder, the Colosseum, which upon construction was the world’s largest outdoor arena, a veritable Pantheon of its time; and the undisputed pride of Vespasian. Today, in the modern world, pro and college football and tailgating are big business; and together, an undeniable cultural force. So important are football and its trappings to the fabric of Americana, that it necessitated the 2009 construction of AT&T Stadium, or “Jerry World,” in Arlington, Texas, the world’s largest column-free indoor space, and the undeniable magnum opus of its innovator and namesake, Jerry Jones. This weekend, in a dramatic and gory turning of the tables, the many Texans in attendance at Jerry’s World will strangely be entertaining the uncivilized, and the unthinkable: The throwing of their beloved Christians to the Tigers of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

In this weekly column of everything important to Southern pride, heritage and posterity—SEC Football, we’ll discuss in-depth LSU’s impending mismatch-up with TCU, as well as take our regular armchair quarterback tour across the nation’s toughest conference, highlighting each program’s progress as the much-anticipated 2013 college football season makes its auspicious start.

Coach Patterson’s Rookie Mistake

Gary Patterson has been head coach at Texas Christian University, formerly of the Mountain West Conference, since 2000, when he took over for Dennis Franchione, who left for the ill-fated Capstone experiment in Tuscaloosa. 2012 was TCU’s first year in the Big 12, and the results of the foray into big boy football were somewhat disappointing. The Horned Frogs finished 7-6, with a 17-16 loss to Michigan State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Heading into his second season in the Big 12, Patterson, the 53-year old Kansas native, appears to be feeling the pressure to perform, as three weeks ago he committed a costly coaching mistake.

Veteran coaches know it is unwise to provide bulletin board material for the opposition. Unfortunately, Gary Patterson didn’t remember. Earlier this month
Patterson wondered out loud if Coach Les Miles would have put a player's future up to a team vote, like he did with Jeremy Hill, if LSU were playing a lesser team in Week 1, as opposed to No. 20 TCU. Patterson pontificated, "I'm sure if it was some opponent they'd beat by 100 points, the players wouldn't have a vote. It's not my worry. I've got to play whoever they put on the field." It was a statement Coach Patterson wishes he had back. In speaking like he did he let down his guard and lowered his shield. With weakness displayed, he is now vulnerable, and his own players’ confidence is certainly questioned. Patterson later added to his credibility demise by saying that Miles wasn’t “teaching life lessons” by handling Hill’s altercation the way he did.

The fact that Patterson even commented on Hill’s disciplining means he is worried. However, that’s not the point. Anyone in his situation would rightfully be worried about Jeremy Hill. The point is that he tipped his hand. His obvious concern has translated into an embarrassing episode that could compel fear within his ranks, as his players have no doubt by now seen the tape on Hill. However, it may turn out that Miles sits Hill for the first game, and allows Blue, Hilliard and Magee to do the opening ground work. If that is the case, and LSU goes on to win without Hill, Coach Patterson’s comments look all the more pitiful.

On Monday August 27, 2013, it was learned that TCU Coach Gary Patterson instructed previously-suspended Devonte Fields, a standout defensive end tabbed by some as “Big 12 Player of the Year,” to dress out on Saturday, opening the door for his unexpected return against LSU. Fields, under a two-game suspension for violating the teams substance abuse policy, is arguably their best player, and is likely NFL-bound, meaning those “life lessons” Patterson earlier preached about, aren’t really necessary in his case. It appears that Les Miles has gotten so far into the emptiness of Patterson’s head that he has abandoned all logic and principles. He is an obvious shell of his former coaching self, as by look word and deed he has evoked fear—and that’s no way to prepare for a Les Miles coached ball club.

An Underrated LSU Tiger Team

In my column two weeks ago I discussed LSU’s “under the radar” status heading into the season, and the reality of Head Coach Les Miles’ continued stellar success in winning ball games, hiring great coaches and recruiting talented players. It’s funny how quickly things can change. While the Tigers are still poised at #13 on the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, behind Alabama#1, Georgia#5, South Carolina#7 and Florida#10, pundits and prognosticators are changing their earlier leanings to account for a perceived in-the-know love surge for Miles and the Tigers, who appear to have addressed head-on with Cam Cameron off-season concerns about Mett and the offense; and who apparently, according to veiled practice reports, are just as athletic on defense as they have been in recent years under the Chief; meaning, in-short, that they have simply reloaded.

Patterson’s TCU squad always plays good defense, but his 2013 offensive unit has major question marks, and is certainly the most concerning phase of the Horn Frog’s game heading into the quasi-home opener against LSU. The Tigers’ defensive line is athletic and strong. They will test a TCU offensive line that has seen two former contributors recently leave the team. Tackle Tayo Fabuluje bolted for what were deemed as ‘personal reasons’ and tackle Michael Thompson decided to give up the game after multiple knee surgeries. Senior Quarterback Casey Pachall was promising a year ago before he opted for drug and alcohol rehab instead of his starting quarterback position, where despite being under the influence he threw an impressively accurate ten touchdowns to just one interception in four outings before finally sobering up and drying out. A reportedly clean Pachall hopes to this fall unleash the power of demons repressed in his native swan song, but against a menacing LSU defense, his first night back on the wagon, on paper, looks to be nightmarish. One has to wonder which young TCU linemen are looking forward to blocking the fresh-legged, hungry trio of Anthony Johnson, Danielle Hunter and Lamin Barrow.

If TCU can establish a running game they will be able to play with the Tigers. And they are not without capable ground weapons. Leading rusher B.J. Catalon, a 5-9, 190-pound sophomore and Waymon James, a 5-8, 203-pound senior, are two, along with Aaron Green, a promising 5-11, 200-pound sophomore. Catalon and James are both on the Doak Walker watch list for 2013, meaning they are respected runners. James led the Horned Frogs in rushing in 2011 with 875 yards and a 7.2 yard per carry average. He went down early last season with an injury, allowing Catalon, a freshman, to come in and rush for a team-high 585 yards.

Around the SEC…the nation’s toughest football
conference:

The Best of the West

Alabama – The process continues for Nick Saban and Alabama. Slated starting cornerback Geno Smith received a stiff, one-game suspension for a recent DUI, meaning the Alabama defense should be at full strength by the start of conference play, and more importantly, for its impending “Game of the Century II” meeting with A&M in College Station. The Tuscaloos