CougarDroppings

Maybe I'm missing something as I only occasionally come on here, but every time I see Aranda's name there's always a "we could do worse" or "he's a solid backup plan". I also saw someone say Aranda won't be a candidate. I fully expected to come here and see him as a top 3 wishlist guy for LSU fans.

He's only 45, hungry, and proven he can recruit for LSU and play D at LSU. The question was how would he do as HC, and after one weird COVID year in the dumpster fire in Wacco, he's got BAYLOR ranked #16 and trending up.

Do people think he's not flashy enough? When was the last time an elite coach jumped from one sweet gig to another and it paid off? It happens less often than people think. If I'm LSU I run away from guys like Riley, Cristobal, and Day, and you don't need Fisher or Franklin. None of those guys come hungry enough, IMO.

If I'm an LSU fan and my life depends on getting a guy who will win national championships, take over the SEC when Saban retires in the next couple of years, and builds a system/program that will contend for championships for the next decade plus, I'm looking for someone young, brilliant, and hungry. Someone who has done more with less so when they're handed the keys to the LSU Ferrari they appreciate it and can't wait to get in.

If I'm Woodward, first I make Joe Brady a Godfather offer. Next I look at Aranda and Napier. Then I take a shot at a couple of Chris Petersen guys that are building solid programs out west in Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) and Justin Wilcox (Cal) as long as they have strong SEC/Louisiana ties on staff. I'm convinced that if you hand any of these men the keys to LSU the program will be in great hands.

Jeff Grimes is Aranda's OC and he's solid. He's an elite OL coach (as LSU fans know) and is the main reason BYU has been winning games the last couple of years. He's still pretty green as a playcaller, but he's got a good scheme and LSU athletes would thrive.

From my chair in Utah, if it ends up being Aranda and his staff, LSU will be in great shape for a long time.

He's finally going to get one right..

You will lose to BYU.

And the irony of your post is amazing..

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Saying we are likely to lose to BYU is incredible stupid

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We sold our allotment..

LINK

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It's clearly bothering you so what is the need to be more creative?

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They found out he only had one wife.

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There's gotta be a better dig against BYU than the wives thing, right? It's tired and wasn't original the first time we heard it 50 years ago. You're like the third person to say it on this thread alone?

I honestly expect more creativity from SEC fans..

I'm a BYU fan who roots hard for LSU. It started for me back in 2007 when former BYU HC Gary Crowton became your OC. Crowton drove our program into the ground, but once a Cougar, always a Cougar. I knew that his offense and style would work well with the Mad Hatter (it did for a while). Loved watching his offense executed with real athletes (no offense to our 5'8" white RBs and WRs). And of course I hate Bama (and most of the SEC honestly) so LSU is a natural draw for me. '08 NC run had me hooked.

Also, Death Valley is insane on TV (especially at night). You have the best field in college football with the eye and the numbers every 5 yards. As a BYU fan, I'm glad we don't have to play you in Death Valley because it would be hard for even the most hopeful of us to predict a victory there. But at the same time.. it'd be pretty bad arse to see my boys battling in such an iconic venue.

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Notice I said "new game." As in, they have plenty of film from last year to watch. The new film gives them a better idea of new starters and such.

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You're right. There is value to getting one more recent game film, as vanilla as it will surely be.

I like our chances defending the run. If we were built for anything personnel wise and scheme wise, it's stopping the run. We usually do well there. Our D ranked #9 nationally against the run last year against: Mississippi State, Arizona, Michigan State, Utah, UCLA, West Virginia, Boise State, and some other G5 teams. So a lot of passing teams, but still stout against the run. I know we haven't seen anyone as freakish and mean as Guice, but I'm not sold that you guys have the OL to get him all the space that he needs. So as you say, if we can contain Guice then it gets interesting.

I promise you it's not going to be like your Mizzou game last year. I remember that game (Coach O's first) and you had two guys getting 100+. Not going to happen vs a Sitake D. It will be a 1-2 possession game either way.