 Photo By: Terrill Weil 9/21/2020 By: Terrill J. Weil Da Boot Sports! It's Game Week, and LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron relayed his excitement when he met with the media this morning. The team will begin their normal game week schedule today as they continue to prepare for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs new head coach Mike Leach brings his wide open Air-Raid attack into Death Valley as Miss. State looks to rebound from a disappointing 6-7 season in 2019. Below is the video of this morning's press conference, along with some fun "By the game notes provided by LSU. Coach O's press conference: Sept. 21st HERE ARE SOME NOTES & STATISTICS RELATED TO SATURDAY'S SEASON OPENER: *LSU opens its fourth full season under head coach Ed Orgeron when the No. 5/No. 6 Tigers host Mississippi State on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBS. *LSU is 75-35-3 all-time against Mississippi State, which includes a 49-19-1 mark in games played in Baton Rouge. LSU has won 18 of the last 20 meetings with Mississippi State dating back to 2000. *It's LSU's 127th season of football at LSU, a span that has seen the Tigers four national titles (1958, 2003, 2007, and 2019) and claim 12 SEC titles (1935, 1936, 1958, 1961, 1970, 1986, 1988, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2019). *LSU enters the game after producing the most dominant season in college football history a year ago, going 15-0 and winning the national title with a 42-25 victory over Clemson in the championship game. LSU beat seven Top 10 opponents in 2019 (most in college football history) and the Tigers won 12 games by double-digits. *LSU brings the nation's longest current winning streak into the Mississippi State game at 16 straight. The Tigers are three wins shy of tying the all-time LSU mark of 19 set between 1957 and 1959. *LSU coach Ed Orgeron is 6-0 all-time in season-openers (3-0 at LSU, 3-0 at Ole Miss). *Orgeron brings a 40-9 mark in 49 games as LSU's head coach into the season-opener. Of his 40 wins with the Tigers, 31 have come by double-figures, 18 have come against teams ranked in the Top 25 with 12 of those coming against Top 10 opponents. Orgeron is 12-3 against Top 10 teams at LSU. *Orgeron has led LSU to 26 wins over SEC opponents and the Tigers carry a streak of nine straight conference victories into the Mississippi State contest. *LSU has won three straight and 16 of its last 17 season opening contests dating back to 2003.The only loss during that span came against Wisconsin (L, 16-14) in Lambeau Field to open the 2016 season. *LSU enters the season ranked in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll for the 20th straight year, a streak that dates back to the start of the 2001 season. *LSU will play its first day-game season-opener in Tiger Stadium since 2008 when the Tigers beat Appalachian State 41-13 in a game moved to 10 a.m. due to Hurricane Gustav. *LSU has won five straight and 18 of its last 19 day games in Tiger Stadium, a streak that dates back to the start of the 2010 season. *Junior QB Myles Brennan will get his first career start on Saturday. Brennan has appeared 17 games during his LSU career, passing for 600 yards and 2 TDs. *Junior WR Terrace Marshall Jr. is LSU's top returning receiver with 58 career receptions for 863 yards and 13 TDs. *Senior S JaCoby Stevens is LSU's leading active defender in tackles (127), tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (6.5). *Sophomore CB Derek Stingley Jr. is coming off a All-America season in 2019 when he led the SEC in interceptions (6) and passes defended (21). 7 Consecutive games LSU has scored at least 35 points dating back to Alabama game last year. 16 Consecutive wins by LSU, the longest active streak in college football and the second longest streak in school history. 19 Straight games LSU has had at least one passing touchdown. LSU Opens 2020 season with SEC Foe Mississippi State *LSU will meet Mississippi State in football for the 114th time when the teams square off in Tiger Stadium on September 26, 2020. *LSU holds a 75-35-3 advantage in the all-time series and a 49-19-1 advantage while playing in Baton Rouge. *The first meeting came in 1896 in Baton Rouge as LSU came out victorious 52-0. *Mississippi State finished the 2019 season with a 6-7 record. *LSU came out on top in the last meeting, 36-13, in Starkville. *This will be the second time the Tigers face Mississippi State in a season opener and home opener. The first time the Tigers faced Mississippi State in a home opener was in 1946 with the Tigers defeating the Bulldogs 13-6. In 2007, the Tiger opened the season at Mississippi State with a 45-0 victory. *LSU is 53-29-5 all-time in Southeastern Conference opening games, winning 11 of the last 13 games. *LSU has only opened SEC play at home twice out of the last nine seasons. 2019: A Recap *LSU is coming off the most dominant season in college football history, as the Tigers went 15-0, the first 15-0 record in the history of the SEC. *The Tigers posted a 13-0 mark and outscored opponents 621-275 in the regular season. *LSU blew through the College Football Playoffs, beating No. 4 Oklahoma, 63-28, and then claimed the school's fourth national title with a 42-25 win over No. 2 Clemson in the national championship game. *LSU went 8-0 in SEC play during the regular season, winning six of eight games by at least two touchdowns. *The Tigers captured their 12th SEC title with a 37-10 win over No. 3 Georgia in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. *LSU trailed in onlu six games all season, just twice in the second half and never in the fourht quarter. *Joe Burrow set nearly every LSU and SEC single-season pass record as the Tigers led the nation in points per game (48.4) and yards per game (568.4) - both school records. *Burrow was named National Player of the Year and the 2019 Heisman Trophy award winner. LSU also produced the Biletnikoff Award (J'Marr Chase) and the Jim Thorpe Award (Grant Delpit). *The Tigers et a school-record with five first team All-America selections in 2019 (Burrow, Chase, Delpit, Lewis, and Derek Stingley Jr.) *The Tigers capped the 2019 season by setting an SEC record with first players elected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, led by Burrow who was picked No. 1 overall by the Bengals. LSU Under Louisiana's Own Ed Orgeron *In his fourth full season as head coach of the Tigers, Orgeron continues to gain momentum on the field and on the recruiting trail. *Orgeron has guided the Tigers to a 40-9 overall mark - which ties for the most wins by any coach in shool history during the first 49 games of their career. *He has led the Tigers to five postseason victories - one in the SEC Championship Game, two bowl games and two in the College Football Playoffs. *Of LSU's 40 wins under Orgeron, 31 have come by double-figures and 12 have been over Top 10 teams. The 12 Top 10 wins rank as the second-most for an coach in LSU history, trailing only Les Miles who won 16 games over Top 10 opponets in 12 years. *LSU has a 24-7 record under Orgeron against SEC teams, which includes a 37-10 win over fourth-ranked Georgia in the 2019 SEC Championship game. *Under Orgeron, the Tigers have played 44-of-50 games ranked in the Top 25, including every game in 2018 and 2019. LSU In Home Openers *LSU has won 14 straight home openers dating back to a 45-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in 2006. *Last year, LSU opened its home slate with a 55-3 win over Georgia Southern *Overall, LSU is 100-21-4 in home openers, which includes a 72-19-4 mark in Tiger Stadium. *LSU's last home opener loss came against Tennessee in 2005 when the Vols beat the Tigers, 30-27, in overtime in what was a Monday night game. *LSU hasn't lost a "Saturday Night" home opener since dropping a 18-13 decision to Texas A&M in 1994. Season Opener Success *LSU is 92-29-5 in season openers entering the 2020 home opener against Mississippi State. *The Tigers have won 22 of their last 24 season openers. The only two losses during that stretch have come at Virginia Tech in 2002 and against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in 2016. *Last year, LSU stormed past Georgia Southern 55-3. *In six games as head coach between Ole Miss and LSU, Ed Orgeron owns a record of 6-0 in season openers. 2020 Schedule *The Tigers will play an SEC-only schedule for the 2020 season, playing five games in Tiger Stadium and five games on the road. *The Tigers open the season Mississippi State at home and end the season in Tiger Stadium against Ole Miss. *LSU will play four teams that are ranked in the Top 25 (Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M). *The game with Ole Miss on December 5 will mark the first December contest in Tiger Stadium since 2001 when LSU beat Aubrn, 27-14, to clinch a berth in the SEC Championship Game. Consecutive Starts *Four LSU players go into the Mississippi State game riding a consecutive start streak of at least seven games. *S JaCoby Stevens leads the way with 19 consecutive starts, followed by CB Derek Stingley Jr. with 14. DE Glen Logan has tallied eight consecutive starts, while Terrace Marshall Jr. has seven. LSU Goes Into 2020 Riding Streak of 20 Consecutive Years With At Least 8 Wins *LSU goes into the 2020 season having won at least 8 games for 20 consecutive years, which ties with Oklahoma as the second-longest active streak among FBS teams. *Boise State's active streak of 21 straight years with 8 or more wins is the longest among FBS teams *LSU's current streak of seasons with at least 8 wins dates back to 2000 when the Tigers posted an 8-4 overall mark. *LSU's streak of seasons with at least 8 wins also ranks as the longest of its kind in the history of the SEC, bettering Tennessee 16 (1989-2004); Florida 14 (1990-2003); Georgia 13 (1997-2009); and Alabama 13 (1971-83). Tigers Present No. 18 Jerseys for 2020 *Sophomore running back Chris Curry and junior linebacker Damone Clark will wear the coveted No. 18 jersey for the Tigers this year as Orgeron announced Friday, September 18. *Curry, who is in his third year with the Tigers, has patiently waited his turn in what has been an loaded LSU backfield since his arrival on campus in 2018. Curry, a redshirt sophomore from Lehigh High School in Lehigh Acres, Fla., has played in 18 games with one start during his career. *His lone start came in LSU's national semifinal win over Oklahoma in the 2019 Peach Bowl as he filled in for an injured Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries in helping the Tigers to a 63-28 win over the Sooners. *Clark, a native of Baton Rouge and a product of Southern Lab, has played in 28 games with three starts during his career. Clark, who will start at middle linebacker for LSU in 2020, has 51 career tackles to go with 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. *Both players now join an elite group of No. 18s at LSU, a tradition that was born in 2003 when quarterback Matt Mauck led the Tigers to their first national title in football since 1958. Mauck's No. 18 became synonymous with success – both on and off the field – as well as a selfless attitude that has become the epitome of being an LSU football player. *Here is a look at the players to wear No. 18: Years, Player, Position 2003 Matt Mauck QB 2004-07 Jacob Hester RB 2008-09 Richard Dickson TE 2010 Richard Murphy RB 2011 Brandon Taylor S 2012 Bennie Logan DT 2013 Lamin Barrow LB 2014 Terrence Magee RB 2015-16 Tre'Davious White CB 2017 Christian LaCouture DL 2017 John David Moore FB/TE 2018 Foster Moreau TE 2019 Lloyd Cushenberry III C 2019 K'Lavon Chaisson LB 2020 Chris Curry RB 2020 Damone Clark LB Senior Stevens to Don No. 7 in 2020 *Senior safety Jacoby Stevens has been awarded the No. 7 jersey for LSU in 2020, head coach Ed Orgeron announced to the team on Friday, September 18. *Stevens, a preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection and a three-time winner of SEC Defensive Player of the Week in 2019, is the undisputed leader of the Tigers – both on and off the field. Stevens, who is LSU's nominee for the Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Award this year, is a playmaker on the field, on pace to graduate with his degree in December and is active in many community service endeavors off the field. *Stevens said he wore No. 7 on his high school football team and while playing AAU Basketball. Stevens said the No. 7 has always been his favorite number because of former LSU All-America Patrick Peterson. LSU's 16-game Win Streak Nation's Longest; Second in School History *LSU's 16-game winning streak ranks as the nation's longest and is the second-longest streak in school history. *LSU won a school-record 19 straight games over the 1957-58-59 seasons. *The following is a look at the longest winning streaks in school history: Length First Win Loss that Snapped Streak 19 games def. Tulane, 25-6, on Nov. 30, 1957 lost Tennessee, 14-13, on Nov. 7, 1959 16 games def. UCF, 40-32 on Jan. 1, 2019 -- 15 games def. Baylor, 48-0, on Nov. 30, 1907 lost Sewanee, 15-6, on Oct. 30, 1909 First-Time Starters Expected on Saturday Night *There have been a total of 16 true freshmen starters in a season opener since 1986. *True freshmen make an impact at LSU as in three years with Ed Orgeron as head coach a total of 48 true freshmen have seen action during that span. *LSU played 15 true freshmen in 2018 with four of them – WR Terrace Marshall, WR Ja'Marr Chase, LB Micah Baskerville, and OL Chasen Hines – all starting at least one game. *In 2017, 20 true freshmen saw action for the Tigers, a number that led the nation. In addition, eight true freshmen started at least one game for the Tigers that year. *Derek Stingley Jr. was the ninth true freshman on the defensive side of the ball to start a season opener in the last 33 seasons in 2019 and became the first true freshman in LSU history to start every game as a rookie. *Arik Gilbert and Kayshon Boutte are expected to join the list as they will make their debut on September 26 against Mississippi State. *The following have started a season opener since 2000: Derek Stingley Jr. (2019) Marshall Jr. (WR, 2018), Charles (RG, 2017), Chaisson (LB, 2017), Delpit (S, 2017), Taylor (LB, 2017), Kevin Toliver (CB, 2015), Trey Quinn (WR, 2014), Jalen Mills (CB, 2012), Jessie Daniels (Nickel, 2003), Jerel Myers (WR, 1999), Johnny Mitchell (DT, 1996), Theo Williams (DT, 1996), Booger McFarland (DT, 1995), Robert Davis (RB, 1992), and Sheddrick Wilson (WR, 1992). Most True Freshmen Starters by Year Since 2005 2017: 8 (Tory Carter, K'Lavon Chaisson, Saahdiq Charles, Grant Delpit, Ed Ingram, JaCoby Stevens, Tyler Taylor, Kary Vincent Jr.) 2015: 7 (Arden Key, Donte Jackson, Foster Moreau, Bry'Kiethon Mouton, Maea Teuhema, Kevin Toliver II, Toby Weathersby) 2014: 6 (Jamal Adams, Malachi Dupre, Leonard Fournette, Davon Godchaux, Brandon Harris, Trey Quinn) 2012: 6 (Kwon Alexander, Vadal Alexander, Reid Ferguson, Jeremy Hill, Lamar Louis, Jalen Mills) 2013: 5 (Rickey Jefferson, Anthony Jennings, Ethan Pocic, Rashard Robinson, Tre'Davious White) 2019: 4 (Derek Stingley Jr., Joseph Evans, Cordale Flott, Mo Hampton Jr.) 2018 4 (Terrace Marshall Jr., Ja'Marr Chase, Micah Baskerville, Chasen Hines) 2006: 4 (Jacob Cutrera, Richard Dickson, Charles Scott, Keiland Williams) 2010: 3 (Alfred Blue, Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Reid) 2011: 2 (Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry) 2007: 2 (Drake Nevis, Terrence Toliver) 2008: 2 (Jordan Jefferson, Patrick Peterson) 2009: 2 (Dominique Allen, Rueben Randle) 2016 1 (Dee Anderson) Football Program Earned Victory Number 800 in 2019 *With its win over Northwestern State on September 14, 2019, the LSU football program became the 12th FBS school to reach the 800-win milestone. *With an overall record of 811-415-47, the LSU Football program ranks 12th amongst FBS programs for all-time wins. 1,000-Yard Rushing Streak Reaches 7 Years *LSU goes into 2020 riding a streak of seven consecutive years with a 1,000-yard rusher. *Last season, junior Clyde Edwards-Helaire owned 1,414 yards for the Tigers. *Here's a look at LSU's 1,000-yard rushers during the seven-year streak: 2013 Jeremy Hill 1,401 yards 2014 Leonard Fournette 1,034 yards 2015 Leonard Fournette 1,953 yards (school record) 2016 Derrius Guice 1,387 yards 2017 Derrius Guice 1,153 yards 2018 Nick Brossette 1,039 yards 2019 Clyde Edwards-Helaire 1,414 yards LSU Punter Von Rosenberg One of Nation's Oldest Players *At 29 years old, punter Zach Von Rosenberg is the second-oldest player in college football in 2020. *Rosenberg, who spent six years playing Minor League Baseball before joining the LSU program in 2016, will turn 30 in September. *The oldest player in college football is 33-year old Colorado placekicker James Stefanou. We are DBU: *Since 2007, LSU leads the nation in number of defensive backs selected in the NFL draft with 21, including six in the first round. *Grant Delpit was a consensus All-America DB in 2019. *LSU has produced 12 first team All-American defensive backs since 2000. *LSU has also had defensive backs claim five national awards since 2010: Patrick Peterson 2010 Bednarik Award; Patrick Peterson 2010 Thorpe Award; Tyrann Mathieu 2011 Bednarik Award; Morris Claiborne 2011 Thorpe Award; Grant Delpit 2019 Thorpe Award. *Since the 2007 NFL Draft, LSU has had six DBs picked in the first round. Day Game or Night Game Makes No Difference for LSU *LSU's tradition of night games in Tiger Stadium is like none other in college football. *But, LSU's recent success in day games in Tiger Stadium has made playing afternoon games in Death Valley more appealing. *LSU has won 18 of its last 19 day games in Tiger Stadium, a stretch that goes back to a 16-14 victory over Tennessee on Oct. 2, 2010. *Since 2010, LSU's only daytime loss in Tiger Stadium came against Florida by a 16-10 count in 2016. *Of LSU's 18 wins during this current stretch, 10 have come against Top 25 teams and 17 were over SEC opponents. *Since 2000, LSU is 121-19 overall at home, which includes an 92-12 mark at night in Tiger Stadium and a 29-7 record during the day. From 1960-99, LSU posted a 12-19-3 mark in day games in Tiger Stadium. *The following is a breakdown of LSU's night record, day record and overall record in Tiger Stadium since 1960: Decade Record at Night Record during the day Overall Tiger Stadium Record 1960-69 49-5 4-2-1 53-7-1 1970-79 51-12-1 1-2 52-14-1 1980-89 38-16-1 3-5-2 41-21-3 1990-99 31-19 4-10 35-29 2000-09 49-5 11-6 60-11 2010-19 43-7 18-1 58-8 Totals 261-64-2 41-26-3 302-90-5 Eight Tigers Earn Preseason All-SEC Honors *Reigning national champion LSU placed eight players on the 2020 Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference Football Team. * Headlining the list of LSU players on the All-SEC team include cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety JaCoby Stevens, who were both named to the first team. Stingley Jr. is coming off a freshman season that saw him earn consensus All-America honors. He led the SEC in both interceptions (6) and passes defended (21). Stingley also earned a spot on the second team as an all-purpose player. * Second team selections include offensive linemen Ed Ingram and Austin Deculus along with wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., and placekicker Cade York. * Third-team selections for the Tigers include freshman tight end Arik Gilbert and defensive tackle Glen Logan. Stingley Named AP Preseason All-American *LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was named an AP Preseason All-American. * Stingley Jr. became the most decorated freshmen in LSU football history, earning consensus All-America honor. * He started all 15 games for the Tigers last season and led the SEC and ranked No. 5 in the nation in interceptions (6) and No. 2 nationally in passes defended (21). * Stingley became the first true freshman in LSU history to start every game as a rookie. Two Tigers To Play in 2020 As a College Graduate *During the 2020 season, two Tigers are going to take the field as a college graduate *LSU's list of two college graduates includes Andre Anthony and Travez Moore. *Here's the list of college graduates on the LSU roster for 2020: Second Generation Tigers *LSU's roster features two players who are second generation Tigers. *Redshirt freshmen Thomas Perry and Brandon Hubicz are both following in their dads footsteps as LSU football players. *Thomas Perry, an offensive lineman from Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette, is the son of Adam Perry, who played offensive guard for the Tigers from 1994-97 *Brandon Hubiz, a tight end from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, is the son of Jim Hubicz, who played offensive tackle and guard for the Tigers from 1986-89. Football Family Connections *LSU has some unique family-football connections on this year's team. The following is a look at those football-related connections with current Tigers: *TE Aaron Moffitt – son of LSU strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt. Aaron's brother Clay just completed a two-year stint on the LSU baseball team. *CB Derek Stingley Jr. – grandson of the late Darryl Stingley, a first round draft pick by the New England Patriots who had his NFL career tragically ended on August 12, 1978 with a spinal cord injury. *Freshman quarterback Max Johnson's father was a quarterback at Florida State and won a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two-Sport Tiger *DB Maurice Hampton Jr. is the only two-sport athlete on the football roster this season. *Hampton Jr. is a member of the LSU baseball team. The Tennessee native was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2019 Major League Draft and elected to attend LSU. Hampton Jr. was the first player in Tennessee history to earn Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball honors in the same season. LSU Amongst Best in the Nation Since 2000 *LSU is amongst the best in the nation since 2000 with 201 wins. *The Tigers rank fifth in the country and second in the SEC in wins. *Here is the list of teams with the most wins since 2000: 1. Boise State 219-43 Oklahoma 219-49 3. Ohio State 218-44 4. Alabama 203-63 5. LSU 201-59 6. Georgia 198-67 7. USC 188-71 Oregon 188-70 9. Wisconsin 187-77 10. TCU 182-71 Former Tiger Glen Dorsey named to Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame/College Football Hall of Fame *Dorsey, a Gonzales-East Ascension product, is the most decorated defensive player in LSU football history and helped the Tigers win the 2007 BCS national championship. A two-time All-American defensive tackle, he was SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Lott Trophy among other top national collegiate honors playing for 2019 LSHOF inductee Les Miles. *He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons with the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. *Dorsey joins 16 other players along with two coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame. He will officially be inducted on December 8, 2020 at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City. *Dorsey will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 26, 2021 in Natchitoches. NFLSU *After tying the NCAA record of 14 Tigers to the NFL, LSU now has a total of 42 on active rosters, which is third in the nation. *After two weeks in the NFL, the No. 1 pick of the 2020 Draft Joe Burrow is 60-97 and has a total of 509 passing yards. *Devin White has tallied 17 tackles in two games with nine assists for a total of 26 combined. LSU Adds Staff, New Titles *Bo Pelini, who helped LSU to the 2007 BCS National Championship, returns to the coaching staff as defensive coordinator. He returns to LSU after serving as the head coach at Youngstown State for the past five seasons where he guide the Penguins to a 33-28 overall mark and an appearance in the FCA National Championship Game in 2016. Penlini has a head coaching record of 100-55, which included seven years as head coach at Nebraska. *Scott Linehan, who served as head coach of the St. Louis Rams and has over 20 years of combined experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFL and the cCollegiate level, joins the staff for the 2020 season as LSU's passing game cooridnator. Linehan works alongside offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Steve Ensminger. *Kevin Faulk makes the transition over to coach the running backs on February 26. Faulk joined the LSU staff in January of 2018 as Director of Player Development. He worked with LSU student-athletes on their academic direction, social development and overall quality of life. Faulk, the leading rusher in LSU history, is one of 78 players and seven coaches on the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. *Wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph was named assistant head coach on March 4, while cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond added recruiting coordinator to his title. *Joseph enters his fourth season in 2020, while Raymond is in his ninth year with the program. Both will continue to coach their respective position groups. 5 Days Until Kickoff! #5 QB - Jeff Wickersham Comments are closed.
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