Da Boot Sports
9/17/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Tuesday is player interview day for the Tigers. LSU made Bradyn Swinson, Ashton Stamps and CJ Daniels available to the media in the afternoon after practice... 

​   Video of the press conference is posted below... 

   LSU will host UCLA in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, September, 21. Kickoff is set for 2:30pm.



​   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/16/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Brian Kelly held his first press conference of the UCLA game week on Monday afternoon.. One of the more popular games on the home schedule, this weekend's contest against the Bruins should have Tiger Stadium rocking... #16 LSU (2-1) is coming off an exciting 36-33 victory on the road against a good South Carolina team. UCLA (1-1) fell to Indiana this past weekend, 42-13.

   In other news, LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.  Swinson recorded a career-best three sacks, forced a fumble and tallied five total tackles in the LSU's 36-33 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks. 
 

   Video of Kelly's press conference is posted below.


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/14/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   COLUMBIA, SC - LSU hit the road for their first SEC contest of 2024, as they took on a good South Carolina football team in Columbia.

   The Tigers showed poise, heart and a never give up attitude as they battled back for an exciting 36-33 win against the Gamecocks. 

   Trailing 33-29 with 3:46 left in the game, Garrett Nussmeier lead the Tigers on a 8 play, 55 yard touchdown drive, taking the lead for good on a two yard touchdown run by Josh Williams to put LSU up, 36-33 with 1:12 remaining. South Carolina moved into field goal range, but missed a 49 yard attempt on the last play of the contest. 

   Garrett Nussmeier finished the game going, 24-40 for 285 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

   The Tigers finally had a solid day running the football, rushing for a total of 132 yards on 32 carries with three rushing scores. True freshman Caden Durham led the team with 98 yards on 11 attempts and 2 touchdown runs. Kaleb Jackson had 27 yards on seven carries. Josh Williams rushed for 20 yards on ten carries and a touchdown and Zavion Thomas had one rush for 12 yards. 

   Mason Taylor led the Tigers in receiving with 58 yards on six catches and a touchdown, Aaron Anderson had a great game catching five balls for 96 yards. Kyren Lacy finished with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown and CJ Daniels had 53 yards on four catches. 

   The defense struggled in the first half, but stepped up their play over the final 30 minutes. They gave up 398 total yards to the Gamecocks, but made big plays when needed while collecting five sacks and three turnovers, (2 fumbles and an interception).  Whit Weeks led the team with 11 tackles. Bradyn Swinson was a force finishing with five tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss. Greg Penn III had five tackles, Sai'vion Jones had five tackles and a sack. Ashton Stamps contributed four tackles and Sage Ryan had three tackles and a huge sack, forcing a fumble. 

   
   LSU won the toss and deferred. The Gamecocks took the opening kickoff and quickly went on a 7 play, 75 yard drive in 2:46, culminating with a LaNorris Sellers 4 yard touchdown run. 7-0 Cocks with 12:14 left in the opening quarter. 

   The Tigers were forced to punt the ball back to the home team after a three and out. Zy Alexander then ended the next South Carolina drive with a nice interception in the end zone. 

   The Tigers avoided disaster to start their next possession. Garrett Nussmeier was intercepted by O'Donnell Fortune who raced 25 yards into the end zone for an apparent score. But a personal foul  penalty on the Gamecocks gave the ball back to LSU. However, the Tigers' offense was unable to take advantage of the break, as a sack on 3rd and ten forced a LSU punt. 

   The Cocks increase their lead on a 28 yard field goal by Alex Herrera, after driving 65 yards in 13 plays. 10-0 Carolina with 13:49 left in the first half. 

   With no sign of life by the LSU offense, the Tigers were forced to punt again. South Carolina blocked the punt and returned the ball to the LSU ten yard line.

   Raheim Sanders scored up the middle on the first play of the drive for a 10 yard touchdown. 17-0, Gamecocks at the 12:19 mark of the second quarter.

   LSU finally found a spark, driving 75 yards in eight plays to get on the score board. On 3rd and nine from the Carolina 26 yard line, freshman running back Caden Durham took the hand off the made an incredible run to get into the end zone. 17-7 South Carolina with 8:08 left until the halftime break.

   The LSU defense then came away with their second turnover of the game, when the Tigers' blitz reached the quarterback on 3rd and 12. Sage Ryan hit LaNorris Sellers from behind, forcing a fumble. Harold Perkins Jr. recovered the ball at the Gamecocks' 18 yard  line. 

   LSU had to settle for a Damian Ramos 28 yard field goal to cut the Carolina lead to 17-10 with 4:28 left in the second quarter.

   The Gamecocks answered immediately, as South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers took off up the middle and raced untouched for a 75 yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. 24-10, Cocks with 4:15 left on the clock. 

   The Tigers battled back, driving 75 yards in six plays to get in the end zone on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Kyren Lacy. The extra point failed due to a bad snap. LSU now found themselves trailing, 24-16 at halftime.


   LSU took the second half kickoff and drove right down the field on a beautiful nine play, 74 yard drive, but turned the ball over on downs at the one yard line. 

   The Tigers began their next drive on the South Carolina 45 yard line, thanks to the defense forcing a quick three and out deep in Gamecocks' territory. LSU then cut the lead to 24-22 on a 9 yard touchdown run by Caden Durham, his second of the game. The two point conversion failed. 

   The Tigers took their first lead of the contest on the first play of the 4th quarter. LSU finished off their 80 yard, ten play drive with a two yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to a wide open Mason Taylor. 29-24 LSU, with 14:56 left in the game.

   The Tigers didn't have the lead long, as South Carolina answered quickly on a 66 yard touchdown run by Rahiem Sanders. The two point conversion failed and with 13:51 left in the game, South Carolina now held a 30-29 advantage.

   With South Carolina now holding the momentum, the Tigers committed their first turnover of the day. An errant snap by center DJ Chester gave the ball back to the Gamecocks. 

   Carolina was able to extend their lead to 33-29 as they settled for a 42 yard field goal. 33-29, Cocks with 10:34 to go.

   The Tigers came up with another big turnover when Bradyn Swinson caused a fumble and Major Burns recovered the ball on the Carolina 12 yard line. But LSU gave it right back to the Gamecocks when Nussmeier threw an interception in the end zone a few plays later.

   The defense was able to stand tall late, getting the ball back for the offense to set up the game winning drive.. 36-33, Victory for LSU!!! 

   With the win LSU is now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in SEC play. 

   Next up, LSU will return home to Tiger Stadium to play UCLA on Saturday, September, 21. Kickoff time will be announced on Monday morning. 

​   Brian Kelly's post game press conference is posted below...
   

​  Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Da Boot Sports
9/12/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Brian Kelly met with the media one final time before the Tigers (1-1) travel to Columbia, South Carolina for this weekend's huge contest against the (2-0) Gamecocks. No more room for era. This is a must win for the Bayou Bengals. 

   Video of the press conference is posted below:


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  ​

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/11/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


​   BATON ROUGE, LA - Some players were made available to the media on Tuesday afternoon. Below is video of the press conference. 

   We apologize about cancelling our weekly podcast last night. So much going on with all of us preparing for Hurricane Francine. We hope all of you stay safe through this storm. God Bless.. The podcast will be back next Tuesday night at 8pm..  


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  ​


​

   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  ​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/10/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - LSU played their first game in Tiger Stadium of 2024 this past Saturday night. After losing a close game to USC the weekend before, many thought the 46.5 point favorite Bayou Bengals would take their frustrations out on the Nicholls State Colonels in an easy, blowout victory. That wasn't the case. Nicholls State came to play, frustrating the LSU crowd of 100,242 all night long. 

   It looked like the game would go as expected early on as the Tigers got a safety off of a Nicholls' special teams miscue, then a quick touchdown to go up 9-0.

   That's when the Colonels buckled their chin straps and went to work, going on a 13 play, 83 yard drive while eating 7:17 off the clock. The drive culminated with a two yard rushing touchdown by Collin Guggenheim, cutting the score to 9-7. 

   LSU responded with a scoring drive to extend the lead to 16-7, but the Nicholls State offense came right back with another 13 play drive. This time going 75 yards in 7:59. Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe went to his bag of tricks, putting his Colonels back in the end zone on a lateral, then pass trick play that covered 18 yards. The Tigers now only led 16-14 with 4:18 left in the first half.

   The Tigers answered on a four yard touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier to running back Ju'Juan Johnson. The five play, 75 yard scoring drive put LSU up 23-14.  The Tigers would then miss a short field goal on the final play of the half. 

   Nicholls wasted little time scoring to start the second half. After receiving the kickoff, on the second play of the 3rd quarter, running back Colin Guggenheim went right up the middle and out-raced the LSU defense for a 67 yard touchdown. The Tiger Stadium crowd sat in shock as the Tigers now held a slim 23-21 advantage. 

   LSU finally began to step up their play and slowly pulled away from Nicholls the rest of the way, to earn the sloppy 44-21 victory for their first win of the season. 


   THE NEGATIVES

   * LSU's inability to run the football, especially against a much inferior opponent. The Tigers only gained 64 yards on 21 carries on the night. This offensive line just can't run block. It's a complete mystery. 

    * The play of the defense. After showing some improvement against USC in week 1, they resorted
back to 2023 type of play. Little to no pressure on the quarterback. They struggled to stop the run for the first two and a half quarters, giving up 150 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns on the night. They looked terrible, allowing the Nicholls State players to believe that they belong on the same field with them. An embarrassing performance. In week one, the defense took a couple of nice steps forward. On this night they took steps backwards. Then to add insult to the situation, the Tigers lost their best defensive lineman, Jacobian Guillory for the season with a torn achilles. 

   * Nothing look right on the night. Just a complete sloppy, poor performance by the Bayou Bengals. They played like they didn't have a heart beat. There simply was no fire or motivation. No consistency.

   
   THE POSITIVES

   * Garrett Nussmeier. Nuss finished the night going 27-37 for 302 yards with six touchdown passes. He did a great job of spreading the ball around to eight different receivers while making smart choices and throwing some very nice and accurate passes. 

   * The play of the receivers. They looked solid in the win, running nice routes and making some fantastic grabs. Kyren Lacy led the team with 5 catches for 65 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Anderson had a very good game with five catches for 63 yards. Zavion Thomas finished with five catches for 50 yards and a score. C.J. Daniels added 71 yards on 4 grabs and Mason Taylor had 4 catches for 40 yards.

   * The offensive line once again was outstanding in pass protection. Nussmeier had time to throw all night long and was never sacked. 

   * The LSU return game. Needless to say, it's refreshing to see the Tigers finally have a threat at the kick return position. Zavion Thomas has added the spark that LSU has lacked for a very long time. Thomas finished with 114 yards on four kickoff returns. 51 coming on the return after the safety early in the contest. 

   * LSU Punters are doing a solid job. After a good game against USC in Las Vegas, both LSU punters continued to perform nicely. Todd Peyton punted four times for 130 yards. A 43.3 average with a long of 48 yards. Blake Ochsendorf had one attempt for 37 yards. Great job guys. 

   * The Golden Band from TigerLand! The band continues their incredible, perfect performances. From their normal game routine, to the fantastic halftime show, to playing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the game. The Golden Band from TigerLand is simply the best in the country. 


   This week's game in Columbia, South Carolina is a huge one for LSU. This very well could be a major swing game for the Tigers. If they can show up, play a solid game and come away with a win it could do marvels for LSU's confidence. But a defeat could send this team into a dangerous tail spin. A tail spin that could even jeopardize a successful season. I'm calling this a must win for the purple and gold. 


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Our next show will be on Sept. 10 and LSU Great, Charles Alexander will be our special guest. Tune in and watch the show! It will be a great one!   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! ​

   

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/9/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Brian Kelly kicked off South Carolina game week with a press conference on Monday morning. Big game coming up for the Tigers.

   Big injury update. LSU has lost defensive tackle  Jacobian Guillory for the season with a torn achilles. A huge blow. Guard Garrett Dellinger will return for Saturday's contest. Kyle Parker is still nursing his elbow injury and is doubtful. Chris Hilton Jr. is day to day with his ankle. Kelly is hoping for his return soon. 

   Press Conference video is posted below...


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Our next show will be on Sept. 10 and LSU Great, Charles Alexander will be our special guest. Tune in and watch the show! It will be a great one!   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! ​

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/7/2024
By: Jason Watson Jr.


   Baton Rouge, LA- In front of a crowd of 100,242, the LSU Tigers won their home opener in Baton Rouge against a very aggressive Nicholls State squad. The Bayou Bengals secured a 44-21 victory over the Colonels, improving their record to 1-1.    
   LSU and Nicholls exchanged defensive stops on the first couple of series. The Tigers, however, managed the game's opening points when the fourth-down snap went by the Colonel punter and rolled into and out the backside of the endzone. 

   On the ensuing punt away, Zavion Thomas returned the football 58 yards into deep Nicholls territory. Garrett Nussmeier and the offense would capitalize on the field position by finding true freshman tight end, Trey’Dez Green, for his first collegiate catch that resulted in a one-yard touchdown pass. The score would cap a short 27-yard drive, making the score 9-0. 

   Nicholls State would not shy down easily. The Colonels responded hugely with a 13-play, 84-yard drive, that took just over seven minutes off the first-quarter game clock. A fourth-and-medium conversion on the Tiger side of the 50 jumpstarted their second-wind. Senior runningback, Collin Guggenheim, capped off the series with his strong rushing ability, plunging ahead for a two-yard touchdown just before the close of the first quarter. 9-7, LSU.

   LSU quickly displayed why they are the better team in the matchup. In just three minutes, the Tigers were back in front after Nuss found a wide-open Kyren Lacy for a 32-yard strike. Lacy, who had already limped off after an earlier play, went airborne and flipped into the end zone before landing hard on his right side. He would manage to get off the field with assistance from trainers as LSU extended their lead to 16-7. 

   Even if they wanted to budget some NIL money to the roster, LSU’s defense could not buy a stop in the first half. The Colonels dominated the time of possession stat en route to their second (back-to-back) 13-play drive. Tim Rebowe reached deep into his bag of tricks for the Colonels’ second score of the night. Wideout Quincy Brown tossed an 18-yard touchdown to tight end Lee Negrotto after getting the ball off a lateral. 

   The Tigers would score once more as Nussmeier passed for his third touchdown of the
night. Ju’Juan Johnson came down with a four-yard score, giving LSU a nine-point advantage, 23-14. LSU would get a stop and a chance to extend the lead before halftime, but a Damian Ramos kick would sail wide right as time expired. 

   On the opening drive of the third quarter, Nicholls tailback Guggenheim would escape the grips of LSU defenders on the way to a 67-yard scamper. The Nicholls touchdown would pull them to within a 23-21 deficit. Back-to-back Kyren Lacy touchdowns with a forced fumble from PJ Woodland in between gave the Tigers all the room they would need to create some separation. With 5:05 remaining in the third quarter, the Colonels now trailed 37-21. 

   As the clock ticked down on the third period of play, LSU’s Nussmeier struck gold with his sixth touchdown toss of the contest. Wideout Zavion Thomas came down with the four-yard snag, extending the Tiger lead to 23. That TD pass would move Garrett into a three-way tie for the second-most passing touchdowns in a single game by a Tiger. The others? Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow. 

   LSU and Nicholls State would play each other into a scoreless fourth quarter, putting an end to the excitement of a back-and-forth game throughout the majority of time played. There are a lot of mistakes to clean up, injuries to recover from, and improvements to be made, but LSU earned their first win of the season with a 44-21 final score. 

   Next week, the Tigers will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to begin conference play against the Gamecocks. That game will be broadcast live on ABC with kickoff slated for 11:00 a.m. CST. Stream can also be caught on ESPN+. Geaux Tigers! 


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Our next show will be on Sept. 10 and LSU Great, Charles Alexander will be our special guest. Tune in and watch the show! It will be a great one!   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! 

   ** I want to thank our fantastic staff photographers, Michael Bacigalupi, Jonathan Mailhes and Corey Perrillioux for the incredible game action photos that they provide. Your hard work and talent with a camera helps make this publication better.. I appreciate all that you guys do...  Thank You!     
                                                                                                                     Your Head Editor, Terrill Weil

​

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

Photos Below By: Corey Perrillioux

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/5/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Brian Kelly met with the media on Thursday afternoon one last time this week to answer questions.. 

   Video of the press conference is posted below...


​   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Our next show will be on Sept. 10 and LSU Great, Charles Alexander will be our special guest. Tune in and watch the show! It will be a great one!   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  

​

Da Boot Sports
9/5/2024
By: Jason Watson Jr. 


   Baton Rouge, LA- Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers return home to Death Valley with yet another disappointing 0-1 record in tote. After dealing with heavy scrutiny and criticism this past week, they’ll be hoping to get back on track when they face off against FCS-ranked opponent, Nicholls State University. Although this game should not be remotely close, ninth-year head coach Tim Rebowe and his Colonels certainly do not plan to hold anything back against the wound-licking Bayou Bengals. 

   Last Week (W1): 

   LSU met the Trojans of Southern California in a Las Vegas neutral-site matchup that lived up to its hype. Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers held the lead entering the final period, but ultimately fell at the hands of Lincoln Riley and Miller Moss as USC scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. LSU 20- USC 27 

   Nicholls State University traveled to Ruston, LA for a game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. In a game that was more dominant from Tech than the final score would lead one to believe, Nicholls mustered all that they could to draw within one score just before the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter. The Colonel defense could not get the necessary stop to put the ball back in their offense’s hands, as they would fall in the season-opener. NSU 17- LA Tech 25 

   Series History: 

   Although Nicholls’ football program was first erected in 1972, it has taken all 52 years of their intercollegiate playing time to match up with the Tigers. LSU was actually supposed to host the FCS program during the 2020 season. However, that meeting would eventually get postponed due to the Southeastern Conference announcing a “conference-only” schedule due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The 2024 pitting is one that has been a long time coming for Louisiana football fans. 

   Injury Report:

​   LSU is dealing with a few injuries ahead of its home opener, none bigger than losing senior running back John Emery Jr. to a torn ACL in his left knee during Tuesday’s practice that will likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. It marks the second torn ACL for Emery in as many years after suffering a tear on his right side in the later half of the 2023 season. Defensive end, Princeton Malbrue, who sustained a “serious knee injury,” will undergo further examinations to determine a timeline for any possible return. Freshman wideout, Kyle Parker, is nursing a UCL injury to his elbow that has him listed as “doubtful” for the bout with the Colonels.For Nicholls
State, it appears to be a clean bill of health for Rebowe’s squad with no major absences to report. 

Keys to Victory: 

   *Do Not Overthink the Game Plan 
The Tigers should be blowing out Nicholls State in this one. You cannot come out flat-footed against the Colonels attempting to run any foreign concepts, especially coming off of a loss. Settle everyone down, play the style of LSU football we know we are capable of, and be consistent. 
 
   *Win the Turnover Battle 
Although it was just a meaningless Garrett Nussmeier interception on the final offensive play of the game, LSU still finds themselves at a -1 turnover margin after the first week of play. The Tigers actually forced a pair of fumbles, but could not gather the ball before allowing the Trojans to jump back on top. There were opportunities for an INT or two for the defense as well, but just did not have the situational awareness to complete the plays. I’d like to see the defense get after the ball more against Nicholls, handing the offense a few extra possessions during the game. 

   *Find Depth in Your Roster 
As much as you would like for the starters to get their reps in, you want to use this non-conference game as a sort of segway into your younger, inexperienced players getting valuable reps. Positions such as wide receiver or running back where you are facing injuries, and an offensive line that you’ll be losing three to four starters on at the end of the season are of major importance in rotating through the lineup. As Terrill, David, and LSU great, Leonard Marshall, alluded to on the Da Boot Sports weekly podcast episode, coach Kelly has to utilize this Week 2 contest to identify the “DAWGS” up and down the roster. Who is going to be the next man up when the going gets tough? 

   Predictions and Final Thoughts: 

   The game versus Nicholls will be the first Saturday night in Death Valley on tap for the 2024 schedule. An in-state rivalry with traveling fans aplenty, tailgating, music, great food, and an all-but-guaranteed Tiger victory is a recipe sure to satisfy any Louisiana football fan’s “l’envie.” Saturday will also be the first opportunity for LSU to debut its “100 Years of Tiger Stadium” upgrades to the gameday atmosphere. Enhancements include new video and ribbon boards, boosted sound towers, and an all-new LED light display sure to add to the excitement of being in Baton Rouge for the weekend. I’ve got the home team winning an easy one, 62-13. Geaux Tigers! 


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/5/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - A few players were made available to the media on Wednesday afternoon. Whit Weeks, Mason Taylor and Sai'vion Jones answered some questions as the Tigers lead up to their first home game of the season against Nicholls on Saturday evening.

   Press conference videos are posted below...


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
9/4/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - This past Sunday night was a frustrating and disappointing one for all LSU Tiger fans. With high expectations as always, everyone was expecting a convincing LSU victory. But instead we were rudely treated to a fifth straight season opening defeat.

   The 27-20 loss still stings. It was a winnable game and a contest that the Bayou Bengals should have won. 

   THE NEGATIVES

    * An inconsistent rushing attack. LSU's running game struggles continue. Needing to replace
​Jayden Daniels' 1,134 rushing total from last season, LSU went to Las Vegas betting heavily on establishing the running game. The Tigers finished the game with 117 rushing yards on 26 carries. 46 of those yards came in the first half. It was very disappointing that on more than one occasion the LSU offense failed to pick up a first down in short yardage situations on the ground. The offensive line's struggles in the running game was a huge negative.

   
   * LSU's deep passing game. Lack of explosive big plays. A majority of Garrett Nussmeier's completions were short yardage, dink and dunk passes. With the speed the LSU receiving corp possesses, it was disappointing that the Tigers didn't take more shots down the field. LSU only has three plays of 20 yards or more on Sunday night. 

   
    * The conservative approach of the offense early in the 4th quarter after gaining their first lead of the contest. After going up 17-13, LSU had back to back three and out possessions. The play calling by offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was very questionable. It showed a 'play not to lose' mentality, instead of keeping your foot down on the accelerator, trying to score to increase your lead. A touchdown drive on either of those possessions would have given the Bayou Bengals a two score lead, making it difficult for the Trojans to mount a comeback. 

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    * Poor red zone execution. The Tigers finished the contest with a 27% success rate in their red zone opportunities. The opening game drive ended with a turnover on downs after reaching the USC ten yard line. Late in the 4th quarter, LSU put together an impressive drive. But after reaching the Trojan's 15 yard line, the Tigers had to settle for a Damian Ramos' field goal to tie the game at 20, instead of taking a late lead. 

   
    * Kyren Lacy's second half. After looking unstoppable in the first half with 94 yards receiving and a beautiful touchdown grab on seven catches, Lacy went without a catch over the final 30 minutes of play, only being targeted twice. 

   
   * LSU penalties. The Tigers committed ten penalties for 99 yards. Some of these penalties were undisciplined personal fouls. 


   THE POSITIVES

   * The play of Garrett Nussmeier. The new LSU signal caller played a solid game. He went 29-38 for 304 yards with two touchdowns, He threw only interception on the final play of the contest. Nussmeier was accurate for a majority of the night, making great decisions and throws, while seldom mis-firing on his attempts. He finished the game with a 88.1 quarterback rating which was ranked 16th in the nation for the week. A strong performance for only his second career start. 

   
​   * The LSU offensive line's pass protection. The O-line, while struggling in the running game, was fantastic in pass protection. Nussmeier wasn't sacked and had time to pass throughout the night. 

  
   * The improve play of the LSU defense. After last season's defensive nightmare, the defense can only go up in 2024. We saw decent improvement on Sunday night. The defense did struggle at times, but overall showed promise. The Tigers sacked USC quarterback Miller Moss twice and put nice pressure on him throughout the game. The defense also managed eight tackles for a loss. They held USC to only 69 yards rushing on the night. If this defense can stay healthy, expect to see improvement as the season goes on.

  
   * The play of defensive end Sai'vion Jones. Jones was a beast all game long. He finished with five tackles and registered both sacks for the Tigers. Look for Jones to be a force for the defense all season long.

   * The secondary still has some work to do, but over all we saw improvement and potential from this group. Ashton Stamps made a couple of outstanding plays. True Freshman PJ Woodland is going to be a star. 


   I know the opening season loss was a huge disappointment, but LSU fans shouldn't be pushing the panic button just yet. This team has nice talent and a good coaching staff. I think they will rebound nicely from this defeat. I still see the Tigers winning nine or ten games with an opportunity to qualify for the 12 team playoff. Take a deep breath Purple and Gold Nation. By season's end this will be a team that you will be proud off. 

   Now on the injury situation for the Tigers after week one, we get horrible news about John Emery Jr. After leading LSU in rushing against USC on Sunday night, breaking news on Wednesday is that he has suffered another ACL injury and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Emery suffered and serious ACL injury last season against Florida and worked very hard in the off season to make a return. He looked fantastic during fall camp and was going to be a key contributor in the LSU rushing attack this season. This is heart breaking news for the Graduate Student. We his him well in his recovery. 
   Defensive end Princeton Malbrue suffered a serious knee injury. He will undergo more testing throughout the week before Brian Kelly can inform us on the extent of the injury.  Wide receiver Kyle Parker suffered a UCL elbow injury and will be doubtful for this week's game against Nicholls State. Chris Hilton Jr. continues to deal with the bruised bone in his ankle suffered during fall camp. The Tigers are hoping for his return in the coming weeks. 


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  


   

Da Boot Sports
9/3/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - On Tuesday LSU head coach Brian Kelly met with the media for the first time since Sunday's disappointing loss to USC.

   Video of the press conference is posted below...


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel where we will begin our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm. First episode is scheduled for September 3rd.  Former LSU and New York Giants great Leonard Marshall will be our special guest.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!  Tune in tonight and join us Talking Tiger Football....

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Da Boot Sports
9/1/2024
By: Jason Watson Jr.


   Las Vegas, NV- Under the bright lights of primetime, national television, and the Las Vegas welcome sign, the Trojans of USC and the Tigers or LSU duked it out in a back-and-forth football game that resulted in a 27-20 victory for the cardinal and gold. With the loss, LSU’s season-opening loss streak drags out to five years in a row as the last 1-0 start came in 2019. Penalties, lack of offensive execution, and lackadaisical plays on defense made all the difference in this one. 
   LSU’s offense looked sharp on the game's opening drive, using about half of the first-quarter clock. Garrett Nussmeier put his gunslinging prowess on display early as he and Kyren Lacy got cooking. The two hooked up four, almost five times, in the series, but Lacy couldn't stay in bounds in the back corner of the end zone on second-and-goal. 
   The Tigers went down the field with ease even getting down within the USC five-yard line. Negatives? LSU could not come away with points. Instead, a goal line stop from the Trojans’ defense forced a turnover on downs on Brian Kelly’s second fourth-down attempt of the game. 
   USC’s Miller Moss strolled onto the field with the Trojan offense, picking up a single first down before All-American Harold Perkins made his presence felt. The LSU linebacker came off the edge in a hurry, blowing up a third-down play. Both teams would trade punts to end a scoreless opening period. 
   Moss orchestrated the first scoring drive of the game. Wide receiver Kyron Hudson went up to snag a one-handed circus reception, gaining 24 yards. Two LSU penalties, including a pass interference by Sage Ryan in the end zone, aided the Trojans in finding pay dirt with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Woody Marks. 7-0, USC. 
   It would not take LSU long to respond as Nuss found Lacy for a 19-yard strike for a TD on the following possession. Kyren made sure that he got a foot down this time. Tied up at seven. 
   Zachariah Branch showed off the speed and electric playmaking ability on the ensuing kickoff as he returned the ball 46 yards, making his way across midfield. As if that were not bad enough, Miller Moss connected with Duce Robinson for a 38-yard bomb on the first play of the drive, settling the ball on the LSU five. 
   An illegal block penalty and a forced fumble from Sai’Vion Jones would set USC’s offense back, forcing them to settle for a field goal. The chip shot kick made the score 10-7, Trojans with a little over four minutes remaining in the first half.

   The Tigers then delivered a field goal of their own as Damian Ramos knocked a 45-yarder through the uprights, tying the game once again, 10-10.
   Lincoln Riley sent the USC offense into their two-minute drill with just 1:08 on the clock. They utilized both the passing and rushing attacks to slash the Tigers’ defense for 63 yards, setting up senior kicker Michael Lantz with an opportunity to take the lead into halftime. He missed the 29-yarder, leaving the score deadlocked as both squads trotted to the locker rooms. 

   The second half began much slower than the first as the teams exchanged three-and-out series, but LSU’s self-inflicted wounds of giving up large chunks of yards and defensive penalties allowed Moss and the Trojans to reclaim the lead once again. A bend, don’t break style of play, in conjunction with Sai’Vion Jones’ second sack of the game, forced coach Riley into a third FGA. This time, Lantz was good from 35. The Tigers trailed 13-10 with 7:13 to go in the third quarter. 
   LSU only had 46 rushing yards through the first two quarters, but John Emery Jr. more than doubled that number by himself on the next drive, breaking free for back-to-back rushes of 39 and 10 yards, respectively. Nussmeier would cap the drive off with his second touchdown toss of the contest, finding Aaron Anderson for 19 yards. LSU took their first lead, 17-13, at the 3:42 mark of the period. 
   With the fourth quarter approaching, USC’s offense stalled out and was forced to punt the ball back to the Tigers. Although they had momentum and the lead in their favor, coach Kelly and the offense were unable to muster any further advantage, giving the ball back to the Trojans at their 15-yard line. 
   Lincoln Riley’s play calling was not enough to block out the noise of LSU’s fans as the crowd impacted the ability of Miller Moss to execute the offense. USC was forced to burn two timeouts midway through the fourth. After crossing midfield and having a seeming threat to score, the Tigers hunkered down and forced a huge turnover on downs. LSU would take over on their 21-yard line following an unsportsmanlike penalty against Major Burns. 
   Yet again, Nussmeier could not get the ball rolling against the stifling Trojan front seven as they went three and out, sending the ball back to USC with 6:57 to go in the game. The Tigers clung to a four-point lead. 
   Miller Moss made the Tigers pay. A hard count from the USC quarterback was enough to draw Major Burns offside and give the Trojans a free play. Ja’Kobi Lane made an outstanding play along the sideline, Moss lobbed it up to him, and LSU relinquished the lead with a TD. USC led 20-17, with 5:44 remaining in the game. 
   LSU took advantage of the soft coverage from the USC defense, and worked quickly down the field, getting within striking distance of the end zone before settling for another Ramos field goal to tie things at 20. 1:47 was shown on the game clock as the Trojans took to the field in an attempt to secure the win. 
   Miller Moss led his team down the field in a clinic of the two-minute offense. USC, even with just one timeout, made their way down inside field goal range with time to spare. However, with under 20 seconds to go, Kyron Hudson hauled in the biggest catch of the night; a 20-yard circus grab along the sideline while drawing a targeting penalty against Jardin Gilbert. The personal foul would move the ball to the LSU 13-yard line, all but guaranteeing a made FGA. The leg of Lantz would not need to be called upon, as Woody Marks plunged ahead into the end zone, putting the Trojans in front for good. 
   Brian Kelly and this LSU team will have a lot of mental mistakes and execution to clean up in the upcoming weeks. Luckily for them, an FCS opponent awaits a home date in Baton Rouge for what should be an easy victory. 
   Nicholls State University will travel to Tiger Stadium on Saturday, September 7th, for a date with LSU. You can catch that game on SECN+ or ESPN+ from the live broadcast. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CST. Geaux Tigers! 


   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU and Saints coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel where we will begin our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm. First episode is scheduled for September 3rd.  Former LSU and New York Giants great Leonard Marshall will be our special guest.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
8/31/2024
By: Jason Watson Jr.


   Las Vegas, NV - Two of college football’s most prestigious programs will battle on the gridiron when the SEC and the Big Ten square off in fabulous Las Vegas. Allegiant Stadium will play host to the top-25 contest over Labor Day Weekend as Louisiana State University and the University of Southern California are eager to begin their 2024 campaign with a victory. Series History: 
   Sunday’s marquee matchup will be just the third all-time meeting between the historic squads. Currently, the series is split at one win apiece with the home team coming out on top each time. USC first defeated LSU 17-12 in a meeting back in 1979. The Tigers followed that up with a 23-3 pouncing of the Trojans in 1984, and just over 30 years to the day, the scale will tilt once again. 

What a Victory Means (LSU): 
   
   The Tigers have not had a season-opening victory since their national championship run in 2019. Suffering week-one losses to Mississippi State, UCLA, and Florida State (twice) in consecutive seasons drew questions from skeptics about whether scheduling power five opponents as non-conference games are worth the added risk. Yet, LSU and Brian Kelly have remained adamant about wanting to compete with the best of the best. 
   Kelly will work on reloading the Tiger offense after losing Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, to the first round of the NFL Draft. After having arguably one of the historically worst defensive performances in 2023, defensive coordinator Matt House was replaced with Blake Baker. LSU also added DL coach Bo Davis and secondary coach Corey Raymond, all of whom are no strangers to the Tigers’ coaching staff. LSU fans hope that these additions in coordination with player development will result in a much-improved outing on the opposite side of the ball. 
   In an already loaded Southeastern Conference that added Oklahoma and Texas to its slate this offseason, every opportunity to earn a victory throughout the FBS season is important. LSU would feel a lot better about starting the Garrett Nussmeier era with revamped skill positions and defensive units if they were able to leave Vegas with a 1-0 record and a ranked victory under their belt.

What a Victory Means (USC): 
   
   Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are seeking a rebound season after finishing a dismal 8-5 a season ago. Although they were able to win a bowl game versus Louisville, USC dropped their final three regular season games, all by multiple scores. Riley, like Kelly, is entering his third season as the head coach of his program. He was entrusted to return the Trojans to the powerhouse they once were, and they want to make some headway in that progress this season. 
   Similarly to LSU, the Trojans will be rolling out a revamped coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. Coordinator D’Anton Lynn took over the reins after the firing of Alex Grinch. USC will now also try to replace their own Heisman-winning quarterback after Caleb Williams was selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick this season. Junior QB, Miller Moss, will step into the starting role. 
   USC is one of four schools realigning to the Big Ten this year. UCLA, Washington, and Oregon join the conference as well. Speculation has circulated about how well they’d be able to handle the increased competition, especially in a larger pool of teams. The upcoming game against LSU is going to be a huge chance for the Trojans to make a statement. If USC can show a competitive fire and hang with an SEC opponent, that would go a long way for their confidence throughout the season, regardless of the final result. 

Where to Watch Live: 

​   LSU v. USC can be seen on Sunday, September 1, 2024, from ABC’s broadcast live from Las Vegas with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. CST. 



   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU and Saints coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel where we will begin our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm. First episode is scheduled for September 3rd.  Former LSU and New York Giants great Leonard Marshall will be our special guest.  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.