2007 LSU Tigers football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2007
Team=LSU Tigers


ImageSize=150
Helmet = LSU helmet.gif
HelmetSize = 100
Conference=Southeastern Conference
ShortConference=SEC
Division=West
CoachRank=1
APRank=1
BCSRank=
Record=12-2
ConfRecord=6-2
HeadCoach=Les Miles
OffCoach=Gary Crowton
DefCoach=Bo Pelini
OScheme=
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Tiger Stadium
Champion=National Champions
SEC Champions
SEC Western Division Champions
BowlTourney= BCS Championship Game
BowlTourneyResult=W 38-24 v. Ohio State
Color1 = Purple
Color1Hex = 461D7C
Color2 = Gold
Color2Hex = FFCC00The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football. They were led on the field by senior quarterback Matt Flynn and senior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, a two-time All-American and winner of the multiple national trophies or awards. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The team overcame 2 triple-overtime losses and four other close games to become the first two-time Bowl Championship Series (BCS) champion ever. On their way to the BCS championship, the Tigers won their tenth Southeastern Conference championship by defeating Tennessee in the 2007 SEC Championship Game.

The Tigers finished the season having earned the Southeastern Conference championship trophy, the Grantland Rice Award, the MacArthur Trophy [ [http://www.footballfoundation.com/news.php?id=1423 MacArthur Trophy Claimed by Louisiana State Tigers] ] , the Associated Press Trophy and the AFCA National Championship Trophy.

In a salute to the championship team during his January 14, 2008 inauguration speech, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal stated in part "...They revere our athletes. Go Tigers...." [ [http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl011408jbspeech.20d0352a.html Video of Gov. Jindal Inauguration speech] ]

Previous season

In his second season as head coach, Les Miles had another terrific year leading the Tigers to back-to-back 11 win seasons. The Tigers finished 2006 with a record of 11-2 (6-2 SEC) and were invited to the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl to play Notre Dame. The Tigers went on defeat Notre Dame 41-14 to cap a 7 game win streak to end the season. The Tigers headed into the off-season with higher hopes for the 2007 Season.

Pre-season

LSU was ranked #2 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll and the preseason AP Poll. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?pollId=null&seasonYear=2007&weekNumber=1 2007 AP and Coaches preseason polls] ]

In the pre-season, returning quarterback Matt Flynn was named one of the top-10 impact seniors for 2007.Mark Schlabach, [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2912812 Amendola, Brinkley highlight seniors to watch in '07] , ESPN.com, June 22, 2007.] Senior tailback Alley Broussard left the team on July 24 to concentrate on academics. Broussard had started eight games, but was not expected to start in 2007. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2947746|title=LSU running back Broussard leaves team|date=2007-04-24|publisher=ESPN]

Coaching Changes

* Jimbo Fisher decided to leave LSU after seven years as the offensive coordinator to take the same position at FSU. He was replaced by Gary Crowton who was the offensive coordinator for Oregon in 2005 & 2006.
* Todd Monken, who came to LSU with Les Miles in 2005, decided to leave after just two years as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach. It is rumored that Monken was unhappy that he was not chosen as the OC.Fact|date=August 2007 He was replaced by D.J. McCarthy.
* Stacey Searles, the offensive line coach, was replaced by Greg Studrawa who had been the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green the previous four years. Searles left LSU to take the same position at Georgia.

2007 Recruiting Class

LSU signed a total of 26 players for the 2007 recruiting class. The 2007 class is another solid recruiting class for Les Miles and the LSU Football program. The class is headlined by safety Chad Jones, wide receivers Demetrius Byrd and Terrance Tolliver, quarterback Jarrett Lee, and defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale. LSU did miss out Joe McKnight, the top recruit out of Louisiana who decided to commit to USC instead. Overall the 2007 LSU recruiting class was ranked #4 by [http://rivals100.rivals.com/teamrank.asp?SID=880 rivals.com] and #5 by [http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2007 scout.com] .

College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Kentravis Aubrey
position = DE
hometown = Bastrop, LA
highschool = Bastrop High School
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 285
40 =
commitdate = 03/11/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 74College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Joseph Barksdale
position = DT
hometown = Detroit, MI
highschool = Cass Technical High School
feet = 6
inches = 6
weight = 323
40 =
commitdate = 01/06/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = DeAngelo Benton
position = WR
hometown = Bastrop, LA
highschool = Bastrop High School
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 195
40 =
commitdate = 05/25/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Will Blackwell
position = DT
hometown = West Monroe, LA
highschool = West Monroe High School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 296
40 =
commitdate = 01/14/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Delvin Breaux
position = DB
hometown = New Orleans, LA
highschool = McDonogh 35 Senior High School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 175
40 =
commitdate = 06/13/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Ron Brooks
position = ATH
hometown = Irving, TX
highschool = MacArthur High School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 170
40 =
commitdate = 01/11/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Demetrius Byrd
position = WR
hometown = Poplarville, MS
highschool = Pearl River Community College
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 195
40 =
commitdate = 01/20/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = N/ACollege Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Shomari Clemons
position = DB
hometown = West Monroe, LA
highschool = West Monroe High School
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 229
40 =
commitdate = N/A
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 80College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Jordon Corbin
position = TE
hometown = Lakeland, FL
highschool = Lakeland Senior High School
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 235
40 =
commitdate = 06/02/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 40College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Sidell Corley
position = DE
hometown = Mobile, AL
highschool = McGill-Toolen High School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 250
40 =
commitdate = 02/04/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Andrew Crutchfield
position = K
hometown = Concord, NC
highschool = Northwest Cabarrus High School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 175
40 =
commitdate = 08/03/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 76College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Josh Dworaczyk
position = OL
hometown = New Iberia, LA
highschool = Catholic High School
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 263
40 =
commitdate = 08/02/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 73College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Stefoin Francois
position = DB
hometown = Reserve, LA
highschool = East Saint John High School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 188
40 =
commitdate = 02/05/2007
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = T-Bob Hebert
position = OL
hometown = Norcross, GA
highschool = Greater Atlanta Christian School
feet = 6
inches = 3
weight = 256
40 =
commitdate = 10/26/2006
scout stars = 3
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 80College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Josh Jasper
position = K
hometown = Memphis, TN
highschool = Ridgeway High School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 165
40 =
commitdate = 08/31/2006
scout stars = 2
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Chad Jones
position = ATH
hometown = Baton Rouge, LA
highschool = Southern University Lab School
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 220
40 =
commitdate = 02/07/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = 79College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Jarvis Jones
position = OL
hometown = Rosenberg, TX
highschool = Lamar Cons High School
feet = 6
inches = 7
weight = 250
40 =
commitdate = 12/04/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 71College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Phelon Jones
position = ATH
hometown = Mobile, AL
highschool = McGill-Toolen High School
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 185
40 =
commitdate = 12/10/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Mitch Joseph
position = TE
hometown = New Iberia, LA
highschool = Catholic High School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 243
40 =
commitdate = 04/01/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Jarrett Lee
position = QB
hometown = Brenham, TX
highschool = Brenham High School
feet = 6
inches = 2
weight = 192
40 =
commitdate = 05/31/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 81College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Ernest McCoy
position = OL
hometown = Belle Glade, FL
highschool = Glades Central High School
feet = 6
inches = 5
weight = 330
40 =
commitdate = 12/04/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 77College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Drake Nevis
position = DT
hometown = Marrero, LA
highschool = John Ehret High School
feet = 6
inches = 1
weight = 281
40 =
commitdate = 12/10/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 74College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Stevan Ridley
position = ATH
hometown = Natchez, MS
highschool = Trinity Episcopal School
feet = 6
inches = 0
weight = 211
40 =
commitdate = 03/27/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Alex Russian
position = TE
hometown = Round Rock, TX
highschool = Round Rock High School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 231
40 =
commitdate = 06/19/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 3
espn grade = 78College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = Terrance Toliver
position = WR
hometown = Hempstead, TX
highschool = Hempstead High School
feet = 6
inches = 4
weight = 185
40 =
commitdate = 02/06/2007
scout stars = 5
rivals stars = 5
espn grade = 86College Athlete Recruit Entry
recruit = John Williams
position = ATH
hometown = Breaux Bridge, LA
highschool = Breaux Bridge High School
feet = 5
inches = 11
weight = 175
40 =
commitdate = 03/04/2006
scout stars = 4
rivals stars = 4
espn grade = 76College Athlete Recruit End
40 = no
year = 2007
rivals ref title = LSU Commit List 2007
scout ref title = Scout.com Football Recruiting: LSU
espn ref title = 2007 Player Commitments - LSU
rivals school = 37
scout s = 107
espn schoolid = 99
scout overall = #5
rivals overall = #4
accessdate = 2007-10-05
collapse = yes

Key Losses

*Dwayne Bowe, WR, First Round Draft Pick [ [http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index ESPN - 2007 NFL Draft ] ]
*Craig Davis, WR, First Round Draft Pick [ [http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index ESPN - 2007 NFL Draft ] ]
*LaRon Landry, S, First Round Draft Pick [ [http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index ESPN - 2007 NFL Draft ] ]
*Jamarcus Russell, QB, First Overall Draft Pick [ [http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/index ESPN - 2007 NFL Draft ] ]
*Justin Vincent, RB, 2003 SEC Championship & Sugar Bowl MVP [ [http://louisianastate.scout.com/a.z?s=107&p=8&c=1&nid=1911907 Scout.com: Justin Vincent Profile ] ]

chedule

The schedule was ranked as the #3 toughest home schedule. [cite web | url=http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=ArtvqpQefn2niKTGykZ7ji8cvrYF?slug=rivals-133598&prov=rivals&type=lgns | title=Road to glory will be tough one for Seminoles | author=Steve Megargee | publisher=Rivals.com | accessdate=2007-06-21] CFB Schedule Entry
date = August 30
time = 7:00 pm
w/l = w
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Mississippi State
opprank =
site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
site_cityst = Starkville, MS
gamename =
tv = ESPN
score = 45-0
overtime =
attend = 50,112CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 8
time = 8:15 pm
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Virginia Tech
opprank = 9
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename =
tv = ESPN
score = 48-7
overtime =
attend = 92,739CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 15
time = 7:00 pm
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Middle Tennessee
opprank =
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename =
tv = PPV
score = 44-0
overtime =
attend = 92,407CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 22
time = 2:30 pm
w/l = w
nonconf =
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = South Carolina
opprank = 14
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename =
tv = CBS
score = 28-16
overtime =
attend = 92,530CFB Schedule Entry
date = September 29
time = 11:00 am
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = cfb link|year=2007|team=Tulane Green Wave|school=Tulane University|title=Tulane
opprank =
site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
gamename = Battle for the Rag
tv = ESPN2
score = 34-9
overtime =
attend = 58,769CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 6
time = 7:28 pm
w/l = w
away =
neutral =
rank = 2
opponent = Florida
opprank = 7
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename =
tv = CBS
score = 28-24
overtime =
attend = 92,910CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 13
time = 2:30 pm
w/l = l
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 1
opponent = cfb link|year=2007|team=Kentucky Wildcats|school=University of Kentucky|title=Kentucky
opprank = 18
site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium
site_cityst = Lexington, KY
gamename =
tv = CBS
score = 43-37
overtime = 3OT
attend = 70,902CFB Schedule Entry
date = October 20
time = 8:00 pm
w/l = w
away =
neutral =
rank = 5
opponent = Auburn
opprank = 19
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename = Auburn LSU rivalry
tv = ESPN
score = 30-24
overtime =
attend = 92,630CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 3
time = 4:00 pm
w/l = w
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 3
opponent = Alabama
opprank = 18
site_stadium = Bryant-Denny Stadium
site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, AL
gamename = LSU Alabama Rivalry
tv = CBS
score = 41-34
overtime =
attend = 92,138CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 10
time = 7:00 pm
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
away =
neutral =
homecoming = yes
rank = 2
opponent = cfb link|year=2007|team=Louisiana Tech Bulldogs|school=Louisiana Tech University|title=Louisiana Tech
opprank =
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename =
tv = PPV
score = 58-10
overtime =
attend = 92,512CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 17
time = 2:30 pm
w/l = w
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 1
opponent = cfb link|year=2007|team=Ole Miss Rebels|school=University of Mississippi|title=Ole Miss
opprank =
site_stadium = Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
site_cityst = Oxford, MS
gamename =
tv = CBS
score = 41-24
overtime =
attend = 60,850CFB Schedule Entry
date = November 23
time = 1:30 pm
w/l = l
away =
neutral =
rank = 1
opponent = Arkansas
opprank =
site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
gamename = Battle for the Boot
tv = CBS
score = 50-48
overtime = 3OT
attend = 92,606CFB Schedule Entry
date = December 1
time = 3:00 pm
w/l = w
away =
neutral =
rank = 7
opponent = Tennessee
opprank = 15
site_stadium = Georgia Dome
site_cityst = Atlanta, GA
gamename = SEC Championship Game
tv = CBS
score = 21-14
overtime =
attend = 73,832CFB Schedule Entry
date = January 7, 2008
time = 6:30 pm
w/l = w
away =
neutral = y
rank = 2
opponent = Ohio State
opprank = 1
site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
gamename = BCS National Championship Game
tv = FOX
score = 38-24
overtime =
attend = 79,651

Schedule Source: [http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&KEY=&SPID=2164&SPSID=27811 2007 LSU Football Schedule @ LSUSports.net]

Rankings

Roster Source: [http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=27812&SPID=2164&DB_OEM_ID=5200&SORT_ORDER=6&Q_SEASON=2007 http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=27812&SPID=2164&DB_OEM_ID=5200&SORT_ORDER=6&Q_SEASON=2007]

Coaching Staff

References