LSU will have to win big and often in the eyes of its fans

Ed Daniels, Sports

It is hard to miss the correlation between LSU’s success – or lack of success – in season openers and the outcomes of so many seasons.

Last season, LSU’s 38-27 defeat at the hands of UCLA in the Rose Bowl was a precursor of things to come.

By midseason, LSU announced that Ed Orgeron, less than two seasons removed from a national championship, would not return.

In 2002, LSU was shut out for three quarters in Blacksburg, Virginia, and lost to Virginia Tech 26-8. One year removed from an SEC championship, LSU would stumble to a five-loss season.

In 2007 at Starkville, LSU routed Mississippi State 45-0. Safety Craig Steltz had three of six interceptions by the LSU defense. The Tigers won the BCS championship.

Four years later, against Oregon, LSU, in a neutral-site game at Cowboys Stadium, smashed the Ducks. The Tigers led 30-13 after three quarters, and won 40-27.

In that game, Tyrann Mathieu started his march to Heisman Finalist by causing a fumble on an Oregon punt, then scooping and scoring. LSU would finish the regular season unbeaten.

Seven years later, Joe Burrow made his first college start as LSU routed Miami. The Tigers led 33-3 after three quarters. LSU won 10 games. Miami never recovered. Hurricanes coach Mark Richt would announce his retirement at the end of the season.

One year later, the signature play of LSU’s national championship season occurred in Game One at Texas. On third-and-17, with the LSU defense gassed, the Tigers needed a big play on offense.

Just before he was sacked, Burrow found Justin Jefferson over the middle. Jefferson did the rest to finish off a 61-yard touchdown reception.

Orgeron had defeated Tom Herman, the coach who had spurned LSU for burnt orange. LSU rode that momentum to one of the epic seasons in the history of college football.

So, here we are on Sunday, Sept. 4.

It seems like Brian Kelly was hired away from Notre Dame yesterday. Kelly hired an experienced staff. He recruited well for arriving so late.

And, he took advantage of the transfer portal to restock at three critical areas: quarterback, offensive line and secondary.

In August, Kelly was asked about the significance of opening games. He said how the Tigers played was more important than the outcome. That meant Kelly would know more about his team moving forward.

It sounds great, and no one is doubting the authenticity of his words. He meant it. But, that’s not what his new fan base wants.

Those fans want the favored Tigers to get off to a big start. They want LSU to ascend back to the top of the SEC West, quickly.

For a program whose benchmark is 11 wins in one season, 11 wins in two is totally unacceptable.

When Kelly arrived at LSU, he succinctly summed up his move.

“I wanted to coach in the American League East,” said Kelly.

Well, here we are.

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected]