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News hounds (8/28/08)
LSU already thinking about next season
Coach of the only team to claim two BCS titles says the 2008 goal will be winning a third one.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
NEW ORLEANS — Flanked by his team's four gleaming national championship trophies, LSU coach Les Miles already was looking for more.
"I have the next year plan right here," Miles said, drawing laughs from reporters and LSU hangers-on at a morning news conference. "The next year plan, OK, first of all, we expect to be a very strong football team."
Extras
Next year can wait. On Tuesday, Miles and most of this city celebrated LSU's second Bowl Championship Series title, earned the night before in a decisive 38-24 victory over previously top-ranked Ohio State in the Superdome.
At an early morning celebration, Miles stood on the balcony of a French Quarter hotel and raised a replica of the BCS trophy to delirious fans on Bourbon Street.
At about 9 a.m., Miles answered his cell phone and heard an unfamiliar voice.
"She said, 'Please hold for the president of the United States,'" Miles said. "I went, 'OK.'
"He was just very kind, very complimentary of our team. He just said, 'I watched your team, your team overcame hurdles.'"
Miles will soon be making a few important calls of his own. He'll be on the recruiting trail, looking for talent to keep the Tigers among the national elite.
"I can promise you that it's a little early to say we have it all figured out," Miles said. "But the goals will be the same. The goals will be 100 percent graduation rate and a national championship. And I suspect this team will fight like heck to get that done."
LSU's passionate legions expect the Tigers to win the national title every year. Reality is harsher, but LSU (12-2) has become the first two-time champion in the 10-year history of the BCS and the first to lose two games in a championship season.
There are many reasons to believe the Tigers will be in the hunt again in 2008. Although they lose quarterback Matt Flynn, tailback Jacob Hester and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the Tigers have plenty of players eager to step in.
A trio of sophomores helped lead the charge against Ohio State — tight end Richard Dickson, who caught two touchdown passes; wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who also caught a touchdown pass; and defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, named the game's Most Outstanding Defensive Player after blocking an Ohio State field goal attempt.
