Suvarna Garge (Editor)

2008 LSU Tigers football team

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Division
  
Western Division

Head coach
  
Les Miles (4th year)

2008 record
  
8–5 (3–5 SEC)

Offensive scheme
  
Pro Style


Conference
  
Southeastern Conference

Offensive coordinator
  
Gary Crowton (2nd year)

The 2008 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Les Miles, who entered his fourth year at the helm. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers entered the season as defending national champions, having defeated Ohio State, 38–24, in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.

Contents

Previous season

In his third season as head coach, Les Miles led LSU to the 2007 SEC Championship and the 2007 NCAA Division I-FBS national football championship. The Tigers became the first team to win two championships in the Bowl Championship Series era (1998–Present) and also the first 2-loss team to win a national championship, even though no games were lost in regulation. The team finished with a final record of 12–2.

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 Bowl National Championship trophy, the Associated Press Trophy and the AFCA National Championship Trophy.

Pre-season

In February, the NCAA granted defensive end Kirston Pittman a sixth-year of eligibility. Pittman had missed the 2005 and 2006 seasons with foot and ankle injuries.

Coaching changes

Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini left to become the head coach at Nebraska.

Key losses

Offense

  • Matt Flynn, QB Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Jacob Hester, FB/RB Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round (69th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Early Doucet, WR Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (81st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Ryan Perrilloux Dismissed from team February 18, 2008; team policy violations.

    • Defense

  • Glenn Dorsey, DT Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Craig Steltz, SS Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Ali Highsmith, LB Signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a rookie free-agent for a two-year deal.
  • ^A Denotes the largest crowd to watch a football game at Tiger Stadium

    • Schedule Source: 2008 LSU Tigers football schedule

    Roster

    2008 Louisiana State University Football Roster and Bios http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=27812&SPID=2164&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=5200&SORT_ORDER=6&Q_SEASON=2008

    LSU Tigers in the 2009 National Football League Draft

    http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2009.htm

    References

    2008 LSU Tigers football team Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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