LSU Spring Game Recap- Links Galore- Andrew Hatch Shines Edition

Lots of LSU related news this morning. This Spring weekend was busy and the crown Jewel of the ladies is tonight. Expect LSU post to alternate with non LSU post so I can get it all in. The Big LSU women's post will be out by 1 pm. Also LA Tech fans I might have some good news if I can track down a decent article on it.

The Spring Game was yesterday. There were prior injuries so we did not see a great full picture of that. Also Perrilloux was not playing QB because he is not back on the team till later today.

A few thoughts before I put up all the links. QB ANDREW HATCH did a lot of good for himself. The Tiger Nation has just been assuming Jarret Lee from Texas would be the number 2 guy or number 1 guy for the fall if RP is not here. I am not sure why I kept seeing this outlook on the LSU boards. All indications from the paper and the media were that Hatch was doing quite well. Every time I told people that Hatch could shine a tad more than Lee I was told to get off the crackpipe.

QB Andrew Hatch from Utah is our Harvard transfer for those not familiar with him. Actually it is more complicated than that. He is our Harvard Transfer, that played Backup at Harvard, there that never saw anytime in a game while in the Ivy League, that interrupted his college football career by going on a Mormon Mission to South America, in which he got a serious freak injury playing Soccer, and who spent a lot of time rehabing , and played about 3 plays last year for LSU.

So the Tiger Faithful , thinking that everything is bigger and better in Texas, got into the Lee Corner. Well the overrall consensus is that Hatch played the best. Now it is early and to be fair LEE was "hyped". I mean very hyped and nervous from what we can tell. Hatch was too we read but I feel because of his age and experience can calm himself down a tad when needed. A important quality for sure. I still believe it is neck and neck between the two guys but have no doubt when Tiger fans talk about a QB(that isn't Perrilloux) then Hatch needs to be in the conversation. As Bob Heist said in the paper this morning:
Former walk on Andrew Hatch could be the frontrunner at quarterback if the latest attempt to resurrect Perrilloux fails. Entering his junior year, Hatch completed 13 of 17 balls for 184 yards and two scores. While no one would say it, redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee has played himself into a backup role to Hatch.
That being said both played a tad sloppy. However so did Ryan Perrilloux and Matt Flynn at last years game.

I will not spend too much time looking at all the game and giving my two cents. You can go to the links for that. However the Kicking and Punting Game was awful!!!!!!! I almost fell over when I read this in the post game Miles Press conference:
“I enjoyed the kicking game. I felt like there was some improvement made there. It seemed to me we kicked the ball off pretty well. We will be covering live on Saturdays in the fall, but today I liked what the kickers got accomplished. (Senior PK) Colt David didn’t have his day, and there are a lot of reasons for that. He wasn’t necessarily comfortable with the holder and snapper, and there are new mechanics there. We have to make sure that that is taken care of. I would expect by the time we take the field in the fall that we will have that ironed out. I felt like both punters came in and didn’t get the kicks perfect. Beyond the negative punt, they came back and hit it well, and that’s what you really look for. I felt like both guys had a good spring and will be ready for competition in the fall.

WTF? Good Grief What game was he watching. As the Advocate here so well points out
Kicking game
Colt David kicked a 23-yard field goal after hitting the upright on a 44-yard attempt and missing wide from 51 and 46 yards.
Andrew Crutchfield’s 42-yard field goal came on a line drive that never seemed to be much higher than the 10-foot-high crossbar.
All of the punters struggled. Josh Jasper atoned for a 14-yard kick with a 51-yarder. Brady Dalfrey averaged 32 yards on three punts.
Crutchfield had one punt for 26 yards.

We need to send Colt David and his team of specialists on retreat or something together. The Kicking and punting game is of course a crucial and an often lover looked part of the game. Fans wrongly believe anyone can do it. Often you hear "Can't we get a Walk on and not waste a Scholly" etc etc. That is just the average fan's ignorance. Still this must improve fast. Especially as to Andrew Crutchfield that really really needs to produce this year.

Needless to say Murphy did quite well as we can see below where his name is a part of most of the stories titles.

First off LSU Sports Net has a ROCKIN photo Gallery. Be sure to check that out and boy look at the middle of the field. Be sure to check out LSU Sports net Murphy, Defense Shine in White's Spring Game Win, 38-10
The Shreveport Times has Murphy shines in LSU spring game. The New Orleans Picayune has LSU RB Murphy dazzles in spring finale. The Advocate also has Murphy set for takeoff. New AD Alleva checks out LSU is also from the Advocate. Alleva is the new LSU AD but there is a lot of Spring Game stuff in that story too. The Times had a earlier article called MURPHY SHINES IN WHITE’S 38-10 WIN OVER PURPLE IN LSU SPRING GAME. Also go see Bob Heist: Will good be enough for Tiger football?

On to the blogs.
Dandy Don (sorry he has no pemalinks) has as can be expected a great analysis of the game. Go see that.
Geaux Tuscaloosa has some thoughts at Spring Game - Women's Basketball - New Commitment
LSU Spring Game is the post from Geaux Nelsons Geaux that has some nice pics.

LSU Phreak has Report: 2008 LSU Spring Game


Below is a list of Spring awards given after the game.
2008 LSU Football ñ Spring Awards
Alvin Roy Fourth Quarter Award (outstanding performance in LSU off-season program)
* Lyle Hitt * R.J. Jackson * Quinn Johnson * Caleb Angelle * Danny McCray * Rahim Alem * Ricky Dixon * Kelvin Sheppard * Richard Murphy Iron Man Award * Herman Johnson * Ciron Black * Curtis Taylor * Brandon LaFell * R.J. Jackson

Eric Andolsek Leadership Award(outstanding leadership in spring drills ñ offense) * Richard Dickson * Charles Scott *

Herman Johnson Mike Miley Leadership Award(outstanding leadership in spring drills ñ defense)
* Darry Beckwith * Ricky Jean-Francois

Toby Caston Performance Award(outstanding performance in spring drills ñ defense) * Chad Jones

Ralph Norwood Performance Award(outstanding performance in spring drills ñ offense)
* Richard Murphy

Most Improved Award (players who have made the most improvement during spring drills)
* Tremaine Johnson* Brady Dalfrey* Joe Barksdale

Jimmy Taylor Award(the comprehensive Spring Award for outstanding leadership, effort and performance)
* Brett Helms* Tyson Jackson